LETHBRIDGE – A modern and shocking play about parenting, sexuality, bullying and regret and is taking centre stage at the 13th annual Pretty, Witty and Gay Festival by Theatre Outre.
Late Company is a Canadian play written by playwright Jordan Tannahill, the 2014 recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Drama
The plot sees Debora and Michael sit down to dinner with their late teenage son’s bully and his parents, one year after his suicide.
Jay Whitehead, who plays Michael, said bullying is an ongoing topic of discussion in homes of families across the country.
“This play is really timely for that it brings it right to the forefront and shows, you know, the repercussions in the most extreme situation,” Whitehead said.
“But, not so extreme that it isn’t happening in real life.”
The audience will be seated around the kitchen table as if they too were guests at the dinner party.
Yvonne Maendel plays Debora and said the play brings the issues back to a personal level to see how bullying, and loss affect a family, something that is usually kept behind closed doors.
“It’s easy to flip through your phone, it’s easy to turn on the television and see the same thing and be inundated with this and that constantly,” Maendel said. “But, to actually have to sit for 75 to 80 minutes and watch a family grapple with the death of their son – it’s a completely different thing.”
Whitehead said he thinks the performance is important to see because it will kick start the conversation around bullying and sexual orientation.
“Every angle, I think, is represented in a really respectful way,” Whitehead added. “I think everyone who comes to see it regardless of where they stand on the various issues that are brought up, will hear their voice represented.
“I think that that’s really important for starting a dialogue.’
Late Company runs nightly at 8 p.m. from Feb. 22 to Feb. 26 at the Starlight Room, located above Catwalk Salon and Spa.
The Pretty, Witty and Gay Festival runs from Feb. 19 and wraps up with a cabaret at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre on Feb. 27.
For full show information and tickets, visit www.theatreoutre.ca
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