Events / The Other Side of the Pole

The Other Side of the Pole

by Stephen Heatley, Marney Heatley and Edward Connell

December 5–30, 1983

A modern setting and wry sense of humor add to the fun when Christmas is abolished because “it is too much trouble”. Eleven year old Sandy enlists the help of her mentally disabled friend Willy to find out why. The investigation of the two amateur sleuths uncovers even more questions. In pursuit of the answers, Sandy and Willy learn some very interesting things about themselves, their families, and the magic of Christmas. Part of Plays of Progress.

Playwrights: Edward Connell, Marney Heatley and Stephen Heatley
Director: Stephen Heatley
Cast: (at various times) Neil Foster, Lydia Slabyk, Monty Thull, Susan Greenfield, Bradley C. Rudy, Doreen Watt, Barbara Adamns, Karen Smiley, Marianne Copithorne, Jan Henderson, Raymond Storey, Robert Winslow, Cathy Derkach, Karen Johnson-Diamond, Greg Lawson, Geoffrey Brumlik, Tracey Flye and Jeff Haslam Musical Director: Edward Connell Production Designer: Daniel van Heyst Stage Managers: Linda Graham and Denis Couillard Technical Director: Mel Geary

“THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POLE was created out of a fear that as our world moves faster and faster, we may be losing touch with some of the simples pleasures that have made our lives richer in the past.” – Stephen Heatley, Director’s Note

December 5–30, 1983

Times

Opening December 5

CAST & CREW

CAST

MARIANNE COPITHORNE

Marianne is delighted to be able to return to Theatre Network and collaborate with this fabulous team of creative artists on Hannah Moscovitch’s WHAT A YOUNG WIFE OUGHT TO KNOW. Previous directing credits with Theatre Network include COMMUNION by Daniel MacIvor, CHOKE by Cathleen Rootsaert, THE WOMAN IN BLACK by Stephen Mallatratt, and PERFECT PIE, PALACE OF THE END and HABITAT by Judith Thompson. Marianne is currently Artistic Director of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, and will celebrate her eleventh year in that position this coming summer. She is a graduate of the BFA Acting and MFA Directing programs at the University of Alberta, and teaches Theatre Arts students acting at Grant MacEwan University. Much love and thanks to Bradley Moss.

CAST

CATHY DERKACH

Cathy was last seen in a mausoleum, an apartment and on a bus in Workshop West’s SECRET SPACES: THE BUS PROJECT. Theatre Network shows include most recently PERFECT PIE (directed by Marianne Copithorne), and long ago THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POLE (directed by Stephen Heatley). Cathy has been performing in and out of Edmonton for the past 16 years. She has played many times in many really big shows with Teatro La Quindicina, The Citadel, and Leave it to Jane (founding member). Cathy is also a musician, musical director, Pisces, and a mother of two beautiful girls. She had a fish once…

CAST

JEFF HASLAM

Jeff last appeared with Theatre Network in HABITAT in 2006. Among his previous credits with the company are THE LAST BUS, UNCLE JOE AGAIN, and THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POLE. He’s just completed his second years as Artistic Director of Teatro La Quindicina, where in addition to recent onstage appearances in THE OCULIST’S HOLIDAY, MOTHER OF THE YEAR, CONNIE IN EGYPT, HAPPY TOES, and A ROCKY NIGHT FOR HIS NIBS, he also directed THRUBWELL’S PIES, and produced the hit musical EVERYBODY GOES TO MITZI’S. Jeff’s other recent projects include appearing in HMS PINAFORE for the Edmonton Opera, and writing and performing for CBC Radio’s THE IRRELEVANT SHOW. He’s a four-time Sterling Award winner, for performances in BURN THIS, 2-2-TANGO, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and CITIZEN PLATE. He’s also a core company member of the live improvised soap opera DIE-NASTY, and last February, he improvised for 50 straight hours in the SOAPATHON in London, England. Jeff continues to appear as Eros, god of Love on the monthly variety show OH SUSANNA at the Varscona. In December, he’ll once again appear as George Bailey in Teatro’s holiday presentation of the live radio version of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and in the New Year he’ll be in DIAL M FOR MURDER at the The Mayfield Dinner Theatre.

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