Scirocco Play Launch at Artword theatre

Back To Artword Productions 2002-2003

Monday, October 21, 8:00 pm at Artword Theatre
SCIROCCO DRAMA ~ Canada's premier drama publisher ~
TheatreBOOKS and NOW present
Hrant Alianak
Dave Carley
Maureen Hunter
Adam Pettle and
Alex Poch-Goldin
for the launching of their recent plays
The Walls of Africa, The Edible Woman,
Vinci, Zadie's Shoes and This Hotel
& excerpts from the works of
Connie Gault, Daniel MacIvor, and Yasuhiko Ohasi.
Hosted by Sally Han
Readings by Louise Gauthier and Michael Waller.
For more information, or to reserve an autographed copy, please call (416) 922-7175.

Hrant Alianak, The Walls of Africa
In 1950s London, Mr. Pym, a shy middle-aged academic, rents a room from divorcee Mrs. Fields. Alone upstairs, Mr. Pym dreams of the perfect woman: young, beautiful, and exotic. Downstairs on the sofa, a book and a glass of sherry her only companions, Mrs. Fields longs for warmth and human contact.
As their lives begin to intersect, the two learn that they share an interest in Tolstoy, a common affection for Africa, and a lonely existence. Eventually desire overcomes their inhibitions, and the couple must deal with the painful-and sometimes painfully funny-consequences of intimacy.
Graceful, tender, and erotic, The Walls of Africa is an exploration of loneliness and emotional connection by one of Canada's most innovative and original playwrights.
Hrant Alianak made his debut as a writer in 1972 at Theatre Passe Muraille with his play Tantrums. Other plays he has written and directed include Night, Passion and Sin, The Blues, Lucky Strike, and The Big Hit. He formed his own production company, Alianak Theatre Productions, in 1992 and has been directing and producing his, as well as other writers' work since then. He lives and works in Toronto.
1-896239-92-7 72 pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $12.95 pb

Dave Carley, The Edible Woman
Based on the Novel by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood's internationally-renowned first novel has been brilliantly adapted for stage by playwright Dave Carley. With wit, affection and dollops of irony, The Edible Woman traces the journey of Marian, a young woman who has embraced the consumer society. Marian has a good job, a handsome lawyer-fiance, and a conventionally bright future. But slowly Marian's consumer world starts slipping out of focus, as she begins instead to identify with the things consumed. Compounding Marian's confusion is her newly-pregnant roommate, her incensed landlady, and that strange young man she just kissed at the laundromat.
Dave Carley is the author of a number of works for stage, including Writing With Our Feet, A View From the Roof, After You (Scirocco Drama, 1995) and Walking on Water (Signature Editions, 2000). He has been nominated for the Governor General's Award for Drama and is a three-time Chalmers Award Þnalist. He received the 2000 Arthur Miller Playwriting Award from the University of Michigan and has been the playwright-in-residence at Ontario's Stratford Festival and Barrington Stage Company in Massachusetts. Dave was born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario and now lives in Toronto where he is senior script editor for CBC Radio drama.
1-896239-84-6 112pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $14.95 pb

Maureen Hunter, Vinci
Set in an Italian village in the fifteenth century, Vinci revolves around the struggle for custody of a gifted child, a "golden boy," Leonardo da Vinci. Padre Bartolomeo, a friend of the da Vinci family, finds himself caught between the powerful da Vincis and Leonardo's defiant unwed mother, the servant Caterina. In his efforts to mediate the dispute and determine the future of Caterina's exceptional child, Bartolomeo comes to a new understanding of the nature of forgiveness and love.
Maureen Hunter's plays have been produced in Canada, the U.S. and Britain, and by CBC and BBC Radio. Her work has been nominated for two Governor General's Awards and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Outstanding New Play). Her plays include Atlantis (Scirocco Drama, 1997), Transit of Venus, Beautiful Lake Winnipeg, The Queen of Queen Street and Footprints on the Moon. A native of Saskatchewan, Maureen now lives on the banks of the Red River in Winnipeg.
1-896239-86-2 112 pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $14.95 pb

Adam Pettle, Zadie's Shoes
The stakes don't get any higher than this! Benjamin is a compulsive gambler who's just lost the money for his girlfriend Ruth's trip to an alternative cancer clinic in Mexico. He has 72 hours to find the cash, and his options are running out.
In desperation Benjamin finds himself in a synagogue, where he meets a prophet named Eli who gives him rabbinical advice-and a hot tip on a racehorse.
The thrill of the race is only the beginning of this hilarious and touching journey that contemplates the nature of luck, and the power of faith.
Adam Pettle was born and raised in Toronto. His first play, Therac 25 (Scirocco Drama, 2000), has received numerous productions across the country and is being adapted for CBC Radio. A graduate of the National Theatre School's playwriting programme, Adam is currently the playwright-in-residence at the Canadian Stage Company.
1-896239-78-1 112pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $14.95 pb

Alex Poch-Goldin, This Hotel
After Lester finds his wife in the arms of another man, he checks into This Hotel-where a shape-shifting bellhop escorts him on a whirlwind tour of long corridors and provocative rooms inhabited by the tenants of Lester's subconscious. With a cast of slinky and colourful characters, This Hotel is hilarious, clever and sexy-a moving journey to the centre of everyman.
Alex Poch-Goldin is an actor and writer from Montreal. He trained in acting at The Dome Theatre and later studied at the National Theater Institute in Connecticut. His plays include Jim and Shorty, The Gospel According to Jude, Cringeworthy and Anybody and Nobody. His work has been produced at Theatre Passe Muraille, Buddies in Bad Times, Factory Theatre and Canadian Stage. He lives in Toronto.
1-896239-87-0 72 pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $12.95 pb

About Sally Han
Sally is a producer and director for theatre, radio and television. She has directed plays for theatre companies across Ontario, many of them first productions of new work. Companies include: LKTYP (formerly Young Peoples Theatre), Cahoots Theatre Projects, Theatre Passe Muraille, New Stages Peterborough, and others. She currently sits on the board of Nightwood Theatre. She has served on juries for the Governor General's award for Drama, and the Chalmers Awards for playwriting. She has also produced and directed radio dramas for CBC, and contributes to "The Arts Today" on a freelance basis. Most recently, she produced an animated series for Nelvana. She is thrilled to host the launch of these new books as published plays are the best combination of her two great passions, theatre and books!

J. G o r d o n S h i l l i n g f o r d
P u b l i s h i n g I n c.
P. O. B o x 8 6 , 9 0 5 C o r y d o n A v e n u e
PH: (204) 779-6967 FAX: (204) 779-6970 E-MAIL: jgshill@attcanada.ca
W i n n i p e g, M B R 3 M 3 S 3

	Monday, October 21, 8:00 pm at Artword Theatre SCIROCCO DRAMA ~ Canada's premier drama publisher ~ TheatreBOOKS and NOW present Hrant Alianak Dave Carley Maureen Hunter Adam Pettle and Alex Poch-Goldin for the launching of their recent plays The Walls of Africa, The Edible Woman, Vinci, Zadie's Shoes and *This Hotel* & excerpts from the works of Connie Gault, Daniel MacIvor, and Yasuhiko Ohasi. Hosted by Sally Han Readings by Louise Gauthier and Michael Waller. For more information, or to reserve an autographed copy, please call (416) 922-7175.

	Hrant Alianak, The Walls of Africa In 1950s London, Mr. Pym, a shy middle-aged academic, rents a room from divorcee Mrs. Fields. Alone upstairs, Mr. Pym dreams of the perfect woman: young, beautiful, and exotic. Downstairs on the sofa, a book and a glass of sherry her only companions, Mrs. Fields longs for warmth and human contact. As their lives begin to intersect, the two learn that they share an interest in Tolstoy, a common affection for Africa, and a lonely existence. Eventually desire overcomes their inhibitions, and the couple must deal with the painful-and sometimes painfully funny-consequences of intimacy. Graceful, tender, and erotic, The Walls of Africa is an exploration of loneliness and emotional connection by one of Canada's most innovative and original playwrights. Hrant Alianak made his debut as a writer in 1972 at Theatre Passe Muraille with his play Tantrums. Other plays he has written and directed include Night, Passion and Sin, The Blues, Lucky Strike, and The Big Hit. He formed his own production company, Alianak Theatre Productions, in 1992 and has been directing and producing his, as well as other writers' work since then. He lives and works in Toronto. 1-896239-92-7 72 pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $12.95 pb
		Dave Carley, The Edible Woman Based on the Novel by Margaret Atwood Margaret Atwood's internationally-renowned first novel has been brilliantly adapted for stage by playwright Dave Carley. With wit, affection and dollops of irony, The Edible Woman traces the journey of Marian, a young woman who has embraced the consumer society. Marian has a good job, a handsome lawyer-fiance, and a conventionally bright future. But slowly Marian's consumer world starts slipping out of focus, as she begins instead to identify with the things consumed. Compounding Marian's confusion is her newly-pregnant roommate, her incensed landlady, and that strange young man she just kissed at the laundromat. Dave Carley is the author of a number of works for stage, including Writing With Our Feet, A View From the Roof, After You (Scirocco Drama, 1995) and Walking on Water (Signature Editions, 2000). He has been nominated for the Governor General's Award for Drama and is a three-time Chalmers Award Þnalist. He received the 2000 Arthur Miller Playwriting Award from the University of Michigan and has been the playwright-in-residence at Ontario's Stratford Festival and Barrington Stage Company in Massachusetts. Dave was born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario and now lives in Toronto where he is senior script editor for CBC Radio drama. 1-896239-84-6 112pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $14.95 pb
	Maureen Hunter, Vinci Set in an Italian village in the fifteenth century, Vinci revolves around the struggle for custody of a gifted child, a "golden boy," Leonardo da Vinci. Padre Bartolomeo, a friend of the da Vinci family, finds himself caught between the powerful da Vincis and Leonardo's defiant unwed mother, the servant Caterina. In his efforts to mediate the dispute and determine the future of Caterina's exceptional child, Bartolomeo comes to a new understanding of the nature of forgiveness and love. Maureen Hunter's plays have been produced in Canada, the U.S. and Britain, and by CBC and BBC Radio. Her work has been nominated for two Governor General's Awards and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Outstanding New Play). Her plays include Atlantis (Scirocco Drama, 1997), Transit of Venus, Beautiful Lake Winnipeg, The Queen of Queen Street and Footprints on the Moon. A native of Saskatchewan, Maureen now lives on the banks of the Red River in Winnipeg. 1-896239-86-2 112 pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $14.95 pb
	Adam Pettle, Zadie's Shoes The stakes don't get any higher than this! Benjamin is a compulsive gambler who's just lost the money for his girlfriend Ruth's trip to an alternative cancer clinic in Mexico. He has 72 hours to find the cash, and his options are running out. In desperation Benjamin finds himself in a synagogue, where he meets a prophet named Eli who gives him rabbinical advice-and a hot tip on a racehorse. The thrill of the race is only the beginning of this hilarious and touching journey that contemplates the nature of luck, and the power of faith. Adam Pettle was born and raised in Toronto. His first play, Therac 25 (Scirocco Drama, 2000), has received numerous productions across the country and is being adapted for CBC Radio. A graduate of the National Theatre School's playwriting programme, Adam is currently the playwright-in-residence at the Canadian Stage Company. 1-896239-78-1 112pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $14.95 pb
	Alex Poch-Goldin, This Hotel After Lester finds his wife in the arms of another man, he checks into This Hotel-where a shape-shifting bellhop escorts him on a whirlwind tour of long corridors and provocative rooms inhabited by the tenants of Lester's subconscious. With a cast of slinky and colourful characters, This Hotel is hilarious, clever and sexy-a moving journey to the centre of everyman. Alex Poch-Goldin is an actor and writer from Montreal. He trained in acting at The Dome Theatre and later studied at the National Theater Institute in Connecticut. His plays include Jim and Shorty, The Gospel According to Jude, Cringeworthy and Anybody and Nobody. His work has been produced at Theatre Passe Muraille, Buddies in Bad Times, Factory Theatre and Canadian Stage. He lives in Toronto. 1-896239-87-0 72 pp 5.5 x 8.5 in $12.95 pb
	About Sally Han Sally is a producer and director for theatre, radio and television. She has directed plays for theatre companies across Ontario, many of them first productions of new work. Companies include: LKTYP (formerly Young Peoples Theatre), Cahoots Theatre Projects, Theatre Passe Muraille, New Stages Peterborough, and others. She currently sits on the board of Nightwood Theatre. She has served on juries for the Governor General's award for Drama, and the Chalmers Awards for playwriting. She has also produced and directed radio dramas for CBC, and contributes to "The Arts Today" on a freelance basis. Most recently, she produced an animated series for Nelvana. She is thrilled to host the launch of these new books as published plays are the best combination of her two great passions, theatre and books!
		J. G o r d o n S h i l l i n g f o r d P u b l i s h i n g I n c. P. O. B o x 8 6 , 9 0 5 C o r y d o n A v e n u e PH: (204) 779-6967 FAX: (204) 779-6970 E-MAIL: jgshill@attcanada.ca W i n n i p e g, M B R 3 M 3 S 3