Spring is a time of new life and renewal.
It is a word that has particular resonance at Caravan Farm Theatre this year as they present their first spring production in at least 15 years.
“It’s very exciting; we’re adding a show in another season so now we’ll have four shows in four seasons,” says Caravan’s artistic director Courtenay Dobbie.
And keeping in tune with spring, the play, In Like a Lion, by Vancouver-based playwright Jan Derbyshire, is a modern, comedic retelling of a classic Greek myth about how the seasons came to be.
In Like a Lion focuses on spring and a young Persephone, daughter of the mighty Zeus, who falls in love with Hades, god of the underworld.
Hades takes Persephone to his underworld home, which angers her mother, Demeter, goddess of agriculture and all things living.
“She’s so mad that she takes away all the food and bounty so everyone is starving,” says Dobbie of Demeter and Zeus’ epic quest to the underworld to find their daughter. “They decide she’ll spend half the year down below and up in spring and summer.”
Typical of the Greek myth, the production features a children’s chorus composed of 14 Armstrong children from grades five through seven.
Having the children perform is another commitment by Dobbie to include the local community, as she did by hiring local First Nations youth for the winter show.
“It’s fun to have them around; they’re sweet, excited and talented, and they love being here,” says Dobbie of the Greek chorus.
Because of the fickle nature of spring in the North Okanagan, the one-act In Like a Lion will be performed in the timber barn. And Caravan’s beautiful horses will enter the barn and production drawing chariots behind them.
Directed by Caravan’s interim artistic director Anita Rochon, who directed Caravan’s winter show, The Contest of the Winds, In Like a Lion takes place in the present day with a stellar cast of professional actors from across Canada.
“It’s a Caravan retelling of an ancient myth with modern language, modern jokes, modern references and modern songs,” says Dobbie, who wrote the music for the production. “It’s quite funny.”
In Like a Lion runs for only one week from May 5 to 10 at 7:30 p.m., with matinee performances at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10.
Wednesday, May 6 is “I Love Mom Day,” when women are encouraged to bring their mothers or grandmothers, who are admitted to the show without charge.
Sunday, May 10 is not only Mother’s Day, it is the first Caravan Market day of the season – a festive day with wagon rides, food, local artisan arts and crafts and a petting zoo. Dobbie encourages families to treat their moms to the Mother’s Day Market and stay for the matinee. Tickets are available at ticketseller.ca or call 1-866-311-1011.
