Small-town politics satirized in new play

Bill Miner debuts work during reading at museum

All’s fair in love and politics.

Those are the themes behind Bill Miner’s play The Perfect Candidate, receiving its first staged reading tonight (May 24) at Silva Bay Marina on Gabriola and Thursday (May 26) at Nanaimo Museum.

“There is a universal component to it,” Miner said.

The story follows a group of baby boomers, one of whom develops communication workshops for fellow boomers and their senior citizen parents.

When he meets a former political campaign advisor, she convinces him to run for a spot on the Islands Trust to raise his profile and improve his workshop business.

The first twist in the story occurs when his wife decides, at the urging of her visiting brother, to also run for the spot on the local government board.

“It’s kind of universal in island, small-community-esque,” Miner said.

Miner performs in the play with Tamar Doruyter, along with Joelle Baird and Nicholas Heather, who make their acting debut in the production.

The play will also be part of the Fringetastic Theatre Festival in Nanaimo in September.

Until then, catch the reading today at the marina on Gabriola or Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the museum. Tickets for each show are $12.

arts@nanaimobulletin.com

Nanaimo News Bulletin