The delicately-balanced lives of two elderly farmers and bachelors are upended when a young actor from Toronto comes calling in The Drawer Boy, opening Thursday at Surrey Little Theatre.
Billed as a gently-humorous and poignant look at relationships, the play is set in rural Ontario.
White Rock’s Aaron Elliot is Miles, an actor who spends the summer on the farm, hoping to do research for a theatre project. North Van’s Barry Walker is the tough-minded, stubborn Morgan, who cares for Angus (Langley’s Mike Busswood), who suffered brain damage and lost his memory during the London Blitz.
Miles is fascinated by the story Morgan tells about their young lives together during the Second World War. Morgan’s story begins to unravel as Miles delves into the details of the past, and reawakens memories in Angus.
The Drawer Boy, written by Canadian playwright Michael Healy, is the SLT’s entry in the Fraser Valley zone Drama festival this May.
Award-winning director/designer June Ainsworth is thrilled to have such a talented cast, including Busswood, who has won 11 awards with Theatre BC for his past performances.
Ainsworth noted the team has been eager to try out new ideas.
“Working with the three actors in this play has reaffirmed my belief in the collective nature of the creative process,” Ainsworth said.
“When we have questions about the script, each of us has answers, imagery, and motivations to suggest.”
The production opens April 17 and runs Thursdays to Saturdays (showtimes are 8 p.m.) to May 17.
There are also three Sunday afternoon matinees: April 27, May 4 and May 11 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15, and a special two-for-one promotion is in effect April 17 and 18. For reservations, call 604-576-8451, email reservations@surreylittletheatre.com, or visit brownpapertickets.com.
Surrey Little Theatre is located at 7027 184 Street, Surrey.
