Local actor Jennifer Cornish will bring the ground-breaking one-woman play, Myra’s Story to the Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) on Feb. 23 as part of a Gala Fundraising Event to benefit the centre and Elora Community Theatre (ECT).
The staged public reading of will mark the second Canadian performance of the script by Irish playwright Brian Foster.
The 7:30pm reading will be followed by a wine and cheese reception and silent auction.
Hilarious, harrowing and heartbreaking, Myra’s Story portrays a day in the life of a “woman street drinker” in Dublin as she begs for money off passers-by.
Recalling her life and how she has come to arrive at her present pathetic state, Cornish, as Myra, plays all of the characters from her past, including a host of colourful Dublin characters.
Originally titled Maire –A Woman of Derry, Foster’s show broke all box office records at Derry’s Millennium Forum Theatre, playing for 138 consecutive performances. Cornish believes the Canadian version will be equally well received.
Cornish is an award-winning local actor and drama coach. Cornish holds exclusive Canadian production rights to the script for two years, and will take it on the road this summer to a series of festivals across Ontario.
“It’s not an issue play; it’s a wonderful piece of theatre about a person telling her story and looking for compassion in a way that will strike a chord with almost everyone in some way.”
Cornish, the 2011 recipient of the Waterloo Region Arts Award for Performing Arts, said her participation in the fundraiser is a way to give back to the local arts community of which she has long been a part. Cornish’s recent roles include Aunt Polly in ECT’s production of Tom Sawyer, Edith in Pearl Gidley with Lost & Found Theatre, and Louise in Hollywood Arms with Elmira Theatre Company.
The full stage production is directed by Darlene Spencer and produced by Deb Stanson. Audiences should note that the play includes strong language and mature subject matter
Tickets for the gala event are $20, available at the ECFTA at 519-846-9698 or by calling 519-496-6481.
Doors open at 7pm. The performance begins at 7:30pm, with a reception to follow.
All proceeds go to support the ECFTA and ECT. For more information visit www.eloracommunitytheatre.com.
