Mission’s Opening Nite Theatre Society is presenting a powerful family drama.
How It Works, by Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor, is a compassionate, funny, and heart-breaking story about a family working through a crisis and finding their way back home.
Al, a Halifax cop, and his stylish ex-wife, Donna, are both lost and helpless when it comes to dealing with their drug-addicted teenage daughter, Brooke.
Enter Al’s new girlfriend, Christine, a down-to-earth, exuberant, beer-swilling ex-nun who recognizes something in Brooke and offers to “take her on” and uncover the real reason for her five-year spiral out of control. Interweaving past and present, the play explores the complex relationships between all four characters and the power of storytelling to help us heal.
“How It Works, is a play that speaks to anyone with a child or relative who has turned to drugs to medicate.” said director Helen Embury.
Although there are dark places in this play, there are still moments of fun and humour, among the very believable characters.
Embury, an Abbotsford award-winning director, is directing at Opening Nite for the first time and is impressed with the level of talent, dedication and welcome to newcomers she sees within the group.
How It Works features local actors Camille Atebe, Petra Atebe, and Catherine Dawn from Mission, along with Brian Billo from Abbotsford. This production will be Opening Nite’s entry into Theatre BC’s Fraser Valley Zone Festival May 21-27 at the Coast Capital Playhouse in White Rock.
How It Works runs May 5-20 at 8 p.m., Thursdays to Saturdays, with 2 p.m. matinees on Sunday, May 7 and 14 and on Saturday, May 20.
On May 11 and 18, tickets are two for one. Tickets are $15 and are available at openingnitetheatre.com, ontstickets@hotmail.com, 604-826-ONTS or 45 minutes before shows at the theatre door, 33223 Railway Ave. in Mission (across from the West Coast Express Station.).