Janet Munsil

Faith lost the use of her legs following a mysterious illness in her late teens, and has been a wheelchair user for over a decade. From the beginning, she was warmly welcomed into a supportive community of others with disabilities, including her best friend and roommate, Jess - who taught her to navigate her new identity as a wheelchair user. Just when her life seems perfect, Faith discovers she can walk, and attributes the miracle to her religious belief. Her friends and allies question the reality of Faith's experience, and the validity of her identity as a person with a disability.

more info coming soon

A new play by 2014 GG Finalist Janet Munsil, inspired by the true story of an educated horse and the remarkable man who trained him. Using only patience and kindness (and apple slices) William “Doc” Key, a former slave, trained his ugly duckling of a horse, Jim, to read and count. Their traveling show in the early 1900s was an inspiration for millions of school children learning their letters and numbers, while illustrating the importance of being kind to animals. The story of Beautiful Jim Key explores our deep and mysterious connection to the animals in our lives, our understanding of their intelligence, and the values of friendship, cooperation, kindness and patience. With original songs by Katrina Kadoski
Age Suitability: Ages 5+

coming soon

FINALIST 2014 Governor General's Literary Awards. Neuropsychologist Helen Harlow is an expert at understanding the human brain, and yet her own remains a mystery. Turning her back on a once-brilliant future filled with scientific promise, Helen attempts to escape the mess of her life by diving headfirst into a new one: living in a frat-house basement, teaching Psych 101 to clueless freshmen, and confronting both her depression and the puzzling attentions of her slacker housemate Finlay. Pushed to the brink and increasingly desperate for some semblance of normalcy, Helen finds herself in a doctor’s office looking for a change. But not everyone chooses to change. Certainly not Phineas Gage, a construction foreman in 1848 who miraculously survives an explosion that shoots an iron rod though his head. While Phineas makes an extraordinary physical recovery, he has a dramatic change in personality. Attended to and observed by the young doctor John Harlow, Helen’s ancestor, the legacy of Phineas’s dramatic story shows how far we have come scientifically, and yet how little we can comprehend of the mystery of our own hearts and minds.

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PREMIERE HISTORY
Commissioned and first performed by a student cast at the University of Victoria Phoenix Theatres, Directed by Linda Moore, 2005.

Professional Premiere: Enbridge PlayRites Festival, Alberta Theatre Projects (Calgary), Directed by Linda Moore, 2007.

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PRODUCTION DETAILS

Original Drama

2 Acts (120 minutes)

3 Women / 5 Men (12 roles with intentional doubling, but could be expanded)

Some coarse language

Originally written for a University theatre department: most roles reflect the age of the students.

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New, revised edition for 2016. Janet Munsil's witty, romantic, and ingenious adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved tale of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy is remarkable for capturing the tone and compressing the complexity of the story into a fast-paced, funny, and fiercely romantic two hours on stage. Sold-out and held-over in numerous large professional theatres, including Canada's National Arts Centre, Theatre Calgary, and The Arts Club Stanley Theatre, this adaptation is also extremely popular with schools and community theatres for its clarity, comedy, and large number of great acting roles - especially for women.

“Worth ovations - a sell-out hit.” Calgary Sun

“Remarkable . . . a fine and faithful adaptation Austen’s novel captures the tone and compresses the complexity of the story.” - Burnaby Now

“Delightful…breathes life into the novel, transforming Austen’s wry, verbal humour into lightness and gaiety, while not overlooking the novel’s darker themes.” - Vancouver Courier

“Vivid, eloquent, and very funny.” - Ottawa Citizen

“Simple, crisp elegance - downright brilliantly conceived.” - Brokenleg Review

“Funny, fierce, and romantic. Undeniably engaging.” - Calgary Herald

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DETAILS

2 Acts, approximately 2 hrs 30 mins including intermission.

Original Production: 11 Female / 6 Male in 19 roles.

Can be doubled down to a minimum cast of 12, or increased with additional dancers, servants, townspeople.

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PRODUCTION HISTORY

Co-Commissioned and Co-Premiered by Theatre Calgary and Canada's National Arts Centre (Ottawa) in 2012, Directed by Dennis Garnhum.

Selected professional productions: 2016: Arts Club Stanley Theatre (Vancouver), 2017: Chemainus Theatre, 2018: Persephone Theatre.

What does it mean to "rule with a man's heart?" Margaret Maultasch, 14th century Monarch of Tyrol, nicknamed "Pocket-Mouth," was reputed to be the ugliest woman in history. The perfect scapegoat for her terrified subjects during the ravages of the Black Death, she was also an extremely desirable political bride.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Festival Premiered in 1993 as part of the Open Space New Theatre Series (Victoria BC)
Professional Premiere, 1999, Exit Theatre, San Francisco, USA

Festivals (1994-2008): Victoria Fringe, Vancouver Fringe, Cowichan Fringe, Edmonton Fringe, Winnipeg Fringe (Heldover), Toronto Fringe (Heldover), San Francisco Fringe (Heldover), Belltable Arts Centre (Limerick, Ireland), Prague Fringe, University of Victoria Spotlight on Alumni.

Written for and performed by a male actor (Paul Terry), the original production has been sold out, held over and named "Best of the Fest" at fringe and theatre festivals across North America and beyond. The Globe and Mail called it "one of the most beautifully nuanced performances of the entire festival."
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The original production has been retired and the script is now available for production.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

One Act - 62 minutes.

Cast: Solo show. Originally created for a male actor as Margaret, actors of all genders are welcome.

In 1817, a battle of gods and mortals rages in the halls of the British Museum, when ebullient history painter Benjamin Robert Haydon takes his protégé, John Keats, to view the statues of the Parthenon. As Haydon tries to awaken his young friend's appreciation of these treasures of antiquity - the goddess Pallas Athena arrives to reclaim them. Originally conceived for a traverse or corridor stage configuration.

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PREMIERE

Commissioned and premiered by Touchstone Theatre at Performance Works (Vancouver BC). Directed by Katrina Dunn.

DETAILS

2 Acts (100 minutes)
1 Woman, 4 Men

Step up, step up to the Sideshow Annexe! Don't be frightened of Buglov, he'll sell you a ticket. Just hold the coin out in the flat of your palm. Please, no sudden moves.

A short play for a small audience and a 10x10 popup tent.