Stuart Pearce’s words live on a year after the South Simcoe Theatre volunteer passed away.
Pearce’s play, Conversations with Teddy, is part of Four Play: A Showcase of Play Readings, which is being presented at the Cookstown theatre June 5 to 28.
Pearce’s close friend of 20 years, George Gibson, and Janet Lord Genyk, past president of SST, will deliver the reading of Pearce’s most recent play with the addition of some enactment.
Pearce, who had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), died suddenly in May 2007 of a heart attack. He was known to many as a model plane enthusiast and owner of The Hobby Place on Essa Road in Barrie. Having written a number of plays, Pearce would often gather friends together for a run through, and then he would work on his final edit.
Conversations with Teddy focuses on a couple, married 35 years, as they prepare for their friend’s funeral.
“The premise is really quite fascinating, because as Stuart said in his forward, don’t look too closely because you might see yourselves,” noted Gibson, a Stroud lawyer, who enjoys acting in community theatre whenever possible.
Gibson plays the 50 or 60-something Harry and Lord Genyk plays his wife. “Francis is somewhat resigned, fairly strong and comfortable with her life, but not enthusiastically happy,” said Lord Genyk.
“Teddy is a teddy bear. The whole idea is that Harry speaks to Teddy and Frances speaks to Teddy but they don’t really communicate a lot with each other…They think a lot and they know what the other is thinking,” said Gibson.
While Gibson is delighted to take on the role of Harry, the circumstance is met with irony.
“It’s very strange. During this play, Harry’s best friend dies, and Harry has a hard time dealing with it and that comes out in the play. So it’s very appropriate for Stuart’s demise too.”
Gibson, who has appeared in a variety of productions, notably those with Barrie’s former Cerridwen Theatre: A Christmas Carol, Raven’s Croft, The Creature Creeps and The Foreigner, is delighted to be taking to the South Simcoe Theatre stage.
“I’ve always enjoyed acting. In fact, they always say in the heart of every lawyer is a frustrated actor. I think it’s true to a certain extent.”
Conversations with Teddy, first presented June 6, is one of four plays in the series.
Les Belle Soeurs by Michel Tremblay will be presented on June 5; Fire Red Blood by Teresa Brown on June 7. The curtain rises at 8 p.m. with the exception of the matinee at 2 pm on June 8 for The Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekhov.
For tickets to Four Play: A Showcase of Play Readings, June 5-28 call 458-4432 or visit www.southsimcoetheatre.com
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