a Western Canada Theatre Company (Kamloops) / NAC English Theatre Company coproduction Study Guide

Transcription

1 a Western Canada Theatre Company (Kamloops) / NAC English Theatre Company coproduction Study Guide THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE ENGLISH THEATRE PROGRAMMES FOR STUDENT AUDIENCES SEASON Peter Hinton Artistic Director, English Theatre Theatre5 Media Partner Production Partner Touring Partners This Study Guide was written and researched by Deborah James for the National Arts Centre, English Theatre, February It may solely be used for educational purposes. The National Arts Centre English Theatre values the feedback of teachers on the content and format of its Study Guides. We would appreciate your comments on past Study Guides, on this current one, or suggestions on ways to improve future Study Guides. Comments may be directed to Martina Kuska, either by at mkuska@nac-cna.ca or fax at (613)

2 ! " " # $%&' ()* # + ( ",, #-,)* *."& / %" ) &'#67- )( 89"0,): %; * % / "5*/"# #00#+ 5)! 3 ArtsAlive.ca Have You Heard? This NAC hosted site has a wealth of educational resources available for teachers and students of music, English theatre, French theatre, and dance. It s well worth a visit.

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5 The Ecstasy of Rita Joe Study Guide page 3!" #B,E $ Canadian Playwright. The words seem a little incongruous together, like Panamanian hockey-player, almost, or Lebanese fur-trapper. New York Times critic Julius Novick, review of the 1973 Washington production of The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, 30C. &" #BL"#" #E# >?5*/. 3 L &.?%& '? 2 (5*/ #. 8+ &' 3M'"3 #0# 2. 4 &>0 ' 6 4 $"#2 3#> '5*53#.# 8 D F0#5/( 3"A>5/ 83#>,! L!!/ # 7 [Rita Joe] prompted an awareness of the existence of other plays potentially worthy of production. It provided resounding evidence that it was not necessary for any Canadian theatre to rely solely on imported fare... [as] Canadian plays ceased to be a rarity in Englishspeaking Canada. Companies dedicated to the production of new Canadian drama sprung up, and in so doing nurtured the further growth of playwriting activity. Canada s regional theatres some of them grudgingly found themselves forced to take the Canadian playwright seriously for the first time. : *August Schellenberg will appear in the role of David Joe in this production. Mr. Schellenberg is best known for his roles in the films Black Robe (1991) and Crazy Horse (1996). He received an Emmy nomination in 2007 for his portrayal of Sitting Bull in the HBO production of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

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8 The Ecstasy of Rita Joe Study Guide page 6!" #B,,E %B E & ' <4 =$M '- (! #&3* 4 *,' )* 7 ' ) 8 ) C>A <A=<-' 3= &' $ &'>0 % N3 3NN 3 &'?" F C *The Other is a philosophical term describing a process whereby another person or group of people are defined as different or even sub-human to consolidate a group's identity. For example, the Nazi's internal cohesion depended in part on how they defined themselves against (strove to maintain distinctions from) their image of the Jews. 5 %&' 6 &' '">.> 28. N &'! $&'65!7 6@> N > -N?0 '> &> -? >;

9 The Ecstasy of Rita Joe Study Guide page 7 + " #0#35( &.#5/+? + 33 J5! # 3( A %$.#3 4$ 0% +; 63' % & 45:: % &. &3 % A 45* 4 + %&'B"#BLE5*/E %# # 7 2 4& FB5*5EN# 80B5/ENB5/ EN"3B5/(EN+ " H B 20B5/*EEN3HCB5EN"7" "B5 EN $C& B5:E 4!!,$# &3 3 H.# From Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia, Anne Nothof, Athabasca University

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14 The Ecstasy of Rita Joe Study Guide page 12 " # 8' % B E -3 ## 45 6#! #" *. from director David Gardner s program notes for the Playhouse Theatre Centre (Vancouver) 1969 remount production of The Ecstasy of Rita Joe 8 0 F 6@ 3# Q 34># 2F>3 # > /*+9.. : $ ; +.$5# C $2 5/ "6 3A 7 + " ' # " " (" # 2***7 ' " # " *. +.$? >A? L4 F# M3 4 A 4 3 #.# 824 CD $C :!!(? +.$?* 8F " < 9 3 # 4 4 # 4 # )

15 The Ecstasy of Rita Joe Study Guide page 13 " # 8' % B E 9 9 ' & C ) ) 4 F 4 *To read a 19-page summary of this report, go to To read Amnesty International s Six Ways to stop violence against Indigenous women, go to 0*+9. - =: : 2F>3# B2F3#E B4E C!!,4 3# 4 # 34 6@ J5:4 4 <4 = 4 5*! 4 4

16 The Ecstasy of Rita Joe Study Guide page 14 (>? ) B E /* ) 4 %&'& F# -23# ;7F Q+ Q 4 +" > &>Q+ Q 0*." "; 4!!/ %&'B83#E# 7 Ryga s analysis doesn t speak strongly to the present. The play s Native characters lack understanding and agency so they are lost in victimization, unable to take responsibility for their own lives. ( 4 >>82 0 &>82> QF Q

17 The Ecstasy of Rita Joe Study Guide page 15 (>? ) B E 1*" &.M; : 3 " 7 7 (! 233C N 123C' 4 + Q0 6QF Q *Bertolt Brecht ( ) German dramatist and poet best known as the developer of epic theater in which narrative, montage, self-contained scenes, and rational argument were used to create a shock of realization in the spectator. Brecht strove to give the audience a more objective perspective on the action by promoting a style of acting and staging that created a distancing effect. Songs played an important part. Adapted from The Free Dictionary by Farlex. 2* - " <4 = 4 + &'> 3 QF C> 0 '>Q ('#C 0 ' <= F Q

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20 The Ecstasy of Rita Joe Study Guide page 18 /745B L-R: Henry Ramer, August Schellenberg, Frances Hyland, George Bloomfield (director), George Ryga (playwright)

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