Theatre fans have a unique opportunity to get deeper insight into the story that will come to life on the Sagebrush Theatre stage in the coming week.
Gail Anderson-Dargatz is speaking about her best-selling novel, The Cure for Death by Lightning, ahead of the Thursday premiere of Western Canada Theatre’s adaptation.
She’ll be at TRU tomorrow from 11 a.m. to noon to discuss her first novel, which was published in 1998 and named an international bestseller. It was a finalist for the Giller Prize and won the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and a Betty Trask Award.
Western Canada Theatre is taking the story to the stage as part of its (RE)Imagine Series, in recognition of Canada’s 150th birthday and the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“The Cure for Death by Lighting is set in Turtle Valley, near Chase, in the shadow of WWII. The fifteenth summer of Beth Weeks' life is full of strange happenings: a classmate is mauled to death; children go missing on the nearby reserve; and an unseen predator pursues Beth. It’s also a summer of magic and mystery. Through it, she must face the darkness within her own family and the dangers of the bush.”
Playwright and artistic director Daryl Cloran has “adapted the magic of realism,” to breathe new life into the characters, evocative images and story.
“At its core, the story is very much about the relationship between Canada’s settlers and Indigenous people and our shared connection to the land — all seen through the unique perspective of a 15-year-old girl,” Cloran said.
Since releasing A Cure for Death by Lightening, Shuswap resident Anderson-Dargatz has produced three more acclaimed novels, taught creative writing at UBC and established the Providence Bay Writers’ Camp for adults on Manitoulin Island, Ont.
She will also discuss her most recent novel, The Spawning Grounds, which was No.1 on the Huffington Post Best Fall Books List and received praise from The Toronto Star, CBC, The Globe and Mail and several other authors.
The reading and book signing will take place on the third floor in the House of Learning and is free to attend.
A Cure for Death By Lightning is playing at the Sagebrush Theatre from April 6 to April 15. Tickets are at the Kamloops Live Box Office.
