showA Great Place to See guideGreat Theatre Inside Belfry The Gunpowder Plot Theatre Belfry B4Play The Belfry Librarian EQUIVOCATION by Bill Cain

One of the most bracingly intelligent, sizzlingly theatrical American plays in a decade. VARIETY

APRIL 22 – MAY 25, 2014 www.belfry.bc.ca/equivocation A co-production with BARD ON THE BEACH, Vancouver. Performance Schedule April 22– May 25, 2014 SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT Why I Chose This Play APRIL 19 11am B4Play I was in New York City Equivocation takes place questions from in December 2011. in two worlds: the world Protestant inquisitors. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 My cell phone rang while of theatre and the world By equivocating – using Preview Preview Opening 4pm I was walking in Central of politics. It takes us ambiguous language 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm Shakespeare’s Park. It was Christopher backstage at the Globe to conceal the truth – Birthday Gaze, Artistic Director Theatre, showing us one could avoid lying or 27 28 29 30 MAY1 2 3 of Vancouver’s Bard on Shakespeare struggling committing perjury. 2pm 1 pm 4pm the Beach Shakespeare to put onstage humanity 7:30pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm In Macbeth, the drunken Festival. “Michael, do in all its nakedness. Booksmack! Afterplay Afterplay Talkback Afterplay Afterplay Porter plays at being you know a play called It introduces us to the the gatekeeper of hell. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Equivocation?”“I certainly court of King James I, and Among the sinners that 2pm 1 pm 4pm do, and I love it.”“Would the power behind the he pretends to welcome Childcare 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm you be interested in throne, Sir Robert Cecil. through the gates is an a co-production with It’s raw material that’s “equivocator that could Bard on the Beach?” juicy and engrossing, 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 swear in both the scales 2pm 1 pm Student 4pm “Definitely! I have had and playwright Bill Cain against either scale”. ASL 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm it on my list of plays brings these worlds Afterplay Afterplay Afterplay Afterplay Afterplay This line is commonly to produce for a number together with a very con- believed to be a reference of years!” Thus began temporary perspective. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 to Father Garnet, and 2pm 4pm our collaboration on this The play is ignited by the it holds a key to the VocalEye 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 8pm funny, dark and complex friction between politics mysteries of Bill Cain’s play – our first collabora- and art. Is it possible thrilling Equivocation. tion with Bard and, 25 to make a deal with the In fact, “the Scottish play” in fact, Bard’s first ever 2pm devil and still remain serves as a surprising Closing Greater Victoria Public Library Talks collaborative production! May 2 at 10:30 am –11:15am / Bruce Hutchison Branch an artist? Is it possible to talisman as Shakespeare May 16 at 10:30 am –11:15am / Central Branch Equivocation is one of deliver on the terms of maneuvers his way ASL An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performance. those plays that belong a contract and still create through the ethical and VocalEye Audio describers provide descriptions of the visual elements on the Belfry stage; it is what is in your heart? artistic obstacles that of the show. intriguing, stimulating, How do you remain free beset him. totally engaging and in the creative act once BOX OFFICE HOURS During Performance Weeks Tickets as intelligent as our you’ve tethered yourself Monday 9:30 am–5pm audience. to someone else’s Tuesday–Saturday 9:30 am–7pm 250-385-6815 or desires? Tuesday– Sunday one hour prior to curtain time It’s a play about ethics for in person sales only. Michael Shamata www.belfry.bc.ca and moral choices. One of the many charac- During Non-performance Weeks Artistic Director Monday–Friday 9:30 am –5pm It’s a play that asks the ters in Equivocation question, is it possible is Father Henry Garnet, to move through life, head of the Jesuits in to exist in the world, England, and author B4PLAY Saturday, April 19 at11am without compromising of “A Treatise of Belfry Theatre, Studio A, 1291Gladstone Avenue one’s character and Equivocation,” written one’s beliefs? to instruct Catholics how Join CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie for a live talk show featuring to deal with dangerous actor Bob Frazer and director Michael Shamata from Equivocation and some very special guests. Free event. The Gunpowder Plot, then and now by Erin E. Kelly Hello For the first months of James I’s reign, English Nevertheless, by July the plotters had filled The testimony of Thomas Bates implicated citizens unhappy with Elizabeth’s Protestant their undercroft with barrels of gunpowder. Henry Garnet for being privy to the conspir- Welcome to the Belfry Theatre church hoped that the new ruler would The plan was finalized by October. Guy Fawkes ators’ scheming. Garnet was captured in and our new production of Equivocation by Bill Cain. improve their situation. James’s mother Mary accepted the assignment to light the fuse January1606. All were sentenced to the Queen of Scots was a Catholic, so many English on the opening day of Parliament, scheduled horrible execution due to a traitor – to be Equivocation premiered at the Catholics thought the new monarch would for early November. He planned to escape hung by the neck, cut down while still alive, Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland in 2009. The Belfry’s allow them to practice more openly. They across the Thames in time to see the massive disemboweled, beheaded, and quartered. had reason to be hopeful since James initially explosion that would liberate Catholics from production is only the second Even at the time of his trial, there was some in Canada, and our first declared he would not “persecute any that James’s tyranny. controversy about the involvement of Garnet. co-production with Vancouver’s will be quiet and give an outward obedience On 26 October, Lord Monteagle, a Catholic The priest maintained that he knew nothing, Bard on the Beach, where to the law.” Fears about Catholic attempts to Equivocation will run until and a member of Parliament, received a letter but an overheard prison conversation overthrow the Protestant regime intensified, mid-September. warning him not to attend the first session suggested that he was aware of the plot, albeit however, after a1603 plan to kidnap James because “though there be no appearance of unable to reveal that information because Equivocation is part political and force him to proclaim legal toleration of thriller, part backstage comedy. any stir, yet I say they shall receive a terrible it was shared under seal of confession. To Catholics and a1604 scheme to replace James The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 blow this Parliament.” Monteagle handed complicate matters further, Garnet authored with his Catholic cousin Arabella Stuart. These (in earlier centuries also called the letter to Robert Cecil, the king’s Secretary A Treatise of Equivocation (c1598), which the Jesuit Treason) serves experiences caused the king to become more of State. When the king read the letter, he explained how an individual could seem to as the backdrop for the play. restrictive towards Catholics. Playwright and actor William recognized that the word “blow” signified lie in the name of defending a greater truth; Shagspeare is summoned Increasing oppression led a small group to gunpowder. A search of the Parliament this made it difficult to take at face value to the palace. He’s to write seek freedom for English Catholics by blowing buildings on 4 November discovered the anything Garnet said in his defense. Yet some a “true history” for King James up Parliament with the king and his family undercroft – and Guy Fawkes. remained convinced Garnet was innocent. of the failed plot. The trouble inside. Robert Catesby seems to have been Reportedly, no one cheered when his heart is he’s not sure where the As news of Fawkes’s arrest spread, the other the instigator, inviting Thomas Wintour and was held up during his execution. fiction may start and where plotters sped away from London. Most hid Guy Fawkes to help implement his plan. Over the facts may lead. in a house near Staffordshire, where they Some believe that English officials overreached the next few months, more men joined the We’re thrilled to be bringing attempted to dry out some damp gunpowder even before they tried Father Garnet. No one conspiracy. In March1605, they leased an this brilliant play to you to use in a last stand. The gunpowder exploded, knows who wrote the Monteagle letter, much undercroft situated beneath the Parliament as we close our current season badly burning Catesby. Soonafter, the sheriff less how James came to his understanding of and we look forward to seeing buildings. Robert Catesby met in June with arrived with two hundred men. When the its full implications. It is thus easy to speculate you soon. a Jesuit named Henry Garnet, allegedly to ask shooting stopped, only Thomas Wintour and that someone involved in the government about the morality of engaging in a necessary three other plotters were left to be arrested. learned about the plot but chose to reveal action that would kill innocent bystanders. Remaining conspirators were captured over it at a time and in a way that would allow it It is unclear what Garnet advised, but Garnet the next few days, and others who might have to very nearly play out, thus enabling the later claimed that he showed Catesby a letter known about their plans were rounded up. punishment of a great number of Catholics. I want to tell the truth. from the Pope that forbade rebellion. I just don’t want to get caught at it. SHAGSPEARE, EQUIVOCATION cast& creatives

Anousha Rachel Cairns Bob Frazer Anton Shawn Gerry Mackay “ Alamian Lipovetsky MacDonald CALENDAR OF EVENTS d The fact that the government controlled The Belfry AFTERPLAY WEEKS ASL PERFORMANCE pir- the sale and distribution of gunpowder has Librarian April 29 – May 3 / May 13–17 May 11at 2pm even caused some to see the entire plot as Following selected performances of An American Sign Language (ASL) Equivocation, we’ll host Afterplay – interpreted performance for people who We’ve unleashed the GVPL a government conspiracy. Whether or not this a facilitated discussion where patrons are deaf or hard of hearing. Certified Librarians on our season scripts. was the case, it hardly seems possible that can share their thoughts with fellow interpreters, standing to the left side of For Equivocation our Librarian ve, greater fear and hatred of Catholics could audience members. It’s a chance to the stage, interpret the script and language has put together a list of books “debrief” after the show and hear how used by the actors at the same time it is . have been generated among the English to help you get even more out other audience members experienced being performed. Protestant population than what resulted of our production. me the play. from the Gunpowder Plot. net. Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? VOCALEYE PERFORMANCE ng, Even now, the English mark 5 November by James S. Shapiro (2010) TALKBACK THURSDAY May 18 at 2pm as Guy Fawkes Day by lighting bonfires, Faith and Treason: Terror and Faith in1605 Thursday, May 1 Audio describers provide descriptions of by Antonia Fraser (1996) Following the 8pm performance of the visual elements of the show, allowing beit a continuation of seventeenth-century The Firemaster’s Mistress Equivocation, join the actors from the show people with low vision to enjoy the e celebrations of the king’s deliverance from by Christie Dickason (2005) and your fellow audience members for theatrical experience without missing any assassination. The related tradition of burning Fool a 20-minute Q & A session. of the details. Following the performance red Guy Fawkes in effigy has largely died out, by Christopher Moore (2009) there is a touch tour of the set. but this plotter remains a powerful symbol. Gunpowder Plot: BELFRY AT THE LIBRARY Delve into the themes and peek behind to The main character in V for Vendetta wears A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery by Carola Dunn (2006) the scenes of Bill Cain’s play Equivocation th; a Guy Fawkes mask as he attempts to over- Gunpowder Plots during this casual conversation with throw a totalitarian government, and members by Brenda Buchanan & others (2005) an artist from the show and an expert from the community. Register online at me of the Occupy movement and the online Living With Shakespeare: Essays t. collective Anonymous have adopted this by Writers, Actors, and Directors (2013) www.gvpl.ca or call your local branch for 2014/15 Season Tickets more information about these free events. rt mask as an emblem of individual liberty Macbeth are on sale now. by William Shakespeare, Friday, May 2 at10:30am–11:15am fighting oppression. To learn more about how you can illustrated by Von (Graphic Novel, (2006) Bruce Hutchison Branch see the new shows and save, hed With its exploration of the Gunpowder Plot, Revenger: A Novel of Tudor Intrigue Friday, May16 at10:30am–11:15am you can pick up a renewal brochure by Rory Clements (2011) Central Branch one Bill Cain’s Equivocation captures more than at our Box Office, or call us at uch just the complex religious environment of Shakespeare, the King’s Playwright: The- 250-385-6815 and we’ll pop one ater in the Stuart Court,1603-1613 BOOKSMACK! g of Shakespeare’s England. It reminds us of the in the post, or visit us online at by Alvin Bernard Kernan (1995) Monday, April 28 at 7:30pm late fear, fascination, and sympathy that can still www.belfry.bc.ca. Shakespeare’s Restless World Fast, furious and fun, GVPL librarians return t be aroused by individuals willing to die for by Neil MacGregor (2012) to the Belfry for Booksmack. They’ll let their al what they see as a just cause. A Year in the Life hair down, take off their glasses and speed review their favourite books. Highbrow, it Erin E. Kelly, Assistant Professor, Department of English, of William Shakespeare,1599 University of Victoria by James S. Shapiro (2005) lowbrow and everything in between, including some great titles inspired by cs. List Compiled by Jennifer Rowan, GVPL.

EQUIVOCATION / PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JO-ANN RICHARDS / WORKS PHOTOGRAPHY • JANE FRANCIS DESIGN Equivocation. Free event. www.belfry.bc.ca Connect with us at [email protected] Michael Shamata Kevin McAllister Nancy Bryant Alan Brodie Tobin Stokes Director Set Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Composer/ Facebook,Twitter, tumblr, Vimeo,YouTube, LinkedIn Sound Designer SingleTickets from $25–$40 (plus GST) at 250-385-6815

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