It香蕉视频直播檚 difficult to discuss the history of arts and culture in Vernon without coming across the name Sveva Caetani.
Her role in crafting the city香蕉视频直播檚 artistic community is unparalleled, and in celebration of her life, Powerhouse Theatre shares her story in Sveva, running at the theatre Oct. 18-28.
For the original play, as part of their Canada 150 celebrations, Powerhouse Theatre brought in professional director Kevin McKendrick and playwright Janet Munsil to create the exclusive production.
香蕉视频直播淭he play itself, like most good plays, is about relationships,香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said, adding that the play follows not only Caetani香蕉视频直播檚 relationship with the community, but her relationship with her family as well.
Sveva was uprooted from Rome in 1921, when her father Leone 香蕉视频直播� an Italian nobleman 香蕉视频直播� sought to escape Mussolini香蕉视频直播檚 fascist regime, bringing his daughter Sveva and his mistress Ofelia Fabiani.
香蕉视频直播淪ome say he spun the globe and his finger landed on Vernon,香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said, adding that Leone was an avid hunter who had visited the beautiful British Columbian backwoods prior to the Caetanis香蕉视频直播� relocation.
However, not all members of the family were so thrilled.
香蕉视频直播淥felia wants nothing to do with Vernon,香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said.
To satisfy Ofelia香蕉视频直播檚 highfalutin tastes, the family visited home often, until money became tight and they could no longer afford the luxury trips.
Sveva and Leone were close until his death in 1935, when suddenly Ofelia and Sveva香蕉视频直播檚 relationship took a turn.
香蕉视频直播淎 really big part of the play is the relationship between a mother and daughter,香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen Sveva香蕉视频直播檚 father dies, Ofelia kind of guilts her into staying home.香蕉视频直播�
Then a young adult, having recently lost her father, Sveva was condemned to a life of solitude, spending the majority of her time in her family香蕉视频直播檚 wooden home on Pleasant Valley Road.
香蕉视频直播淔or 24 years, she香蕉视频直播檚 like a house prisoner. All she has is her books. Her mother won香蕉视频直播檛 even allow her to paint,香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said. 香蕉视频直播�Divine Comedy was an important book for her father. When he died, he told her to learn this book.香蕉视频直播�
After more than two decades spent indoors with little connection to the outside world, Ophelia passed away and Sveva left home. She香蕉视频直播檚 42-years-old with no money and no education, but she could reconnect with her love of art.
Utilizing her newfound freedom to paint and a worldview forged from literature, Sveva went to work and her series of 56 large-scale paintings Recapitulation was born.
香蕉视频直播�Recapitulation chronicles Sveva香蕉视频直播檚 take on hell, purgatory and heaven,香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said, adding that a partial inspiration for the series stemmed from her father香蕉视频直播檚 love of Dante Alighieri香蕉视频直播檚 Divine Comedy. 香蕉视频直播淪he has a worldview through literature and her imagination. She was able to access her imagination like most can香蕉视频直播檛. (It香蕉视频直播檚) discovering the artist in you by looking at the world through a lens that香蕉视频直播檚 a little bit wider.香蕉视频直播�
In time, Sveva reconnected with the community and eventually pursued an education and became an art instructor in Lumby.
Wrought with hardships and familial obligation, Sveva follows themes of coping with dysfunction in families and our relationships with ourselves and our community.
香蕉视频直播淲hen we do encounter diversity, how do we handle those waves?香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said. 香蕉视频直播淪ome react with fear and some are more mystified.香蕉视频直播�
In our world of immigration and the ongoing refugee crisis, Sveva香蕉视频直播檚 story is just as relevant as ever, McKendrick said.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e faced with a situation today where we have strangers in our midst that we香蕉视频直播檙e trying to come to terms with,香蕉视频直播� he said.
And it香蕉视频直播檚 a message that is woven throughout the Powerhouse production.
香蕉视频直播淭heatre at its best should provoke yet entertain. The piece should be provocative, not just in subject matter but how it香蕉视频直播檚 shown,香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said. 香蕉视频直播淲e certainly have a diet for entertainment in the form of television and movies that tell us what to think. In theatre, you make your own decision on what香蕉视频直播檚 right and what香蕉视频直播檚 wrong. If people don香蕉视频直播檛 come out of that going, 香蕉视频直播榃ow, it moved me,香蕉视频直播� if that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 happen, we香蕉视频直播檝e missed the mark. But we have been working hard to ensure that happens.香蕉视频直播�
Despite the biting message, McKendrick said at its core, theatre is still a form of entertainment.
香蕉视频直播淭he play that Janet has given us is highly impressionistic. As a viewer, you just have to come and experience it,香蕉视频直播� McKendrick said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e never going to understand everything about life, it香蕉视频直播檚 too complex香蕉视频直播� It香蕉视频直播檚 not a traditional play even though it has traditional elements.香蕉视频直播�
Boasting a 20-person cast with performers ranging from ages eight to 78, Sveva is a local story that showcases local talent.
And for Sveva, that was the ultimate goal: bringing art back to the community.
香蕉视频直播淎rt doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have to be inaccessible. Art is in our watches and our dinner plates. Art isn香蕉视频直播檛 something we should be afraid of.香蕉视频直播�
Powerhouse Theatre presents Sveva Oct. 18-28, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinees Oct. 22 and Oct. 28. Tickets are available for $28 for adults and $22 for students from the Ticket Seller, 250-249-7469, .
