Article Added On: September 22, 2008 - over 3 years ago
Title: Drama will take you on a spiritual journey
Original URL: http://www.mordentimes.com/News/418493.html
Author: Melanie Penner
Publication: Morden Times
Publication Date: September 19, 2008 - over 3 years ago
Faith Groups: Native Spirituality
Themes: Religion and society, other

Abstract: The play aims to bring about a change in the observers - a transformation in how they see themselves in relationship to other people, to their own spiritual journey and also to aboriginal culture and heritage


A new play telling the ancient stories behind the rock art created by Metis artist Natalie Rostad will come to life during the upcoming Chautauqua Celebration Festival in Morden.

The play, When the Stone Speaks, has been developed by Gerald Pauls and players from the Poor Theatre Company of Morden.

PTC will present this 30-minute drama at each evening concert September 26 and 27 at the Morden Recreation Centre.

The play is inspired by the images from the rock art of Rostad, who began her visual arts career with the Pembina Hills Arts Group. It aims to stimulate broad interest in Natalie’s exhibition and the stories behind her rock art.

The play focuses on and features the ‘healing stone’ at The Forks in Winnipeg as a sample of Rostad’s art and craft.

Pauls, a local drama teacher with extensive theatre training in Canada and the U.S, said the play tells the story of six modern-day characters who venture on a pilgrimage to a native shrine called the healing stone and who experience a transformation in the process.

“The healing stone is well-suited for this purpose because of it’s iconic qualities ... its sheer size and mass,” said Pauls, who also noted “its location at a place of historical and cultural significance for the aboriginal community.

“There is also its complex array of paintings and symbols relating to aboriginal spirituality, not to mention its geological significance as a pre-Cambrian shield rock, the oldest rock in the world.”

The goal of the play is to bring about a change in the observers - a transformation in how they see themselves in relationship to other people, to their own spiritual journey and also to aboriginal culture and heritage.

“From mere tourists and onlookers, they are transformed into active participants, who take on the character roles and retell the stories that they discover in the stone. The stories are born out of the rock itself and tell us about ‘a world before this one’,” he said.

“To an outside observer, unacquainted with Rostad’s work and unfamiliar with native spirituality, a rock is a rock,” added Pauls. “But her artwork asks the observer to look again ... to look deeper ... and to listen.”

At the end of the play, the travellers return home to share what they have learned about themselves, their relationship to other people, their spiritual journey and about aboriginal culture and spirituality.

PTC embarked on this project back in May when company members participated in a day-long healing workshop led by Rostad.

The workshop began with a visit to the healing stone - a work by Rostad featuring over 100 images which is installed as a permanent outdoor exhibition at the Winnipeg Forks. From there, the workshop proceeded to the aboriginal centre, where participants engaged in some hands-on rock painting to explore the unique process and technique of Rostad’s work.

When the Stone Speaks will be performed by a cast of six actors consisting of veteran PTC performers including Jennifer Ching, Natashia Durand, Jaclyn Kozak, Andrei Mardli, Jeremy Rampton and Reid Sloan. Tiffany Tilley, another member of the company, participated in the collective creation process throughout June and July. All members of the cast have performed in local stage productions for several years, and some are currently pursuing theatre studies at the post-secondary level.

The cast will also be joined by on stage musicians Al and Loretta Thorleifson of Manitou. The duo will perform original music created for the show on wood flute, recorder, hand drum and various other percussion instruments.

There will be two performances during the Chautauqua Celebration Festival Fri., Sept. 26 and Sat., Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. under the tent at the Morden Rec. Centre. The play starts at 7 p.m. each evening and admission is free.

The entirely new four day festival will serve as the crowning event of the many Chautauqua Spirit activities this year. For more information you can visit the website at www.chautauquaspirit.com.