Shuswap Theatre’s third mainstage production and entry into the Okanagan Zone Festival is Peter Whelan’s The Herbal Bed.
This beautifully written drama was created for the Royal Shakespeare Company of Stratford on Avon, London.
The Herbal Bed is a taut, emotional thriller based upon a genuine historical event involving Susanna Hall, the daughter of William Shakespeare. Susanna chose a “good marriage” to an older man, a respected physician. She charges a young gentleman, until recently apprenticed to her husband, with slander over his drunken accusations of an illicit affair and worse.
Where does the truth lie?
Audience members are kept on the edge of their seats as the passions of these all-too-human characters collide with their beliefs about truth and morality.
“There were several things that attracted me to this historical drama when I first read it,” says director Kim MacMillan.
“First was Peter Whelan’s use of language. His phrasing is precise and musical to the ear. Not one line is wasted; each contributes to our understanding of these complex characters.”
MacMillan was also intrigued with the three themes within the play.
• Our lives are sometimes constrained by external events and sometimes by our own choices. How do we respond when the circumstances of our lives and the social rules of our time cause our natural passions to shrivel up?
• A second theme is the question of truth and lies. What is the right thing to do when a lie is required to prevent catastrophic consequences falling upon an innocent party?
• The third theme is that of religious zealotry. The play takes place in 1613 as the “purifiers” and the traditionalists were battling it out for control of the Church of England, a struggle that eventually resulted in civil war. In this story the protagonists are interrogated by a zealous vicar general determined to “scour the kettle clean” of any hint of sin, who believes that “sin feeds on softness as maggots do.”
“In our modern world we are no strangers to the effects of this kind of religious fervour,” MacMillan says. “Of course, part of the appeal of The Herbal Bed is the opportunity to see marvellous 17th century costumes and to experience the world as it was near the end of William Shakespeare’s life.”
While the details are fictionalized, the actual facts of the case are on record. Whelan’s imagination created a gripping scenario that could explain the historical facts.
“I would like to comment on the wonderful group of actors and crew we have assembled for this play,” he adds. “I have rarely seen such hard work and dedication.”
A member of Shuswap Theatre since 1978, MacMillan is passionate about live theatre. His retirement in 2008 has allowed him to immerse himself again after a break of two or three decades. He directed the very popular comedy Wrong for Each Other two years ago and is excited to tackle this thrilling historical drama.
MacMillan first appeared as an actor in Neil Simon’s Come Blow your Horn. His other acting credits include The Crucible, Godspell, Enemy of the People and Two Gents. Offstage, MacMillan has recently moved into technical work, receiving Ozone Festival awards for Best Visual Effects (Emily) and Best Sound Design (Heartbreak House).
The show previews Thursday, April 25 (instead of the regular Friday preview) and opens Saturday, April 27. Evening showtime is 7:30 p.m. April 25, 27, 30, May 1 to 4. A Sunday matinee runs at 1:30 p.m. April 28.
Doors open one hour before curtain. There are no shows on Mondays. Tickets are available at Wearabouts on Alexander St., or at the Shuswap Theatre box office.
Adult tickets are $17, seniors (60 and over) are $15, students $7. Preview night is $9 at the door only and Tuesday is two-for one night.