Possible Worlds - Fanshawe Grads Produce, Direct and Star in Theatre Production

Arcana Theatre - and three Fanshawe grads - will stage John Mighton's award-winning play Possible Worlds at The Arts Project (203 Dundas St., London, ON), opening July 28, 2011.

The play is a thoughtful science fiction love story. It follows George Barber (John McKenzie, Fanshawe Theatre Arts '06), a man who has become aware of his existence across multiple versions of reality. He encounters the same woman, Joyce (Jane Graham), in parallel worlds. In one reality, though, Detectives Berkley and Williams (John Turner and Michael Rooyakkers) are investigating George's peculiar murder.

Playwright John Mighton was born in Hamilton, Ontario and is well-known both for his writing and his work in mathematics education, as creator of JUMP (Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies). Possible Worlds won Mighton the 1992 Governor General's Award for Drama. In 2001 it was adapted into a Genie Award-winning film directed by Robert LePage, starring Tilda Swinton and Tom McCamus.

The play marks Valerie Cotic's first time as a director. A Fanshawe Theatre Arts ('08) graduate, she has been involved in a number of local productions both on and off-stage and will be featured in Iglesia Productions upcoming production of Evil Dead: The Musical this fall. She feels strongly about creating challenging and inventive theatre in London.

"We want to explore what can be done in a more intimate space. For theatre to be compelling you don't need a big city, a big budget and lavish sets; all you need are actors and a space," says Cotic, "With just that you can go anywhere, make anything happen." This ties directly into Possible Worlds, where one of the recurring themes is imagination.

"It's a very interesting play because it's cerebral and at the same time very emotional. It's a beautiful balance." says producer Damon Muma (Advanced Multimedia '11, Multimedia Design and Production '10). "It's entertaining on a number of levels and there are no wasted lines. It's comedic, tender and suspenseful. It'll also leave your brain with something to chew on after it's over."

Cotic recalls that the first time she read the play she immediately wanted to read it again. In case attendees have a similar urge, Arcana will be selling copies of the script afterwards through a special arrangement with the publisher, Playwright's Press.

Possible Worlds opens at the Arts Project on 203 Dundas St with a "Pay What You Can performance" on July 28, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. and runs nightly except for Sunday and Monday until Saturday, August 6, 2011. Tickets are $18 and available at the door or by calling The Arts Project box office at (519) 642-2767.

Another of John Mighton's plays, The Little Years, opened July 13 at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

For more information about this production of Possible Worlds, please visit the Arcana Theatre website at http://arcanatheatre.com/.