Paradise

by Patti Flather

english-from-canada
from-british-columbia
from-the-north
theatrical

A haunting, poetic story about four characters struggling to find grace and humanity, Paradise explores trauma, mental illness, addiction, and the lengths we’ll go for personal freedom. After a traumatic assault in Central America, Rachel returns home, but it isn’t the reprieve she expected. She comes back to turmoil between her parents, and a part-time job in her dad’s medical office. Her father, George, full of endearing blunder, tries unsuccessfully to connect with his daughter, who seems to be reeling. Her childhood friend Khalil isn’t around to provide support. He’s in Afghanistan travelling and volunteering when he is wrongfully arrested. On the periphery is Wally—off work because of a logging injury—who spends a great deal of time in George’s office. Wally struggles to buy food for his dog Lucky, his rent payments are overdue, and the ringing in his ears just won’t stop. He’s looking for help in all the right places, but nobody seems to notice he’s deteriorating until it’s too late.

Contributors

Patti Flather, author

Patti Flather is the co-founder of Gwaandak Theatre, which develops and shares Indigenous and Northern stories for the stage. Some of her other plays include Sixty Below, West Edmonton Mall, Where the River Meets the Sea, and Street Signs (formerly The Soul Menders). Her fiction has appeared in literary publications including Prairie Fire, dANDelion, Room of One’s Own, and Nashwaak Review. Patti is a recipient of the Yukon Arts Builder Award and a past winner of Theatre BC’s national playwriting competition. She has an MFA in Creative Writing and is a writer, dramaturge, director, educator, and screenwriter. Patti grew up in North Vancouver, but now lives in Whitehorse.

Reviews

“Paradise" is a powerful play that talks about some important issues while giving no easy answers. - Zeb Berryman, The Evening Star Link to review
This incredible body of work is as complex as it is poetic . . . Flather’s work brilliantly constructs a narrative in which we hear at the same time echoes of John Milton’s powerful Paradise Lost and Joni Mitchell’s popular ‘Big Yellow Taxi. - Carolina Miranda, Feminine Harbor Link to review
“Paradise" is as beautiful as it is unsettling, linking stories of peaches, snakes, dogs, limericks, and ordinary people under stress. - Ric Knowles, Professor of Theatre Studies, University of Guelph

Rights Holder

Rights Holder: Playwrights Canada Press

email: info@playwrightscanada.com

website: www.playwrightscanada.com

rights available: World, excl. North America

Additional Information

number of pages: 112

publication date: 04/25/2017

Original language of pub: English

Materials Available: finished book