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John LeClair, left, and Pete Sauvé rehearse a scene from the Huronia Players production “Dancock’s Dance,” which opens Feb. 11.

Dance on the dark side

BY Nicole Million February 03, 2010 16:02

MIDLAND – The director of Huronia Players’ next production is promising a show with a bit more meat.
“Dancock’s Dance,” written by Canadian author and Governor General’s Award winner Guy Vanderhaeghe, takes place in a Saskatchewan mental institution in 1918, a year director Ron Payne noted is significant in Canadian history due to the start of the Spanish influenza.
Dancock, played by Pete Sauve, is a soldier who has been committed after returning from the war.
“Today we’d say he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Payne. “(The play is) about his battle with his secret he brings home from the war … and the people that he meets within the institution that he helps, unbeknownst to him, even though he’s battling his own demons.”
Payne said the play was chosen for several reasons, most notably its difficulty and its darker subject matter.
“Technically, it’s a very hard play to do within the confines of our small theatre,” he said. “It has 22 scenes, which means 22 set changes.
“It was also chosen because we thought it was time. Our group usually (does) lighter plays and, once in a while, tries to get something with a little more meat in it.”
Rehearsals for the second Huronia Players production of the season started at the end of September, and have been taking place three times a week. The cast includes many familiar cast members, including Doug Ironside, John Bleasby, John LeClair and Dave Steffler.
Sauve said the role of Lieut. Dancock is the richest character he’s ever played.
“It deals with every range of emotion. There’s love, hatred, bitterness, happiness – just about everything we could experience,” he said. “It’s a great challenge.”
Sauve, who has been with the group for about a year, said he is looking forward to opening night.
“It’s not the usual for a Huronia Players production…. There are some very thought-provoking (scenes), and maybe a disturbing scene or two,” he said. “Hopefully, we can leave the audience with the story that was told.”
Payne noted audiences will likely be drawn to the parallels between the play and current events, including the return of Canadian soldiers from Afghanistan and the H1N1 influenza scare.
“Dancock’s Dance” opens Feb. 11 and runs until Feb. 27. Tickets are available at the Huronia Players box office, located in the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre. For more information, visit www.huroniaplayers.ca.

nmillion@simcoe.com

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