Two divorcees, a pair of single seniors and a waitress — all searching for a missing link in their lives — come together by accident in a little Internet café.
In an attempt to fill the void in their respective worlds, the five characters face modern day pressures of love, loneliness and social awkwardness.
Nor a Roof Against the Rain is the annual production from the St. Alban’s Players, which opens for the first of two nights Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 22 at St. Alban’s Parish Hall.
Played by a teacher (Kelly Hawbolt), a former Mountie making his theatrical debut (Scott Stewart), two retired seniors (David Kimpton and Nina Graham) and debutant Candice Maitson, who plays the waitress, the show promises to open a window into the challenges faced by people who find themselves at a crossroad.
The title of the play is a quote from a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, however, the story was written by artistic director Joan Swan, a former member of the Vancouver Little Theatre who worked in theatre in California.
“It’s about people who’ve had relationships in the past that haven’t worked out and, by chance, they all kind of meet up,” said Swan.
“They’re not young, but they go to the Internet and they find something that’s not been in their lives. It’s about how their lives are impacted by this.”
In terms of the characters, Swan said we all know someone like this in our own lives today.
“In the past, these people would have met in a church, at a community club or something,” added Swan.
“But those options are more rare now and people are more cocooned, avoid eye contact to avoid talking to each other.
“The characters are frightened to take the first step and I hope (the audience) will sense that fear.”
The play is the amateur group’s sixth annual production, its only public show of the year, with rehearsals beginning as early as late summer.
“We will go once a week for a couple of hours at a time. When it gets nearer to opening night, we will rehearse three times a week,” said Swan.
“Scott (Stewart) is a little nervous, this is his first play. But he’s playing opposite Kelly, who is very good, so he will be fine I’m sure.”
Tickets are $20 each and are available at the church office at 7260 St. Alban’s Rd.
