Ken Smedley started writing the play in 1986 but found it as relevant as ever when it was published earlier this year.

The Rocky Mountain Prophet 91裸聊视频� A Tragedy In Three Acts, published by Rich Fog Micro Publishing in Vernon, is the life-long playwright91裸聊视频檚 most recent work and the eighth of Smedley91裸聊视频檚 published productions with Rich Fog.

Following the life of Uri Gregarious, an internationally renowned author known as The Rocky Mountain Prophet for his work giving a voice to the disenfranchised, Smedley91裸聊视频檚 play was inspired by events that followed the Vietnam War.

91裸聊视频淭here was an influx of refugees known as Vietnamese boat people. It was a bit of a contentious issue,91裸聊视频� Smedley said. 91裸聊视频�(There was) a degree of skepticism in relation to taking in refugees.91裸聊视频�

Gregarious, Smedley91裸聊视频檚 protagonist, is on his way home to Hinterland after a three-week trip to China after the conclusion of the war. Ever the 91裸聊视频楻ocky Mountain Prophet,91裸聊视频� Gregarious takes in one of such Vietnamese boat people he finds eating garbage from the dumpster behind his Hong Kong hotel. Smedley91裸聊视频檚 protagonist sponsors the beautiful young woman and brings her back to Canada where he intends to collaborate with her on an upcoming novel.

91裸聊视频淭his was kind of the perfect storm for him,91裸聊视频� Smedley said.

But, when Gregarious returns home, he finds a myriad of problems awaiting his attention and life soon gets in the way of his plan.

Gregarious91裸聊视频� wife doesn91裸聊视频檛 want the refugee in their home, his father has returned and is on his deathbed, his stepson is adamant that the now-penniless Gregarious should purchase Hinterland91裸聊视频檚 hospital slated for demolition in hopes of converting the building to an arts centre and his publisher wields a three-week deadline above Gregarious like a sledgehammer.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 got one thing after another. He becomes suddenly overwhelmed with all the different difficulties in his life,91裸聊视频� Smedley said. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 backed into a corner and he91裸聊视频檚 trying to write his way out. As the play progresses, it continues to get worse.91裸聊视频�

A true tragedy of classic Greek proportions, The Rocky Mountain Prophet denotes a new exploration for the Armstrong playwright and one that is as relevant now as when he wrote the first draft in 1986.

91裸聊视频淲hen it comes to the plight of the disenfranchised, there are people in this society that do stand out for people that are voiceless. We91裸聊视频檙e at a point in our own country where we91裸聊视频檙e beginning to question,91裸聊视频� Smedley said. 91裸聊视频淚n Europe, it91裸聊视频檚 just one day after the next that these boat people come from all over Africa. It91裸聊视频檚 an unbelievable situation when you consider the scale of it.91裸聊视频�

Smedley said that he often draws from the real world for his productions. And, despite having several published works, the magic never dissolves.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a real sense of satisfaction in actually getting the piece published. You really realize that in creating it and producing at this level it has been an effect of your own evolution and it91裸聊视频檚 a product of the self. There91裸聊视频檚 a definite degree of satisfaction that comes with realizing the fact that you created this ultimately for yourself and it91裸聊视频檚 an expression that91裸聊视频檚 validated,91裸聊视频� Smedley said, adding that he one day hopes to see The Rocky Mountain Prophet on stage.

91裸聊视频淵ou just never know 91裸聊视频� theatre is a crap-shoot. You91裸聊视频檙e a bit of an anomaly to be even doing such a thing. It91裸聊视频檚 not the most marketable work that exists. It91裸聊视频檚 a labour of love.91裸聊视频�

Smedley has travelled the globe for his work in the theatre. He was a founding member of what is now the Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops where be began his playwright career. He was later employed in professional repertory theatre in England before living and writing in Mexico from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s.

He has also acted in numerous plays and made his directorial debut with George Ryga91裸聊视频檚 controversial production Captives of the Faceless Drummer in 1975. From 1995 to 2012, Smedley was also the artistic director of the . This year, Smedley participated in 91裸聊视频檚 National Playwrights Retreat alongside writers such as Peter Anderson, Scott Maynard, John Millard and Tracey Power.

And while he has done it all, Smedley said his heart belongs to writing.

91裸聊视频淓ver since I was 16, I91裸聊视频檝e been writing plays. It91裸聊视频檚 always been an outlet for my inner self to work at the craft of creating theatre,91裸聊视频� Smedley said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l continue 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 what I am and have been since adolescence. I91裸聊视频檒l always continue to work as a playwright.

91裸聊视频淎t the end of it all when all is said and done, the play will be there as a legacy.91裸聊视频�

parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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