It91裸聊视频檚 difficult to discuss the history of arts and culture in Vernon without coming across the name Sveva Caetani.
Her role in crafting the city91裸聊视频檚 artistic community is unparalleled, and in celebration of her life, Powerhouse Theatre shares her story in Sveva, running at the theatre Oct. 18-28.
For the original play, as part of their Canada 150 celebrations, Powerhouse Theatre brought in professional director Kevin McKendrick and playwright Janet Munsil to create the exclusive production.
91裸聊视频淭he play itself, like most good plays, is about relationships,91裸聊视频� McKendrick said, adding that the play follows not only Caetani91裸聊视频檚 relationship with the community, but her relationship with her family as well.
Sveva was uprooted from Rome in 1921, when her father Leone 91裸聊视频� an Italian nobleman 91裸聊视频� sought to escape Mussolini91裸聊视频檚 fascist regime, bringing his daughter Sveva and his mistress Ofelia Fabiani.
91裸聊视频淪ome say he spun the globe and his finger landed on Vernon,91裸聊视频� McKendrick said, adding that Leone was an avid hunter who had visited the beautiful British Columbian backwoods prior to the Caetanis91裸聊视频� relocation.
However, not all members of the family were so thrilled.
91裸聊视频淥felia wants nothing to do with Vernon,91裸聊视频� McKendrick said.
To satisfy Ofelia91裸聊视频檚 highfalutin tastes, the family visited home often, until money became tight and they could no longer afford the luxury trips.
Sveva and Leone were close until his death in 1935, when suddenly Ofelia and Sveva91裸聊视频檚 relationship took a turn.
91裸聊视频淎 really big part of the play is the relationship between a mother and daughter,91裸聊视频� McKendrick said. 91裸聊视频淲hen Sveva91裸聊视频檚 father dies, Ofelia kind of guilts her into staying home.91裸聊视频�
Then a young adult, having recently lost her father, Sveva was condemned to a life of solitude, spending the majority of her time in her family91裸聊视频檚 wooden home on Pleasant Valley Road.
91裸聊视频淔or 24 years, she91裸聊视频檚 like a house prisoner. All she has is her books. Her mother won91裸聊视频檛 even allow her to paint,91裸聊视频� McKendrick said. 91裸聊视频�Divine Comedy was an important book for her father. When he died, he told her to learn this book.91裸聊视频�
After more than two decades spent indoors with little connection to the outside world, Ophelia passed away and Sveva left home. She91裸聊视频檚 42-years-old with no money and no education, but she could reconnect with her love of art.
Utilizing her newfound freedom to paint and a worldview forged from literature, Sveva went to work and her series of 56 large-scale paintings Recapitulation was born.
91裸聊视频�Recapitulation chronicles Sveva91裸聊视频檚 take on hell, purgatory and heaven,91裸聊视频� McKendrick said, adding that a partial inspiration for the series stemmed from her father91裸聊视频檚 love of Dante Alighieri91裸聊视频檚 Divine Comedy. 91裸聊视频淪he has a worldview through literature and her imagination. She was able to access her imagination like most can91裸聊视频檛. (It91裸聊视频檚) discovering the artist in you by looking at the world through a lens that91裸聊视频檚 a little bit wider.91裸聊视频�
In time, Sveva reconnected with the community and eventually pursued an education and became an art instructor in Lumby.
Wrought with hardships and familial obligation, Sveva follows themes of coping with dysfunction in families and our relationships with ourselves and our community.
91裸聊视频淲hen we do encounter diversity, how do we handle those waves?91裸聊视频� McKendrick said. 91裸聊视频淪ome react with fear and some are more mystified.91裸聊视频�
In our world of immigration and the ongoing refugee crisis, Sveva91裸聊视频檚 story is just as relevant as ever, McKendrick said.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e faced with a situation today where we have strangers in our midst that we91裸聊视频檙e trying to come to terms with,91裸聊视频� he said.
And it91裸聊视频檚 a message that is woven throughout the Powerhouse production.
91裸聊视频淭heatre at its best should provoke yet entertain. The piece should be provocative, not just in subject matter but how it91裸聊视频檚 shown,91裸聊视频� McKendrick said. 91裸聊视频淲e certainly have a diet for entertainment in the form of television and movies that tell us what to think. In theatre, you make your own decision on what91裸聊视频檚 right and what91裸聊视频檚 wrong. If people don91裸聊视频檛 come out of that going, 91裸聊视频榃ow, it moved me,91裸聊视频� if that doesn91裸聊视频檛 happen, we91裸聊视频檝e missed the mark. But we have been working hard to ensure that happens.91裸聊视频�
Despite the biting message, McKendrick said at its core, theatre is still a form of entertainment.
91裸聊视频淭he play that Janet has given us is highly impressionistic. As a viewer, you just have to come and experience it,91裸聊视频� McKendrick said. 91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e never going to understand everything about life, it91裸聊视频檚 too complex91裸聊视频� It91裸聊视频檚 not a traditional play even though it has traditional elements.91裸聊视频�
Boasting a 20-person cast with performers ranging from ages eight to 78, Sveva is a local story that showcases local talent.
And for Sveva, that was the ultimate goal: bringing art back to the community.
91裸聊视频淎rt doesn91裸聊视频檛 have to be inaccessible. Art is in our watches and our dinner plates. Art isn91裸聊视频檛 something we should be afraid of.91裸聊视频�
Powerhouse Theatre presents Sveva Oct. 18-28, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinees Oct. 22 and Oct. 28. Tickets are available for $28 for adults and $22 for students from the Ticket Seller, 250-249-7469, .
