PlayME

Last month, we lost our mentor, colleague, and friend, Gregory J. Sinclair, whose contributions to the world of audio drama and this podcast were invaluable. Greg was an internationally renowned producer and director of audio dramas for CBC Radio and Audible Canada. As Executive Producer at CBC Radio, he developed, produced, and directed multiple acclaimed audio series and specials, including Afghanada and the interactive Trust, Inc. We’ve dedicated this special episode to his legacy in radio drama, including tributes from some of his former CBC colleagues.

Laura talks with writer and performer Diane Flacks about her latest solo show, Guilt (A Love Story). Diane opens up about turning her sometimes painful personal experiences into compelling plays. She shares how she thinks there’s a death of fun in theatre and why she pushes herself to take risks in her work and not play it safe. Diane also talks about her writing experiences for TV, including her stint for the hit series “Kids In The Hall.”

Guilt (A Love Story) by Diane Flacks.

Diane has a monster of guilt growing inside her. She feels it as she and her ex decide to separate after 20 years. It’s there when they tell their two boys that their family life as they once knew it is over.  But it completely consumes her after she signs paperwork at her lawyer’s office officially ending their marriage. Panic follows, and on one of the most important nights of her life, she finds herself lying naked on the floor, unable to move. It’s there that she makes a startling realization.

Guilt (A Love Story) by Diane Flacks.

Diane Flacks has been drinking alot lately. It helps numb her guilt. As she approached mid-life, she threw a bomb into her domestic life. Married for almost two decades and the mom of two boys, she finds herself growing apart from her wife. They attend couples therapy and agree to open up their marriage. She meets a younger woman and falls madly and hopelessly in love. The fallout leaves her grappling with overwhelming pangs of guilt, a sentiment amplified by her Jewish upbringing, where guilt seems ingrained as the "default setting."

Guilt (A Love Story) by Diane Flacks.

Chris talks to Paolo Santalucia about his hit show "Prodigal" and how his experience as an actor and the collaborative nature of theatre helped him find the courage to write his first play. He touches on how audiences have changed since the pandemic and why their slow return to the theatre can be a unique opportunity for artists to embrace. He shares how his Toronto roots drew him to write about class and systems of power and why he loves to write characters who aren't afraid to compromise themselves and those around them to achieve their ambitions.

Edmund, the estranged gay alcoholic son of Rowan and Marilyn, returns to his family after a five-year absence. But he’s not seeking reconciliation. He’s looking for revenge after being cut off from the family trust. His arrival inconveniently coincides with Rowan's career breakthrough, sparking a clash of interests. As tensions rise, Edmund discovers a dirty little secret his father has been keeping and threatens to expose him, igniting a power struggle and putting the Clarks' bonds at risk of unravelling.

Prodigal by Paolo Santalucia.

An explosive family drama about power and privilege 

Rowan Clark is a rich man about to have his dreams come true - he’s about to get a prestigious job. But dark family secrets are lurking that could jeopardize his coveted new position. At the engagement party of his son Henry, the family gathers at their home to celebrate the impending nuptials, but one guest is missing. Their other queer alcoholic son Edmund isn’t invited. And despite Rowan and his wife Marilyn’s attempts to keep their troubled son at a distance, a party crasher shows up at their door, threatening to expose their hidden truths.

Prodigal by Paolo Santalucia.

Laura talks with writers and performers Matthew Mackenzie, a Canadian playwright and Mariya Khomutova, a Ukrainian artist who met in Kiyv during Matthew’s theatre research trip in Ukraine. There, they sparked up a romance and found themselves expecting a baby on the eve of the global pandemic and invasion of Ukraine. The couple shared what it was like turning their very personal love story into an award-winning play and how writing helped strengthen their relationship and saved their mental health during their most challenging times.

Amid a whirlwind long-distance romance, Mariya from Ukraine and Matt from Canada learn they will soon become parents. They plan to marry but find themselves unexpectedly separated for months due to a travel ban amid the pandemic. After Matt embarks on a heroic journey to Odesa to reunite with Mariya, they believe their happily ever after is finally within reach. Their fairytale takes an unsettling turn when Russia invades Ukraine. How can they embark on their new life in Canada when Mariya’s loved ones confront death and devastation back home?

First Metis Man of Odesa is by Matthew MacKenzie and Mariya Khomutova.

A real-life love story that spans continents, a pandemic and an invasion

Matt, a Canadian Metis playwright, falls for Mariya, a Ukrainian actor, during a theatre workshop in Kyiv. They kindle a year-long romance through emails before meeting in Toronto, igniting a whirlwind love affair. But as they face the challenges of a long-distance relationship, doubts creep in for both. Just before the pandemic hits, they receive life-altering news, testing the strength of their bond and the viability of their future together.

First Metis Man of Odesa is by Matthew MacKenzie and Mariya Khomutova.