Eastern Front Theatre artistic director Scott Burke refers to the first play of its new season as a journey back in time into the mind of a child.
Described as a child’s play for adults, Extinction Song by Cape Breton writer Ron Jenkins tells the story of the relationship between seven-year-old James and his alcoholic father, with the play shown entirely from the perspective of the son.
“The audience will really get an opportunity to get inside the head of a seven-year-old,” Burke said of the play that premieres tonight and runs through Nov. 29 at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s Windsor Theatre in Halifax. “It’s a real kind of head trip back to childhood for people.”
The play unfolds over two days, with James insisting he was raised by wolves to escape his day-to-day reality. The one-man show is performed by Edmonton’s Ron Pederson, a veteran theatre actor who also worked for three seasons on Fox’s popular comedy show MADtv.
“It’s a pretty important and meaningful story,” Burke said. “It’s about a child trying to cope with difficult circumstances, and the play itself is extremely imaginative in its writing, in its presentation, in its theatricality that we’re able to bring to the small space at the art gallery.”
There are two main stage plays on the Eastern Front calendar this season. The other is Lauchie, Liza & Rory, which will run April 6 to 18 at Bus Stop Theatre.
Also upcoming is the popular Super Nova Theatre Festival that will be held entirely at Neptune’s Studio Theatre.
Last year, the company performed all of its plays out of Alderney Landing Theatre in Dartmouth.
“We want to establish a more sustaining audience for the kind of work the company needs to do,” Burke said of the upcoming season.
