wolf at the door | playwright's notes

Notes from playwright Tina Teeninga on WOLF AT THE DOOR.  We're finally producing a staged reading of this play after years of working with Tina to develop the script! June 22 & 23 at 8pm, tickets are pay-what-you-can at the door for this one.

I love wildflower gardens. There is something inviting about a plot of land given the freedom to grow at will, and something refreshing about its imperfection and wildness. It may lack the mathematical precision of a classical Italian garden or the trim tidiness of a traditional French garden, but there is something about a wildflower garden that encourages dreaming, inspired thinking, and even reflection.

The play began as a seed when my high school teacher taught us about the Luddites. I was fascinated by their gutsy reaction to the cultural changes of their time. As an apprentice years ago, pondering potential plots for my first full length play, the story of the Luddites suddenly - and I mean, suddenly - came back to me, like banging my head on a low hanging chandelier at a new friend’s house. (Thanks, God.) The script found its plot of land at the Rosedale on Robson Playwriting Conference, and from then on has been warmly supported, encouraged and developed, most persistently, by Ron Reed. Kathy Parsons, as my long-term dramaturge, has offered plenty of ideas, creativity and sharp thinking. Throughout the years, many talented, generous actors lent their spirited intelligence to give voice to the script’s characters in private table readings. The play is richer because of these people. And possibly more wild.

And so we come to this workshop production, staged reading of ‘Wolf at the Door’. Not every flower may be in full bloom, some grasses may need more water, and there may be some weeds to pull out. But feel free to lay down amongst the tall grasses and imagine what could be, dream a little, think, and even kick a soccer ball around.