how to write | responses

"I must say I was very touched by ‘How to Write a New Book for the Bible” The script gave me so much to think about (which is typical for most PT productions). And Erla Faye Forsythe has once again given an award deserving performance! Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful live theatre experience." | Barbie, email

"I loved this play - for its heart and its bite. Erla and Anthony were so spot on in their mother & son roles that I almost felt like I was peeking in on real lives. Just when I when they were becoming familiar, there was another surprise - no one dimensional characters need show up on this stage! The struggles seemed so real and believable and very uncomfortable. I laughed, I held my breath, I cried. Another fabulous PT trip into being part of the human family." | Lorri Romhanyi, email

"Don’t let its title scare you away, How to Write a New Book for the Bible is first and foremost a beautiful story of love and family. ... There are some terrific performances here from this cast although it is the dynamic between mother Mary (Erla Faye Forsyth) and her caregiver son Bill (Anthony F Ingram) that feels most real. Forsyth is particularly good in balancing the surprising amount of comedy with the inevitable drama. There is real pain in Daniel Arnold’s portrayal of the prodigal son Paul... Byron Noble provides a suitably ethereal quality to his portrayal of the father, written almost as a distant memory." | Mark Robins, GayVancouver.Net

"This production embodies the beauty of life and clarity of death, and leaves the audience with a desire to continue to see the story unfold in their own situations. As Mary says, “Don’t make me look foolish, Bill,” we are reminded that the little things don’t make us foolish, they show who we truly are. Bill has not made her foolish, he has shown her heart and her love in all its infuriating detail – and we are left remembering “this [the everyday] matters,” and we need to make life matter every day." | Renee Evashkevich, The MB Herald

"New Book...is a memory play of sorts that is crackling with humour and insight into a particularly “normal” family. I found the simplicity in Ingram and Forsyth’s scenes to be very moving. The handsome set and clever lighting reinforces the story’s take on death, family, and love." | Chris Lam, audience email

"Playwright Cain combines humour and heartache very successfully in his play, and all four actors bring Cain’s characters to life in an incredibly poignant and talented performance. Bill Cain’s affection for his family and well-written dialogue combines with director Morris Ertman’s vision and affinity for this story to create a great night of theatre." | Erin Jane, Review Vancouver

"It is a great pleasure to see Ingram and Forsyth working together. The story moves back and forth in time so we see Mary as a young, energetic mother of two bickering boys and later, an aging Mary gripped with pain. Forsyth is the mistress of dry, withering sarcasm: “You don’t have a job,” Mary says to Bill. “You’re a writer.” There’s plenty of this kind of acidic repartee and Forsyth and Ingram do it so well." | Jo Ledingham

"My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed How to Write a New Book for the Bible. The well crafted script was both hilarious and touching with moving, genuine performances from all the cast. I’ve recommended it highly to several friends already." | audience email


"WOW! I never knew that a full dialogue can carry through without any breaks while still sustaining the drama, the edginess and the captivation of the audience’s attention. BRAVO! Please send my many thank yous to the cast and crew!" | audience email

"Erla Faye Forsyth, unapologetically inhabits Mary’s toughness, which, of course makes Mary’s playfulness more charming and her vulnerability more touching. For his part, Anthony F. Ingram... brings an active intelligence to the stage that’s always a pleasure to watch." | Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight

"This engaging production was enjoyable, entertaining, approachable and very humanistic. I found the story to be both realistic and easy for the audience to connect with, especially if you have experienced the decline of older family members. It overcomes the challenge of focusing on a time in people’s lives which isn’t always happy or easy by managing to stay upbeat and even sneak in a little humour. A good choice by Pacific Theatre and well played by a strong cast." | Trevor Martin, Vancouver Vantage

"That title alone made me curious, and I imagine it would to you as well. After all, a play with that title can go either the theological route, making for a long evening of Bible recitations, or come off as a primer on writing, well, literally a holy book. Luckily for the audience, this is a combination of the two, with a great amount of humour thrown in to confront the gentle subject of aging parents close to death. Mother Mary (Erla Faye Forsyth) is a witty 82 year-young gal who gets the best lines in the play. Erla is fabulous in this role." | Ariane Colebrander | Ariane C Designs