Deverell News Update

Smoked Glass

Rita will be performing her one woman show "Smoked Glass Ceiling" at Mt. St. Vincent University (Halifax)  Tuesday,  March 8 at 4:30.  It is a touching account of her growing up in the segregated South and her coming to Canada. If you are in the area, come and see it.
Here is a link for the events surrounding International Women's Day at MSVU: msvu.ca/iwdcelebration

Swimming

Rex is off to Toronto for rehearsals of the 2011 version of "Swimming for Shore" which opens at The Assembly Hall (Lakeshore and Kipling) April 8. The show is being mounted by students in the Humber College theatre programme under the direction of Diana Belshaw.
Here is a link to an article about the production: http://www.insidetoronto.com/community/life/article/931733--swimming-for-shore-playwright-returns
For your interest and delight there is a rather insane looking picture of the author.

Mixed Company Theatre has extended its Ontario tour of  "Project Act" into March.

Back Bencher

Rita is thrilled to play a modest part in Wendy Lill's terrific series, to quote the CBC website:

"Backbencher --  One Woman's Journey through the Snake Pit of Canadian Politics
A Radio Drama Series by Wendy Lill

So who are the backbenchers?
Hundreds of elected representatives from different parties arrive in Ottawa after every election, sit up at the back near the gold curtains and provide the cannon fodder for democracy. Away from home, they are subject to great temptations, kept in check by fear, insecurity, half-cocked ideals and the lure of power. They spend up to two days a week in the air, moving regularly from the rarified ceremonious environment of the House of Commons to the hardscrabble reality of their riding offices. One-third of them are gone in four years at the whim of the voters. No pension. No fanfare. They work too hard, drink too much, gain weight, go into debt, screw around and wreck marriages. They struggle with stress, travel, loneliness, the complexities and the endless contradictions.

Judy LaMarsh once said, if you don't know what you believe before you arrive in Ottawa, heaven help you.
In Backbencher we follow the story of Nellie Gordon, a paramedic from East Nova in Nova Scotia who decides to run for MP on a whim and, much to everyone's surprise, gets elected. We go into caucus meetings, the hallways of Parliament and the House of Commons itself and experience it all from Nellie's perspective each and every episode.
Life as an MP is a physical, mental and ethical workout -- every day. And that's what this series is about, a view from the backbenches of the House of Commons; one woman's journey through the snake pit of Canadian politics.

Backbencher is written by Wendy Lill, the award winning Canadian playwright and two-term MP from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Script Editor for the series is Dave Carley.  The show is produced in CBC Halifax by Recording Engineer Pat Martin, Associate Producer Maggie Rahr and the Producer is Peggy Hemsworth. The Executive Producer is Tom Anniko.

Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. (3:30 p.m. NT) and 11 p.m. (11:30 NT)
Sirius 137 Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m., Thursdays at 3 a.m., Fridays at 3:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. ET"

Rita is in episode #15, April 13 and 14, but please enjoy them all.