Alumnae Theatre's
newest production is a remount of Judith Thompson's classic Perfect Pie

The story is about a woman, Francesca (Heidi Weeks) who is a successful actress, but 30 years ago, she was an awkward girl named Marie, living in smalltown Ontario. Out of the blue, she receives a tape - and a homemade rhubarb pie - from Patsy (Andy Fraser), once her best friend, now a farmer's wife in the same small town. After such a long estrangement, they come together to rekindle their friendship and confront the terrifying incident which tore them apart.

Director Paul Hardy whose credits include The Evil That Men Do (Alumnae Theatre's New Ideas Festival 2002), A Lie of the Mind (Alumnae mainstage, 2004); Lanford Wilson's Burn This (Tuesday Prod.) and Sam Shepard's Geography of a Horse Dreamer for One Man Tag Productions, a company of which he was co-founder, tackles the story with a new and exciting vision. I spoke to Paul about the show:

What is your vision of theatre?

"I believe in theatre that challenges audience to embrace the difficult or troubling questions and ideas not easily dealt with in real life. Theatre that gets people thinking and talking."

When did you start and what (or whom) triggered it?

"I found this play on a list Alumnae shows for 2006/2007 and read it. I found a powerful and challenging piece buried in the pages and felt the desire to bring this to an audience."

What is this show about?

"Perfect Pie is about alot of things. It could be said to be about two women dealing
with demons from the past, but it's also about identity and friendship and the nature of trauma and it's aftermath. Judith Thompson is not a playwright who easily answers the questions she posits. I believe this play is very open to interpretation and it's exciting to me when the audience leaves arguing about what the play reallymeans."

What were your intentions in putting this up?

"To give an audience safe environment to encounter and examine feelings they might not always leave out. How hurts from their past might shape their present and how they are not alone in this."

What should the audience expect to leave the show thinking or feeling?

"People will probably leave remembering an old friend they should really call because it's been too long."

Perfect Pie Runs until December 2nd at the Alumnae Theatre