Jake’s Gift is the story of a Canadian World War II veteran who reluctantly returns to Normandy, France for the 60th anniversary of D-Day.
The award-winning play has been touring to fringe festivals and community theatres around Canada since 2007 and collecting critical acclaim along the way. It is scheduled to open at 7:30 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, October 10 and 11 at Max Cameron Theatre.
The play is set on Juno Beach and follows Jake as he returns for the first time to look for his older brother’s grave. As he is searching around the battlefields he meets Isabelle, a precocious 10-year-old girl from a local village who had heard many stories about Canadian soldiers during the second world war. Her questions challenge Jake to face some haunting memories about his brother Chester.
Julia Mackey started writing the play in 2004 after she heard Canadian Broadcast Corporation’s Peter Mansbridge talk about the 60th anniversary celebration of the D-Day invasion. She called Veteran’s Affairs and, after telling staff what she planned to do, was invited to attend the ceremony and talk to veterans about their wartime experiences.
“I was profoundly moved by how emotional the experience was,” said Mackey. “It took me a few years to sort through that and get the story written.”
Jake’s Gift seems to resonate with audiences of all ages. “There’s something about Jake that people just connect to,” she said. “He either represents their grandfather, their father or their uncle. There’s something about him and his generation.” It’s hard to find a family in Canada that hasn’t been affected by the first and second world wars, she said.
Although the play deals with sober issues, Mackey added that it also has quite a few comedic moments. “I think that comes out of the quirkiness of the characters,” she said. “Jake has no patience for this little kid, and the little kid is someone who is going to keep pestering this guy until he answers her questions.”
They build a lovely friendship together and unintentional funny moments pop up in the play, she said.
Tickets are available at Powell River Academy of Music box office, 7280 Kemano Street 604.485.9633, Breakwater Books and Coffee or at the door 30 minutes before the show. Tickets for adults are $20 and for seniors and students $15.
