In Flanders Fields musical set for Calgary

Last Updated: Thursday, June 24, 2010 | 3:40 PM MT

CBC News

A one-act musical about John McCrae, the Canadian doctor and poet who penned the poem In Flanders Fields, will premiere in November at Calgary’s Lunchbox Theatre.

Lunchbox Theatre released a 2010-11 lineup of seven plays on Wednesday, including three world premieres. It is the first season under artistic director Pamela Halstead.

Gail Hanrahan, Ian Prinsloo and Bob White, all former artistic directors in Calgary, have been recruited to direct during the Lunchbox season.

The unusual theatre company performs short plays at lunch and in the early evening in Calgary.

In Flanders Fields, a musical that outlines McCrae’s experiences in the Great War, was created by writer Robert Gontier and composer and lyricist Nicky Phillips of Toronto.

The other premieres are Christmas comedy With Bells On by drag queen and TV host Darrin Hagen and Shopaholic Husband Hunt by Calgary’s Glenda Stirling, whose Shopaholiccomedy also premiered with Lunchbox Theatre.

Other one-act plays planned for 2010-11:

• Ways and Means by Noel Coward, about the penniless idle rich.
• Lauchie, Liza and Rory, by Sheldon Currie, about twin brothers who love the same woman.
• Wanda’s Visit, by Christopher Durang, about an old flame who becomes the houseguest from hell.
• Tuesdays and Sundays, a drama about star crossed lovers by Daniel Arnold and Medina Hahn.

Lunchbox theatre hosts an annual emerging director presentation and shares its downtown space with other independent theatre groups, including One Yellow Rabbit.