St. John’s Shorts Play Readings

August 23-24 at 7:00 PM in the Second Space
Admission by donation at the door

August 23 at 7:00 PM

The Perfect Daughters by Lydia Makaga – Produced by MK Sisters

Sometimes the gestures of love are not always clear. Unspoken love is a play set in Tanzania, East Africa and explores the complex relationship that a father shares with his three daughters on what it means to be “an African daughter” and an “African father”. Narrated by the younger brother, the story unfolds in the present and past.

In the past, we see themes of deception, sacrifice, sisterhood, and familial bond being redefined between the sisters, brother and father all in the name of adhering to “traditions”.In the present, we witness the brother reflecting on how he feels disconnected from his sisters, and how he has been treated differently simply because he was born a boy. We also see how the sisters live a double life, on one hand, living out their dreams as musician, designer and counselor. On the other hand, tricking their father to think they are pursuing the hopes and dreams he has for them.

Hi-Vis Minority – by Mav Adecer
The plague forced a hard reset on Mav’s life: just when he thought his climate change comedy show was about to make him an Oil Country comedy iconoclast. Instead, he’s found himself in Cod Country working a blue collar job at the docks and moonlighting as the most tanned bartender at an Irish pub in order to pay for his Criterion Channel subscription. Immigrant life lessons from Don Cherry. Staving off sadness with a hotdog eating contest. Existential Crises at the Blood Drive. With his idiosyncratic perspective, this raconteur turned rowdyman shows us that standing out and fitting in aren’t mutually exclusive.

August 24 at 7:00 PM

Me and Spock 3 by Monica Walsh – produced by Kanutu Theatre/Monica Walsh)
Artist Monica and Vulcan scientist Spock live together in a small apartment in downtown St. John’s. Monica dreams of being a scientist and Spock explores his Newfoundland heritage. Together they try to pay rent, make music, and understand life.
Content warning: Coarse language, alcohol and drugs use

A Legless Octopus by Dill March – Produced by Dream Haus Productions
Josh, a visitor from out of town, partakes in a private tour of a local aquarium. Beckley, the tour guide, witnesses in horror as Josh reaches into the aquarium mid-tour and removes a live tentacle that was just attached to an octopus. Josh teaches Beckley that octopus can regrow their limbs, and he used to eat these all the time as a kid growing up close to the ocean. Innocent as it was, Josh shared this information with the wrong person as Beckley begins to share this trick with other tourists, resulting in a devastating effect on the aquarium.
Content Warnings: mention of harm towards an animal (octopus).