ARTS EAST

Adventures of a Grenfell Nurse   is a riveting collection of stories that share the experiences of a Grenfell nurse in the early 1950s in the subarctic climate of Newfoundland and Labrador: a train wreck, a dogsled trip, the delivery of a baby on board a coastal steamship, a harrowing sailing experience, a near-shipwreck in gale-force winds, and much more. In her own words, 89-year-old author Rosalie Lombard tells us about herself and how the book came to be. After I retired from a rather busy life in the field of nursing education and administration, the memories increasingly flowed back about the period in the early 1950s when, at the age of 25, I left the large medical center in New York City to travel to northern Newfoundland and work as a nurse with the Grenfell Mission. As I learned of the changes in Newfoundland and medical care in general, I realized the uniqueness of that experience and how, in today’s culture, it might seem unbelievable. I felt I had to documen...

Written in 1996 by Andrew Bovell,   Speaking in Tongues   examines the impact we have on our loved ones. AE's Katerina Sushko reviews DMV Theatre's recent production of the play in Halifax. From the beginning, the audience is captivated by a simple yet charming set up: Flirty mood and a sense of ‘exploring unknown waters’. We see two couples, each of them in a hotel room. There is a hint of betrayal and soon it becomes clear that the couples unknowingly crossed each other’s paths and are about to cheat on their spouses with each other. As we see these married couples navigating a rocky area of betrayal and forgiveness, it becomes clear that while any relationship is not perfect, there are big differences in how couples approach difficult situations. Besides, characters are called to speak up and reveal their true feelings. Results of such revelations turn out to be quite different for each couple and lead the audience to contemplate on what is real...