Community Praise for "Pages"

Highlights of Digby’s transportation through the decades was the theme of the Digby Area Theatre Society’s theatrical experience ‘Pages from our Story’, presented to appreciative audiences at the Digby Community Theatre Aug. 4 and 5.

Written and directed by Hal Theriault and Paul Saulnier, ‘Pages from our Story’ wove the subtle details of how Digby came to be, using transportation as a theme.

Theriault said Digby’s history is a varied, vibrant one and it would be impossible to include the many exciting, sometimes joyful or sad and often poignant events that have contributed to making us who we are.

“Beginning with the Mi’kmaw canoe through to the stagecoach, sailing ships, trains and our vital ferries, it tell our stories as a unique, exciting, dynamic theatrical experience,” Theriault said. “Using live theatre with scenes from previous DATS productions, music and illustrative media, the play highlighted our heritage and cultural development.”

Joy Henshaw, who portrayed Elizabeth in scenes from the play ‘A New Hope’, said it was an honour to take part in sharing Digby’s history.

“It is thrilling to share our community’s history as there are many who do not know the stories from our past,” she said.

Theriault said although audiences were small for the two performances, he was pleased with their response and several expressed the fact that they were not aware of the complexity of Digby’s past.

“This was a great way to tell the story and is the first of an annual event presenting various themes on the area’s history,” he said. “Along with having a great cast, the integration of music to our play was a unique way to help make Digby’s history come alive.”

‘Windsong’, a musical group from Bear River First Nations, was featured in the play and lead guitarist, vocalist and song writer Greg Peck said the group enjoyed sharing their music about native heritage.

All four songs were written by Peck with the final selection, ‘ We’re Still Here’, adapted for the play.

• Story by Karla Kelly
• The Digby County Courier
• 12 Aug 2010