In The Aberhart Summer, fifteen-year-old Doug spends the summer of 1935 investigating the suspicious death of his best friend Babe against a backdrop of sweeping societal change: the Great Depression.
A murder mystery set in dirty ’30s Alberta, against the backdrop of William Aberhart’s burgeoning Social Credit movement. Adapted from the 1984 novel by Bruce Allen Powe. (From the CPO Website)
Doug Sayer (age 15 and adult)
Babe Roothe/Barker/ Mover/Patient
Jean Cullen/Diane Thorpe/Neil Cawner/Child
Albert Roothe
Doug Sayers
Mrs. Fetterman/Mrs. Roothe/Streetcar Passenger #1
Peter Thorpe
Mr. Thorpe/Woodwards Floorwalker/Examiner#1
Norman Fetterman/Doctor
Mr. Sayers/Streetcar Conductor/ Heckler/Bible College Official/Policeman/German-
Mrs. Sayers/Streetcar Passenger #2/ Examiner #2
William Aberhart
The characters and chorus may be performed by a group of 10-12 actors, though 8 males and 3 females is the typical configuration.
1994 at Great West Theatre, subsequently produced in 1999 at Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary, Alberta, co-production with the Citadel Theatre.
The Aberhart Summer is available through the CPO Website.
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