Ever wonder what it would be like to be alive and kicking at 105? In this new comedy, Kathryn Shaw takes you to the Fairfield Residence to meet three women over the age of 105 who have differing responses to their extraordinarily long lives. Based on experience with her ancient family members, Shaw brings insight and humour to the conundrum of extreme old age.
“My grandmother lived to 106, and my mother to 105. Given my DNA heritage I felt it was possible I could live equally long,” says Shaw. “Slowly the idea for Super Seniors emerged, a play about three very old unrelated women living in a seniors’ home; one character roughly modeled on my grandmother, one roughly modeled on my mother and the third my imagining what I would be like at 105. I wanted the play to be primarily a comedy, to focus on the here and now, day to day lives of three vibrant women with different responses to their extreme old age. ”
In this edition of Before The Curtain Goes Up, David C Jones speaks with playwright Kathryn Shaw to learn more.
Western Gold Theatre presents Super Seniors at the PAL Studio Theatre (581 Cardero St, Vancouver) from June 6 to 23. Visit westerngoldtheatre.org for tickets and information.