New West Theatre continues online Alberta play reading series with story about dementia

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New West Theatre continues their mini online play reading series on March 4 with a reading of Calgary based , Lethbridge raised playwright  Col Cseke’s “Jim Forgetting.”Ashley Thomson will be part of New West Theatre‘s online play reading of Jim Forgetting, March 4. Photo by Richard Amery
Ashley Thomson and Calgary actor Mike Tan play Jim and Donna, a middle aged couple coping with Jim’s early onset dementia.
“Casting for this play is key,” said New West Theatre artistic director Kelly Reay, praising the actors.


“ It was challenging to cast a middle aged couple. But they really do the roles justice,” he said adding he has worked with both actors before.
“Jim Forgetting” is part of New West Theatre’s mandate to support Albertan and Canadian playwrights
 Reay has known Cseke for 15 years, so he is excited to  revisit  Csekes’s work.


“I saw this play a few years ago in Calgary and it stuck with me,” Reay said.

“Col is super engaged. He writes a lot of works derived from real life He does a lot of research and a lot of issue based work, but he knows how to tell a compelling narrative and  knows how to keep the audience involved,” Reay said.

 


They also did a successful play reading at the end of January of “Flight Risk.”


“We had 80 people watching and  a Q and A at the end of it that was really  great,” he said.


“It showed us that people are looking for something to fill this void,” he continued, adding the play is a one act production.


“ It’s easier to engage the audience for a one act play,” he said.
“It is a play reading, it is nice to listen to. And it is something you can have on in the background,”∏ he said.
“ I think people will really enjoy it, though it is a challenging subject,” Reay continued.
“Jim Forgetting” is approximately 75 minutes long and begins at 7:30 p.m., March 4. To register go to  https://form.jotform.com/210526488491259 and a link will be sent to you.


—By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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