A darkly hilarious comedy by one of Canada’s most acclaimed playwrights.
Theatre UNB is set to stage Better Living, a darkly hilarious comedy by one of Canada’s most acclaimed playwrights, as part of Fredericton’s winter festival, FROSTival. Written by George F. Walker, a three-time winner of the Governor General’s Award for Drama, Better Living is a play about domestic dysfunction, home improvements, and the dangerous allure of a charming fascist that, although first performed in 1986, offers more than a few comic ripostes to current global affairs.
Years ago, Nora and her daughters, tough-as-nails Elizabeth, hopelessly neurotic Mary Ann, and big-hearted Gail, drove Tom, their abusive husband and father, out of the house. Since then, the family home has fallen into disrepair and relations between mother and daughters have grown strained. As Better Living begins, Tom has returned, claiming to be reformed, but also warning of the need to prepare for an imminent invasion by dispossessed Third World masses. By exploiting their weaknesses and divisions, Tom manages to win over one family member after another, eventually conscripting them into a regimented work force to carry out home improvements that include building a bunker in the basement in preparation for the coming apocalyptic revolution. Will Nora and her daughters be able to resist and rise up to overthrow this hostile takeover of the family unit by the charismatic strongman? You’ll have to come to Better Living to find out!
For more information and to reserve tickets, call 447-3078, email lfalken@unb.ca, or visit www.facebook.com/theatreunb
Better Living | February 1-4, 2017 | Memorial Hall, UNB | 7:30 p.m. | Tickets available at the door | $14 regular, $10 senior/underemployed, $8 for students
