Beyond Eden (musical)
Encyclopedia
Beyond Eden is a musical written by Bruce Ruddell with music by Bruce Ruddell and Bill Henderson. It premiered February 16, 2010 at the Max Bell Theatre at the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts
in Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
and in Vancouver
at the Vancouver Playhouse as part of the Cultural Olympiad. The show was first mounted by Theatre Calgary
and ran until March 7, 2010. The Vancouver show ran from January 16 to February 6, 2010 and was well received for its cast, musical score and background projections.
Beyond Eden is a fictional story inspired by the real life of Wilson Duff
(1925–1976), a curator of anthropology
at the British Columbia Provincial Museum, and his attempts to preserve Haida totem poles on the coast of British Columbia
. The Calgary and Vancouver shows starred Tom Jackson, of North of 60
fame and John Mann
, lead singer of Spirit of the West
.
We then see a crew loading a ship to leave port (Hecate's Fist). The men have been hired to travel to Haida Gwaii and Kitwancool to cut down and transport several Haida totem poles for preservation at a museum. Lewis and his friend, Max Tomson, a photographer who is half Haida, are excited about their trip and Lewis jokes with him to keep the pictures in focus this time. Among the crew are Clive and Gregory, who work for the museum and are glad to be out on the expedition. Two "Indian" guides have been hired to accompany the crew, Victor Duncan and Joe Duncan (nicknamed "Stinky"), and Joe clearly has reservations about the trip. We also meet Lewis' wife, Sal Wilson, and son, Jack Wilson. Sal has convinced Lewis to take her and Jack along on this expedition as he has been dedicated to his work, sometimes staying out all night long. We learn that Jack is estranged from his father and is a little awkward around people. We also learn that he has a crush on a girl at a local store but is unsure how to introduce himself to her ("Howa Baby"). The crew gives him advice and teaches him a few Haida phrases. Sal and Lewis have a touching moment on the deck (Ribbons of Light) when they hear that a storm has been reported. Although it seems clear on the water where they are sailing, Lewis encourages Sal to go under deck.
Lewis and the crew reflect on their expedition (Mystery). Max sings about his two worlds as half Haida, half European ("Disconnection"). A group of Haida women appear in a vision to Max ("The Spirit Song"). Max suddenly notices that Joe and Victor are acting suspicious. He confronts them and discovers that they were going to escape from the vessel by stealing the life raft. He attempts to wrestle them from the area and they resist. A fight breaks out and Lewis comes from below deck to discover the confusion as the storm breaks out ("No Contact"). The first act ends.
Lewis becomes increasingly obsessed with the two masks and The Watchman visits him once again, continuing the Raven and Eagle story that he began telling in Act I. He credits Lewis for coming this far but tells him that he cannot let Lewis remove the poles. Lewis discovers that the two masks are meant to go together; one nests inside the other. Sal is worried about Lewis becoming more distant ("Beyond Eden Reprise"). Max reflects on the carvings on the totem poles ("Carving") and the vision of the Haida women appear to him again ("The Spirit Song"). As the men are about to cut down the totem poles, Lewis returns from being out all night and refuses to allow them to complete their work; he has changed his opinion about removing the poles based on his discussion with The Watchman. They discover that the chain saws are too wet to start and get axes to chop down the poles. A fight breaks out as Lewis attempts to oppose Clive and they struggle for the axe. Lewis begs Max to "back him up" but Max steadfastly refuses to turn back because he believes that he is finally appreciating his Haida heritage. Lewis finally grabs an axe and begins wildly chopping down the poles until the crew overpowers him and begin cutting down the poles themselves.
The second act ends as the totem poles are falling ("We Go On").
, then a 90-minute composition, before it ended up in its current incarnation as a musical.
EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts
The EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts is a multi-venue arts centre in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada, located in the Olympic Plaza Cultural District.-History:...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
at the Vancouver Playhouse as part of the Cultural Olympiad. The show was first mounted by Theatre Calgary
Theatre Calgary
Theatre Calgary, theatre company in Calgary, Alberta, established as a professional company in 1968.-History:The origin of the company dates back to the 1940s, when students of Betty Mitchell, a drama teacher at Calgary's Western Canada High School, established an amateur group known as "Workshop...
and ran until March 7, 2010. The Vancouver show ran from January 16 to February 6, 2010 and was well received for its cast, musical score and background projections.
Beyond Eden is a fictional story inspired by the real life of Wilson Duff
Wilson Duff
Wilson Duff was a Canadian archaeologist, cultural anthropologist, and museum curator.He is remembered for his research on First Nations cultures of the Northwest Coast, notably the Tsimshian, Gitxsan, and Haida, and especially for his interest in their plastic arts, such as totem poles...
(1925–1976), a curator of anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at the British Columbia Provincial Museum, and his attempts to preserve Haida totem poles on the coast of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The Calgary and Vancouver shows starred Tom Jackson, of North of 60
North of 60
North of 60 is a mid-1990s Canadian television series depicting life in the sub-Arctic northern boreal forest . It first aired on CBC Television in 1992 and was syndicated around the world. It is set in the fictional community of Lynx River, a primarily Native-run town depicted as being in the...
fame and John Mann
John Mann
John Mann may refer to:* John Mann , British actor* John Mann * John Mann , farmer and author from New Brunswick, Canada* John Mann , English cricketer...
, lead singer of Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West are a Canadian folk rock band, who were popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s before evolving a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences which made them one of Canada's most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.-Early years:The band began...
.
Act I
It is 1957. The play opens with the song, "Behind the Mask", where Lewis Wilson is having a conversation with The Watchman about Haida masks. Watchmen were men on duty around the village whose job it was to protect from invaders. He tells Lewis a story about the Raven and the Eagle, who are on the beach when the white man approaches the coast for the first time. The Watchman speaks of a gift that he "gave" Lewis - a mask with its eyes closed because it is looking inward. Lewis learns that the mask has a twin, with its eyes open.We then see a crew loading a ship to leave port (Hecate's Fist). The men have been hired to travel to Haida Gwaii and Kitwancool to cut down and transport several Haida totem poles for preservation at a museum. Lewis and his friend, Max Tomson, a photographer who is half Haida, are excited about their trip and Lewis jokes with him to keep the pictures in focus this time. Among the crew are Clive and Gregory, who work for the museum and are glad to be out on the expedition. Two "Indian" guides have been hired to accompany the crew, Victor Duncan and Joe Duncan (nicknamed "Stinky"), and Joe clearly has reservations about the trip. We also meet Lewis' wife, Sal Wilson, and son, Jack Wilson. Sal has convinced Lewis to take her and Jack along on this expedition as he has been dedicated to his work, sometimes staying out all night long. We learn that Jack is estranged from his father and is a little awkward around people. We also learn that he has a crush on a girl at a local store but is unsure how to introduce himself to her ("Howa Baby"). The crew gives him advice and teaches him a few Haida phrases. Sal and Lewis have a touching moment on the deck (Ribbons of Light) when they hear that a storm has been reported. Although it seems clear on the water where they are sailing, Lewis encourages Sal to go under deck.
Lewis and the crew reflect on their expedition (Mystery). Max sings about his two worlds as half Haida, half European ("Disconnection"). A group of Haida women appear in a vision to Max ("The Spirit Song"). Max suddenly notices that Joe and Victor are acting suspicious. He confronts them and discovers that they were going to escape from the vessel by stealing the life raft. He attempts to wrestle them from the area and they resist. A fight breaks out and Lewis comes from below deck to discover the confusion as the storm breaks out ("No Contact"). The first act ends.
Act II
The crew is now landed in the forest near the Haida totem poles ("Beyond Eden"). They are wet and tired from their adventure on the water the previous evening, but credit Joe and Victor for saving their lives and getting them beyond the reefs. Victor acknowledges that the crew saved his and Joe's lives by refusing to let them get off the ship on the life raft. The men prepare for their various duties ("Ninstints").Lewis becomes increasingly obsessed with the two masks and The Watchman visits him once again, continuing the Raven and Eagle story that he began telling in Act I. He credits Lewis for coming this far but tells him that he cannot let Lewis remove the poles. Lewis discovers that the two masks are meant to go together; one nests inside the other. Sal is worried about Lewis becoming more distant ("Beyond Eden Reprise"). Max reflects on the carvings on the totem poles ("Carving") and the vision of the Haida women appear to him again ("The Spirit Song"). As the men are about to cut down the totem poles, Lewis returns from being out all night and refuses to allow them to complete their work; he has changed his opinion about removing the poles based on his discussion with The Watchman. They discover that the chain saws are too wet to start and get axes to chop down the poles. A fight breaks out as Lewis attempts to oppose Clive and they struggle for the axe. Lewis begs Max to "back him up" but Max steadfastly refuses to turn back because he believes that he is finally appreciating his Haida heritage. Lewis finally grabs an axe and begins wildly chopping down the poles until the crew overpowers him and begin cutting down the poles themselves.
The second act ends as the totem poles are falling ("We Go On").
Original Cast
| Lewis Wilson | The Watchman | Sal Wilson | Jack Wilson | Max Tomson | Victor Duncan | Joe Duncan | Clive | Gregory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Mann John Mann (musician) John F. Mann is a Canadian rock musician and actor.-Music:He is the lead vocalist for the folk rock band Spirit of the West... |
Tom Jackson Tom Jackson (actor) Thomas Dale Jackson, OC , is a Canadian born Métis actor and singer perhaps best known for the annual series of Christmas concerts, called the Huron Carole, which he created and starred in for 17 years... |
Jennifer Lines Jennifer Lines Jennifer Lines is a Canadian theatre and television actress.Lines graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Victoria. She has starred in productions at the Arts Club Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Vancouver Playhouse and the Belfry Theatre, and has received several... |
Andrew Kushnir | Cameron McDuffee | Tracey Olson | Telly James | Curt McKinstry | Christopher Hunt Christopher Hunt Christopher Hunt was an Exeter bookseller and stationer.-Life:He was the son of Walter Hunt, a cordwainer of Blandford in Dorset. On 12 January 1585 he apprenticed himself to Thomas Man, a London stationer for a period of eight years, beginning the previous Christmas day... |
Musical Numbers
The music for Beyond Eden was written by Bill Henderson and Bruce Ruddell, with Haida-inspired music written by Gwaai Edenshaw. Bruce Ruddell had been considering the story of the Haida Gwaii totem poles for around 30 years, beginning as an oratorioOratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, then a 90-minute composition, before it ended up in its current incarnation as a musical.
Act I
- Behind the Mask - Lewis, Ensemble
- Hecate's Fist - Clive, Gregory, Ensemble
- Howa Baby - Jack
- Ribbons of Light - Sal, Lewis
- Mystery - Lewis, Ensemble
- Disconnection - Max, Ensemble
- The Spirit Song - Haid Woman
- No Contact - Full Company
Act II
- Beyond Eden - Lewis, Ensemble
- Ninstints - Clive, Gregory, Victor, Joe, Lewis, Ensemble
- Beyond Eden Reprise - Sal
- Carving - Max, Ensemble
- The Spirit Song - Haida Woman
- Waiting for Me - Lewis
- War Song - Haida Woman
- The Watchman's Song - The Watchman
- I Hear You Call My Name - Sal
- We Go On - Ensemble