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Canadian Amish “play” on Providence Stage

The commitment of the Amish in Canada to “live quietly in the land” was severely tested in 1914 by the onset of World War I. The multiple conflicts it created, both within their community and between their community and the outside world, are timeless issues we still face today. Providence College’s production of Quiet in the Land is a superbly drawn portrait of an old-order Amish community held together and set apart in part by their belief in non-violence, even as they struggled with subtle and not so subtle forms of violence among themselves.
This Governor General award-winning play, considered a modern Canadian classic, is set in Waterloo, Ontario. Seeing his people despised by their neighbors for their refusal to contribute to the war effort, Yock Bauman defies his strict father, abandons his Amish traditions, and leaves the woman he loves, choosing to fight in France instead. He becomes a hero to the nation, but an outcast to his own people, losing more than he could ever imagine.
“One of the aspects I appreciate most about this piece” says director and producer Val Hiebert, “is the playwright’s (Anne Chislett) even-handed exploration of incredibly complex issues”. The archetypal battles between parent and child, conformity and individuality, pacifism and just war, orthodoxy and heterodoxy are “all woven deftly into the story in such a way that you feel like you are living these struggles along with the characters who embody them” continues Hiebert. Infused with the warmth, laughter, tears, and tensions of community life, this play explores the great human need to understand the meaning and demands of love and faith in a world filled with conflict and paradox. It will leave you thinking long after the lights go down.

Performances:

Feb. 24th, 25th, 26th, 7:30 PM, Providence College

Reserve tickets $8.50

Students $5.50

At the door $10.00

Students $8.00

To reserve tickets call 204-433-7488 VISA and Mastercard Accepted
Running Time: 2 hours (approx.) Talkback after every show

High School 'matinees' Feb. 23rd & Feb. 24th, 10:30 AM $3.00 per student

Contact: Val Hiebert 204-433-7488 (ext. 204)