‘It’s boys kissing boys and talk of the bible.“ The quip is weary, but there’s no mistaking the passion in Trevor Schmidt’s voice as he chats about the show opening the new Northern Light Theatre season. The Busy World is Hushed, with its themes of love, family, spirituality and belief is a harbinger in this season’s triptych of Canadian and world premieres linked by similar themes—from Nathan Cuckow’s 3 Different Heavens to Cherish by Ken Duncan. His 2007/2008 programming, says Schmidt, seems determined by fate. “They’re the things on my mind. I don’t know if I attract them or they find me, but they show up in sets of three. I’m either lucky or it’s a blessing”.

Lucky or blessed, Schmidt is a master of multi-tasking. In addition to the day-to-day administrative tasks of his company, he’s breaking in new staff, creating the costumes and sets for this production and playing the pivotal character, Brandt, a ghostwriter hired to help an Episcopalian minister with her translation of a Coptic gospel. “When we get a break, the cast goes outside for a cigarette, and I go to the office to check messages. But it’s uplifting; I consider myself an actor before all else—director, Artistic Director. I have to work to support the text and give a good performance for my director.”  

His character is thrown into the middle of a contentious relationship between Hannah (Holly Turner), the aforementioned minister and her son Thomas (Farren Timoteo). Sparks do fly between Thomas and Brandt and Hannah grapples with some fairly thorny questions around herself as a mother and minister. There are some political hot buttons—in light of the recent decision by the Anglican Church of Canada not to bless same-sex unions, the play is extremely topical for Canadian audiences—but they’re tangential to the central questions raised by the script regarding love and faith.

“We’re always taking leaps of faith —in love, in business, in relationships,” explains Schmidt. “Some are capable and willing to do that, some cannot. Brandt wants to, but feels he’s incapable.”
The juxtaposition of intellectual concerns upon human makes Bunin’s work immediate and accessible, explains Schmidt: there is an ability to mine the subconscious of the social strata being dramatized.

”He’s incredibly intellectual and writes about literate, educated people. They’re not talking heads; the rhetoric is always motivated by emotional [reality],” says Schmidt. “This character is very much a lot like me. Many of the things I say in this play are speaking to where I am in life right now—incredibly personal. People think I’m acting, but I’m not”.

Director Skye Brandon agrees with Schmidt’s assessment. Both worked together on another Bunin play, The Credeaux Canvas, in 2004 (Schmidt directed and Brandon acted). This production marks Brandon’s full directorial debut, and despite feeling a bit as though he’s been thrown in the proverbial deep end, there’s a sense of inexhaustible enthusiasm as he speaks about the show.  

“The opening scenes, I keep thinking ‘Wow, I wish I could talk like that!’” he exclaims. “It’s all very intelligent and well spoken, but it’s so personal, a story about a woman and her son. The writer is thrown into the middle. Religion is more of a backdrop, a point where son and mother don’t see eye to eye, a catalyst. The central question is, ‘who’s being asked for love and commitment, and how are they going out of their way to avoid it?’”
It is an intensely personal play, he avers, coloured by spirituality, but not threatening in any way.
“It’s people. Three different viewpoints on religion represented by the characters. I think everyone will find someone they can relate to here. What’s really amazing in this script is no one is belittled or begrudged their beliefs.” V

Fri, Sep 14 - Sun, Sep 30
The Busy World is Hushed
Directed by Skye Brandon
Written by Keith Bunin
Starring Trevor Schmidt, Farren Timoteo, Holly Turner
Third Space (11516 - 103 st)