Corrie Ten Boom’s Story Of Faith, Survival And Forgiveness Comes To Gallery 7 Theatre
Submitted. Could you forgive someone who betrayed you and your family to an occupying military force, even if that betrayal led to the tragic deaths of your father and your sister? Could you help the persecuted, facing imprisonment and perhaps execution as a result? Could you remain true to your faith, even in the midst of the most horrific of atrocities? These are just some of the questions Gallery 7 Theatre will be exploring in their latest production of The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom’s inspiring true story of faith, forgiveness and survival set against a backdrop of war and genocide.
(left to right) Carol Heynen plays Corrie ten Boom and Shelley Picard plays her sister, Betsie ten Boom in Gallery 7 Theatre’s production of The Hiding Place. Photo by Dianna Lewis, Creative Memory Studio.
The Hiding Place, adapted by Timothy Gregory from the book by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, tells of Corrie ten Boom’s post-war mission to bring healing and forgiveness to victims of the holocaust, and how her mission reaches a crisis point when she comes face to face with the man who turned her and her family in to the Nazi police during the war. What follows is an incredible recounting of the ten Boom’s work with the Dutch underground to hide Jews in a hidden room above the family’s watch repair shop and their subsequent internment in a concentration camp. Wrestling with her own emotional scars, Corrie must come to terms with her need to forgive in this grim yet beautiful story that celebrates faith, mercy and courage.
“The Hiding Place is another one of those incredible, yet inspiring stories coming out of an extremely dark time in our recent history,” explains Executive/Artistic Director, Ken Hildebrandt. “While the play challenges us to ask what we would do in similar circumstances, it also inspires us to hold on to our faith and our humanity, even in the face of fear, injustice and persecution. Though the context of her story is dark and tragic, Corrie ten Boom’s journey ultimately moves toward hope and reconciliation.”
Gallery 7 Theatre’s production, which will be the Canadian premier of Timothy Gregory’s adaption, will feature twenty-three performers hailing from across the Fraser Valley and is the largest cast ever assembled in the company’s 23-year history. Playing the role of Corrie ten Boom is Carol Heynen, who last appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest. Her sister Betsie is played by Shelley Picard and her father, Casper, is played by Glen Pinchin. The remaining performers, often playing multiple characters, include Andrew Abrahams, Tracey Anderton, Pat Davis, Tamara Charman, Kenzie Hall, Melissa Franson, Joel Loeve, Megan Mackenzie, Cameron Mckerchar, Danielle Milette, Chloe Picard, Maryjane Sexton, Forest Shuster, Thomas Smith, Brittany Suderman, Tim Warkentin, Elisa Weber, Doug Wickers, Becky Wiebe and Michael Witmer.
Taking the director’s chair for The Hiding Place is Sarah Hu. Hu’s other directing credits with Gallery 7 Theatre include Sense and Sensibility, The Family Man and Steel Magnolias. Set design is by Dustin Froese, costume coordination is by Catrina Jackson, lighting design is by Ken Hildebrandt and sound design is by Brittany Grant. The stage manager is Maria Denholme, fight choreographer is Mike Kovac and production photography is by Dianna Lewis of Creative Memory Studios.
The Hiding Place will run March 14 & 15, 20 – 22, 27 – 29, 2014 @ 7:30 PM with discount matinees March 15, 22 & 29 @ 2:00 PM at the MEI Auditorium, 4081 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford. Tickets for evening performances are $20 adults, $18 seniors & students, $17 groups (8+) and $12 children (12 & under). Tickets for matinee performances are $15 general admission and $12 children. They can be purchased at House of James, 2743 Emerson Street, Abbotsford (1-800-665-8828 or 604-852-3701) or online at www.gallery7theatre.com.