by Jeremy Tow

Eugene O'Neill was born into a theatre family: his father was a famous and popular actor who appeared on Broadway and toured throughout the United States; his older brother was also an actor, due primarily to his father's support; and his mother, though not an actor, seemed to be a dignified and quiet supporter of her husband and sons. However, their lives were anything but happy. The father was trapped in the role of the Count of Monte Cristo for decades. His fans would never allow him to successfully play another role, so he was forced to return to the Count in order to support himself and his family. Eugene's older brother was a chronic alcoholic and was known for womanizing and never taking his work on stage seriously. His mother travelled all over the U.S. following her husband from town to town, and was left alone in New York during the birth of both Eugene and an older brother, Edmund, who died due to the inappropriate attention of a cheap doctor. She was given morphine by this same doctor, and remained an addict for the rest of her life.

O'Neill wrote a play about his family, and asked his wife to never allow a production of that script until twenty-five years after his death. She disregarded his request, and Long Day's Journey Into Night won the Pulitzer Prize for its brilliant, multi layered and painful journey.

Many people have considered Ah, Wilderness! to be a comedic companion to this tragedy. They are both about families, but O'Neill stated that Ah, Wilderness! was about the family he always longed for, rather than the one that he had. Each play has a character that is very much like Eugene O'Neill, but their journeys in the plays have very different outcomes. In Long Day's Journey Into Night, Edmund discovers that his father may be the villain that destroyed the lives of his mother, his brother and himself. In Ah, Wilderness! Richard discovers that in spite of his own questionable choices, his father is a hero.

Nat (Richard's Pa) isn't perfect ...as you will see in this delightful comedic play...but he listens, has great concern for his children, and he's a man of integrity. He never thinks of himself as a hero, he's simply trying to be a loving husband, a brother-inlaw, a brother, and a "Pa".

This rehearsal process has been a joy. These actors are incredibly talented and inventive. What a rare opportunity to work with some of Vancouver, Ladysmith, Toronto, Mill Bay, and Calgary's best performers. And I've been in love with this play since I was as young as Richard myself...and now that I'm a dad, I love it even more.

Enjoy! It's a rare opportunity to see a professional production of the only comedy by the United State's most famous playwright.

Biography

Ah, Wilderness marks Jeremy's final production - and his 11th anniversary - as the leader of the Chemainus Theatre Festival (CTF). Recent credits include Mesa, for The Arts Club and Western Canada Theatre (where he has been appointed the new Artistic Director), South Pacific here at CTF, La Boheme for the Vancouver Opera (assistant director), A Man for All Seasons for Pacific Theatre (director), and the title character in Hamlet for The Globe Theatre of the Great Southwest. Favourite shows, as a director here have included The Miracle Worker, Driving Miss Daisy, The Heiress, A Streetcar Named Desire, and My Fair Lady.

Jeremy is overjoyed with the board's selection of Mark DuMez as the new artistic director, and wishes great success and bold art making for this theatre - and for you, the intelligent and supportive audience.