Going to market

Anne Heathcote and Rick Zimmerman portray the lead characters in Conrad Beaubien’s Back at Hoards Station with performances next month at the Hillier Hall.

New play examines family ties set against backdrop of a livestock exchange

Conrad Beaubien has never been to Hoard’s Station—yet the playwright and Times columnist has long felt the rhythms of this agricultural community and its traditions—particularly the way it has shaped this community and its rituals. Going to market on Tuesday remains an enduring marker in the weekly and seasonal farm cycles in this region.

It is through this idea of Hoard’s Station, rather than personal experience, that Beaubien has set his latest work in this livestock exchange. Back of Hoards Station tells the story of two lost souls from very different worlds, but who share a common ancestral trait. Each is the third generation of British home children, also known as Barnardo babies. Thomas Barnardo was a physician in late 19th century England, who made it his life’s work to care for and raise funds for vulnerable children and young people.

About 118,000 children from England, Scotland and Ireland were sent, unaccompanied, to Canada between 1863 and 1939, according to Home Children Canada. Not all were orphans— some just unfortunate offspring of povertystricken families. Most never saw their families again.

It was, for many, a traumatic experience that continues to resonate through their descendants. It is this sense of disconnectedness that draws Beaubien’s characters together.

He says this play, now in rehearsals, is also an exploration of family—what it means to be part of family, to have those connections cut and how these severances echo through to following generations.

Elly Kelly and Brian Cosbey rehearse at Hillier Hall last week.

At its core, it’s a story of rural life—its rhythms, rituals and relationships. Beaubien has set out to elicit the sensation of farm life—the sights, sounds and aromas. He is intrigued by the theatricality of the livestock auction—steeply raked bleachers centred on a pen, with the action narrated by the staccato of the auctioneer’s call.

The production is directed by John Burns— a veteran of County theatre.

Burns directed Beaubien’s previous work, Stringman.

Burns says Back atHoard’s Station is “funny, quirky and deep all at the same time”.

Anne Heathcote and Rick Zimmerman play the lead characters.

“Each brings an enormous well of talent and skill,” said Burns. “Talent is something you are born with, skill is something you learn. Many actors have one or the other—Anne and Rick have both in amazing quantities.”

Filling out the production are musicians Elly Kelly and Brian Cosbey. Both know Hoard’s Station well. Kelly, originally from New Brunswick, adds an Acadian lilt to the accordion accompaniment, offering another texture to this production.

Back at Hoard’s Station is being staged at Hillier Hall over six performances, beginning on April 25 through to May 2. See advertisement on page 13 for performance details. Jane Macdonald, working with Jamie Kennedy will prepare the supper performances menu.