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What Lies Before Us

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 184.147.22.14 (talk) at 02:54, 21 September 2023 (I changed the date the play was set from 1884 to 1885, as that is what it says in the script.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

What Lies Before Us is a comedic play by Morris Panych. It takes place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in 1885, where a railway survey team, Keating and Ambrose, and their Chinese servant Wing, are stranded after being abandoned by their wilderness guide. The play was a 2007 nominee for the Governor General's Award for English-language drama.[1]

Keating and Ambrose argue over what to do - winter approaches and their food supply is dwindling. Ambrose eventually decides to go for help, but an avalanche injures his leg and traps them. Ambrose learns that Keating has contracted rabies from a squirrel, and that he himself has gangrene on his injured leg. While Keating remains optimistic even after becoming paralyzed, Ambrose loses hope. Ultimately, both Keating and Ambrose die, and Wing is left alone to deliver a monologue in Chinese.

The premiere tour of What Lies Before Us featured:

  • Director: Jim Millan
  • Keating: Matthew MacFadzean
  • Ambrose: David Storch
  • Wing: Wayne Sujo

References

  1. ^ "CanLit heavyweights among Governor General finalists". CBC News. October 16, 2007. Retrieved November 27, 2021.

Sources

  1. Pat St. Germain. "'What Lies Before Us' a bleak comedy". Sun Media. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  2. Richard Ouzounian (2007-01-29). "What Lies Before Us". Variety. Retrieved 2007-03-12.