Here's what people have said thus far about our current production of Robinson Crusoe...

We enjoyed the show...a little more serious in nature (not that serious is a bad thing!) but so well done as all of your performances have been... We are very impressed with the quality of your productions. The actor who played Robinson Crusoe did a fabulous job and carried the show well. -Audience Member

(The show) was well-done as per usual...I loved the second half which included Friday, as the performance was more lively and interesting. -Audience Member

I must say Robinson Crusoe was well done....I believe the goal of being alone for a very long time was achieved. The actor was amazing...bravo! Well done! -Audience Member

My husband and I really enjoyed the show! That was an amazing amount of script for one person to commit to memory – well done, Mr. Abrahams! Thank you so much for ... the wonderful performance! -Audience Member

My wife and I enjoyed the show tremendously. Watching Andrew Abrahams hold the audience's attention with his one man tour-de-force performance was fantastic. It was stylistically a different kind of performance than I am used to seeing, but found myself drawn into Crusoe's world. Thanks again for a great night. We love having such a great theatre experience so close by. -Audience Member

We thought the show was fantastic – how could one person remember that entire script? Those lighting and set workers really had their work cut out for them. It wasn't just the story itself that was amazing – for a small theatrical company – it was a top class performance! Our boys are 13 and 15 and as you can imagine, it's difficult sometimes to find events or places to take them that they find more appealing than playing games on the internet. They were spellbound through the entire show and talked about it all night. -Audience Member

All of our staff that attended the play last Friday night said it was a great experience and were thrilled with the quality of the production. -Staff Member speaking on behalf of her colleagues

We had a great evening, regardless of the weather. (We) were amazed at the volume of memorization/monologue from Crusoe. Our friends, whom we invited, very much enjoyed their experience. This is a powerful story of how God can change one's perspective in terms of the value of all humanity. -Audience Member

Such a great show - the set is fantastic and I particularly loved Ben's performance as Friday. Andrew was great too - make sure you see this one! -Audience Member

We enjoyed Robinson Crusoe very much. Gallery 7 continues to produce excellent plays. -Audience Member

I have to add my kudos. Robinson Crusoe was an amazing show. Andrew Abrahams' performance was outstanding. Once again I was delighted with the whole show; set, lighting, and actors. Thank you for an enjoyable evening. -Audience Member

Fantastic opening night at Gallery 7 Theatre. Robinson Crusoe was excellent. Go see it. -posted on Twitter.

Gallery 7: Tell us about your theatre background – have you always done design work or have you been involved in other theatre elements like acting or directing?

Nicole: I started acting in highschool and found that I also enjoyed working behind the scenes. I have dabbled in directing and playwriting but I feel most at home as a designer.

G7: How did you get involved with Gallery 7? Is it important to you to be involved with a faith-based theatre?

N: Honestly, I found Gallery 7's posting on Craig's List and I had no idea that it was a faith-based theatre. I was pleasantly surprised. I don't discriminate between working with faith-based or secular theatres, I find all theatre an opportunity for spiritual growth.

G7: Tell us about your thought process as you prepared the set design for Robinson Crusoe. What are you hoping to achieve with your design?

N: I wanted to create a very full stage picture that emphasizes Crusoe's smallness as one man in a vast, open landscape. I wanted to communicate his feeling of being along in the world, but also portray the beauty of his natural environment.

G7: You also designed the lighting for the play. Tell us about that.

N: I designed the set with the lighting in mind, knowing that the sail would be a transitional piece that could reflect colour and lighting. The mood shifts from heavy to light, and back and forth as Crusoe struggles to find meaning in his isolation.

G7: Had you read the book or seen any other version of this story before working on this play? Do you think seeing a movie version of a play before working on it is a help or a hindrance?

N: I had not seen the movie or read the book though I was vaguely familiar with the story. I chose not to watch a film version in this case although it can be helpful in other cases. This time, I wanted to make sure my ideas came from my own intuition not another interpretation.

G7: What were some of the challenges you faced in the design process?

N: MEI does not have a fly system to work with so it was a major challenge to safely rig the sale. The moving components on the set were also challenging to safely implement.

G7: Are there any interesting facts about your designs that the audience should know about?

N: The floor cloth was painted with the help of several volunteers. I based my design on a 17th century map of the Caribbean and it is meant to look like old parchment. Also I incorporated foot lighting at the front of the stage to help give a historical feel to the lighting - this is a traditional method called foot-candles.

G7: What do you hope the audience will take away from this play?

N: I hope the audience can enjoy the kinetic sense of the set and the way it can transform. I hope they enjoy the storytelling and imaginary world of the island!

Here are some photos of the set model Nicole built for Robinson Crusoe. A model of the set is very useful to the production team, as it assists in planning staging and construction. It's important to point out here that the model below showcases the overall concept for the set to be built, and does not necessarily reflect the colors that will ultimately be used. You'll have to come out to the show to see just how the set, complete with a rocking platform and flyable sail, looks in real life.

What's fascinating is that Crusoe's eventual transformation is not ultimately lived out in a vacuum – it is tested against the backdrop of the old order and in the context of new-found community. I'm particularly intrigued by Crusoe and Friday's friendship, how they each come to tolerate, if not appreciate, each other's views despite how their opinions place them on near opposite philosophical and religious extremes.

We find in this classic adventure story a raw and human journey where big, and difficult, questions are asked of self, of others and of God. Through Crusoe's experiences, we're confronted with examining our own values, traditions and beliefs, to discover where falsehood and sense of entitlement lingers, where our understanding and the reality of God conflict, and where prejudice still lurks in the darker places of our soul. In considering the themes of this play, I'm left to ponder whether such questions are a sign of doubt and weakness, or the starting points for a deeper, stronger and more honest faith.

We've pulled out all the stops, as we do for all our productions, to bring you another exciting and compelling theatre experience. We've maximized our technical capabilities with this production, the end result being a visually stunning show that has an often humorous, but always human emotional and spiritual journey at its heart. Enjoy the adventure!

Ken Hildebrandt
Executive Artistic Director