Rope's End
Drama/comedy. 1m, 1f (3 characters). 2 acts.
The central notion of Rope's End is that somewhere long gone on the road not taken, lingering in some idealized, unreliable corner of memory, is the perfect person for each of us. A hopeless romantic fantasy perhaps, but a pretty universal one.
The play begins with a middle-aged man, Toby Boone, alone in a drab room, talking to himself and an imaginary Alex Trebek. He's reached the end of his rope - figuratively - and perhaps literally, because he's trying to tie an ominous-looking loop in a length of rope. The possibility of suicide looms in the air. But he happens across a photo - the love of his life. Maybe she can somehow rescue him, change everything, if he can just get up his nerve to contact her. There's only one small problem. He's let 31 years go by. He last saw her, fleetingly, at summer camp when they were 13. And in 31 years, things change. What if she doesn't remember him? Even worse, what if she does?
A bittersweet comedy about the choices we make in life, Rope's End leads us through twists and turns, and ends up in a surprising and memorable place.
Rope's End premiered at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in August 2006.
"Your play is truly magnificent. As an actor who has appeared in over 100 plays, this may possibly be the most beautiful and touching play I have ever been involved in. Thank you." ~ Daryl Marks, "Toby" in the Curtain Club production of Rope's End
The central notion of Rope's End is that somewhere long gone on the road not taken, lingering in some idealized, unreliable corner of memory, is the perfect person for each of us. A hopeless romantic fantasy perhaps, but a pretty universal one.
The play begins with a middle-aged man, Toby Boone, alone in a drab room, talking to himself and an imaginary Alex Trebek. He's reached the end of his rope - figuratively - and perhaps literally, because he's trying to tie an ominous-looking loop in a length of rope. The possibility of suicide looms in the air. But he happens across a photo - the love of his life. Maybe she can somehow rescue him, change everything, if he can just get up his nerve to contact her. There's only one small problem. He's let 31 years go by. He last saw her, fleetingly, at summer camp when they were 13. And in 31 years, things change. What if she doesn't remember him? Even worse, what if she does?
A bittersweet comedy about the choices we make in life, Rope's End leads us through twists and turns, and ends up in a surprising and memorable place.
Rope's End premiered at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in August 2006.
"Your play is truly magnificent. As an actor who has appeared in over 100 plays, this may possibly be the most beautiful and touching play I have ever been involved in. Thank you." ~ Daryl Marks, "Toby" in the Curtain Club production of Rope's End
Production History
|
Mariposa Arts Theatre
Orillia, ON April 5-15, 2018 Directed by Christine Killing The Curtain Club Richmond Hill, ON September 17 - October 3, 2015 Directed by Kay Valentine Victoria Playhouse Victoria-by-the-Sea, PEI August 8 - September 6, 2015 Directed by Mark Fraser Featuring Johanna Nutter and Jody Racicot Festival Antigonish Antigonish, NS July 18 - August 24, 2013 Directed by Ed Thomason Featuring Genevieve Steele and Gordon Gammie Huronia Players Midland, ON February 22 - March 9, 2013 Directed by Christine Killing Burl-Oak Theatre Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Oakville, ON October 4-7, 10-13, 2012 Directed by Greg Porter |
|
|
Blyth Festival
Blyth, ON July 27 - August 27, 2011 Directed by Lee MacDougall Featuring Marion Day and Tony Munch Many Hats Theatre Penticton, BC March 2011 Directed by Jamie Eberle Domino Theatre Kingston, ON September 2009 Directed by Anne-Marie Pap |
|
|
Manitoba Theatre Centre
Winnipeg, MB February - March 2008 Directed by Robb Paterson Manitoba Theatre Centre Provincial Tour January - February 2008 Directed by Robb Paterson Theatre Orangeville Orangeville, ON February - March 2008 Directed by David Nairn Theatre Aquarius Hamilton, ON October - November 2007 Directed by Max Reimer "This is a great play that deserves many productions. Full of wit and affection, folding back and twisting through time, we get an actor's dream and an audience's delight of a romantic story. Rope's End will undoubtedly get produced by many others." ~ Max Reimer, Artistic Director, Theatre Aquarius |
|
|
Premiere Production Thousand Islands Playhouse Gananoque, ON August 30 - September 30, 2006 Directed by Michael Dobbin; Designed by Art Penson Featuring Murray Furrow and Jan Alexander Smith |
|
Selected Reviews
"Excellent ... a challenging story ... Just when you think you’ve pinned down the tone of the play, it suggests otherwise. Goofier gags intentionally misdirect as dark humor simmers on low. All the while, the plot’s interesting kinks and knots ask you to rewind and replay. In an arc that makes few compromises, you may stumble out into the storybook seaside village of Victoria still in a bittersweet haze. And I expect, as the days pass, moments of the play will come back to you as full-bodied as if they were your own memories." ~ Charlottetown (PEI) Guardian
"If you feel like you're a member of the faint-hearted club take heart, Doug Bowie's got a hymn for you. Well, actually it's a play, but it does, at times, feel as inspirational as a hymn. Mostly, however, Rope's End is funny and poignant and awkward in a good way ... Although the script is clever and entertaining, its strength is in its absorbing characters, and the actors playing them, Murray Furrow and Jan Alexandra Smith do terrific justice to them, so much so that it's hard to tell where the script ends and the acting begins ... Douglas Bowie captures a little of all of us in Rope's End, a poignant and funny story about a man who dares." ~ Kingston Whig Standard
"If you've given summer theatre a pass this year, here is one piece of rope that's worth grabbing. Rope's End, by Thousand Islands playwright-in-residence Douglas Bowie, is a finely crafted combination of splendid wit, physical comedy and hairpin emotional turns that shifts from side-splittingly funny to profoundly poignant as quickly as the dimming of the stage lights. It is one of those productions that not only entertains, but leaves the viewer with a little more ... that goes further than a simple comedy." ~ Brockville Recorder and Times
"As the summer draws to a close, along comes Rope's End by Douglas Bowie, a perfect complement to bittersweet goodbyes and memories of yesterday ... Rope's End is touching and comedic. The play celebrates "life's infinite possibilities" to use an expression favoured by Toby, and convincingly argues love's enduring power." ~ Gananoque Reporter
"Fascinating ...Playwright Bowie has endowed his eccentric but very human character with touches of both Cyrano and Walter Mitty ... Rope's End succeeds in Mr. Bowie's stated objective of "Make ‘em laugh - make ‘em cry." There are plenty of laughs in the play and a couple of definite lumps in the throat ... Four and two-thirds stars (out of five)" ~ North Country Public Radio (N.Y. State)
"If you feel like you're a member of the faint-hearted club take heart, Doug Bowie's got a hymn for you. Well, actually it's a play, but it does, at times, feel as inspirational as a hymn. Mostly, however, Rope's End is funny and poignant and awkward in a good way ... Although the script is clever and entertaining, its strength is in its absorbing characters, and the actors playing them, Murray Furrow and Jan Alexandra Smith do terrific justice to them, so much so that it's hard to tell where the script ends and the acting begins ... Douglas Bowie captures a little of all of us in Rope's End, a poignant and funny story about a man who dares." ~ Kingston Whig Standard
"If you've given summer theatre a pass this year, here is one piece of rope that's worth grabbing. Rope's End, by Thousand Islands playwright-in-residence Douglas Bowie, is a finely crafted combination of splendid wit, physical comedy and hairpin emotional turns that shifts from side-splittingly funny to profoundly poignant as quickly as the dimming of the stage lights. It is one of those productions that not only entertains, but leaves the viewer with a little more ... that goes further than a simple comedy." ~ Brockville Recorder and Times
"As the summer draws to a close, along comes Rope's End by Douglas Bowie, a perfect complement to bittersweet goodbyes and memories of yesterday ... Rope's End is touching and comedic. The play celebrates "life's infinite possibilities" to use an expression favoured by Toby, and convincingly argues love's enduring power." ~ Gananoque Reporter
"Fascinating ...Playwright Bowie has endowed his eccentric but very human character with touches of both Cyrano and Walter Mitty ... Rope's End succeeds in Mr. Bowie's stated objective of "Make ‘em laugh - make ‘em cry." There are plenty of laughs in the play and a couple of definite lumps in the throat ... Four and two-thirds stars (out of five)" ~ North Country Public Radio (N.Y. State)
"Uplifting romantic comedy goes off without a hitch ... Playwright Douglas Bowie leads his audience around unforeseen corners ... Even the ending is up for debate: some will find it happy, others terribly sad ... A poignant and bittersweet tale with broad appeal about a despondent man brought back to life by a woman, twice ...Rope's End binds viewers snugly to it ... and throws a rescue line to all who will dare, even 31 years late." ~ Winnipeg Free Press
"Billed as both a drama and comedy by playwright Douglas Bowie, Rope's End is exactly that ... and the result is a sincere and heart-warming story. Bowie has created two lovable characters who react with original comedic charm, but he also manages to resolve difficult personal conflicts ... Rope's End is a unique, entertaining and inspirational tale that will be enjoyed by hopeless romantics and skeptical curmudgeons alike." ~ Wellington Advertiser
"A captivating two-person comedy ... a pleasant surprise ... draws big laughs." ~ Winnipeg Sun
"Rope's End squeezes sweet juice out of life's aging lemons ... The themes of life and love are expressed throughout the show ... allowing the plot to propel fluidly towards joy ... The choices made by these characters are so darn entertaining, the actors give charismatic performances, and the overall show has great appeal. Be sure to catch it at the Warehouse." ~ The Manitoban
"Douglas Bowie navigates the story with charm, comedy and a lovable lead character ... Despite the sometimes serious nature of the story, there are several laugh-out-loud moments and twists that will take the audience by surprise ... and a final outcome that reinforces the moral of the story: a shred of hope goes a long way when you're at the end of your rope." ~ Orangeville Banner
"Edgy, dramatic, dark and absolutely hilarious, Rope's End is a special play ... The writing is as good as it gets. Layered and poetic, very intelligent, witty and deep. Douglas Bowie knows how to write a flawless play ... This is a must see. Hands down. Four stars (out of four)" ~ The Beat Magazine, London, ON
"Rope's End is a charming romance filled with wit and pathos - and a nice twist. My favourite show of this year's Festival Antigonish." ~ The Coast, Halifax, NS
"Billed as both a drama and comedy by playwright Douglas Bowie, Rope's End is exactly that ... and the result is a sincere and heart-warming story. Bowie has created two lovable characters who react with original comedic charm, but he also manages to resolve difficult personal conflicts ... Rope's End is a unique, entertaining and inspirational tale that will be enjoyed by hopeless romantics and skeptical curmudgeons alike." ~ Wellington Advertiser
"A captivating two-person comedy ... a pleasant surprise ... draws big laughs." ~ Winnipeg Sun
"Rope's End squeezes sweet juice out of life's aging lemons ... The themes of life and love are expressed throughout the show ... allowing the plot to propel fluidly towards joy ... The choices made by these characters are so darn entertaining, the actors give charismatic performances, and the overall show has great appeal. Be sure to catch it at the Warehouse." ~ The Manitoban
"Douglas Bowie navigates the story with charm, comedy and a lovable lead character ... Despite the sometimes serious nature of the story, there are several laugh-out-loud moments and twists that will take the audience by surprise ... and a final outcome that reinforces the moral of the story: a shred of hope goes a long way when you're at the end of your rope." ~ Orangeville Banner
"Edgy, dramatic, dark and absolutely hilarious, Rope's End is a special play ... The writing is as good as it gets. Layered and poetic, very intelligent, witty and deep. Douglas Bowie knows how to write a flawless play ... This is a must see. Hands down. Four stars (out of four)" ~ The Beat Magazine, London, ON
"Rope's End is a charming romance filled with wit and pathos - and a nice twist. My favourite show of this year's Festival Antigonish." ~ The Coast, Halifax, NS
Playwright's Notes for the Premiere Production
