LETTER: Marlene Campbell's The Conversation is wonderful

I consider myself one of the fortunate ones who got to attend The Conversation held at The Arts Guild in September at my favourite time of day — 2 p.m.  A full house was full of enthusiasm and appreciation for a wonderful performance by two wonderful P.E.I. actors. If you ever have opportunity to see this amazing, heartfelt play, I hope you do.

My hope is that it might eventually be in a booklet form so I can read it, as there were lines/quotes that I would so love to hear again! The author (Marlene Campbell) managed to tell a life-time story in a short 90 minutes that went by so quickly one did not miss that there was no intermission (which would have ruined the flow).

The play was also held at Watermark Theatre earlier on in September. It was my first time to the Guild since the major renovations and I have to say, despite no seating elevation, it is cosy and the sound carried so well that even with hearing impairment I heard (and felt) every word. At times the lines caused laughter that was body-shaking, while other times they evoked “wet eyes,” big-time! I was relieved that I was not the only one present experiencing the intensity at times, and had a kind shoulder to lean on.

Melissa Mullen plays the daughter of Marlane O’Brien — both once again provide a high-level quality performance. This play manages to have humour despite a heartfelt look at what happens when the parent-child relation shifts with aging.

Their poster states: A mother and daughter can be best friends, worst enemies, and everything in between. The acting was so well done as it included the daughter preparing the meal and they both sat down and ate the real food … rarely do we see such an authentic approach to acting. The beginning of the play in particular was so expertly yet authentically well done as it is truly an amazingly accurate portrayal of real-life.

I was an RN for 12 years in Nova Scotia and can attest to Marlane deserving kudos for her terrific performance as she and Melissa portrayed “real life.”

Wonderful actors like Melissa and Marlane deserve quality writing like Campbell provided; if the writing is poor, no actor can improve it …So congrats to all of those involved in this wonderful comedy/drama that so “hits home” to many of us.

Judy Donovan Whitty,
Charlottetown