The Drawer Boy Play Themes
THE DRAWER BOY
THE OFFICIAL GRAND THEATRE STUDY GUIDE
471 Richmond St.
London, ON N6A 3E4
Box Office: 519-672-8800
Online: www.grandtheatre.com
The Drawer Boy
About the Writer
Michael Healey is a Canadian playwright and actor. He was born
August 25, 1963 in Toronto, Ontario and was raised in Brockville,
Ontario.
In 1985, Healey graduated from the acting program at Ryerson
Theatre School in Toronto. His acting credits include The League of
Nathans, Reading Hebron, Three in the Black, Two in the Head, The
End of Civilization, The Optimists and Better Living. In 1995 Healey encountered the history of The Farm Show while acting at Blyth
Festival which in turn was inspiration for his own play, The Drawer
Boy.
Healey began writing plays in …show more content…
In 1999 he produced his first full-length play, The Drawer Boy, at Theatre Passe
Muraille in Toronto and remounted it by Ed Mirvish Productions at the
Winter Garden Theatre. The Drawer Boy received international acclaim and has been produced internationally and across North
America. It has been translated into German, French and Japanese.
The Drawer Boy has won the Governor General’s Award for Drama in
1999, the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best New Play, A Chalmers
Canadian Playwriting Award and the Governor General’s Literary
Award.
In 2002 Healey co-authored the Road to Hell with Kate Lynch and his play Plan B premiered at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre, winning a Dora
Mavor Moore Award for Best New Play. In March of 2003 he also premiered one of his plays, Rune Arlidge, a three-act tragedy, at the
Tarragon Theatre. It was nominated for the Governor General’s Award in 2004.
In 2005 Healey performed in his own play, The Innocent Eye Test, at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto.
He has also appeared in the CBC TV series, This is Wonderland.
Healey continues to work as an actor and a playwright. He is a writer at the Tarragon Theatre and recently premiered his latest …show more content…
Grand Theatre Study Guide 2008/09 Season
The Drawer Boy
Questions & Activities
1. Miles, an actor from the city, travels to Southern Ontario to research life in a rural community. How is the rural and urban culture portrayed in the play? Give some examples where the characters clash due to their cultural differences.
2. Miles and Morgan sometimes disagree on the way things should occur. In your opinion, do you think that the differences are due to the fact that they both come from different cultures or do you think age plays a factor? Explain.
3. After seeing the production why do you think the play is so successful? Do you think that both rural and urban communities can relate to the play?
4. Write a review for the production. Review the set, costumes, lighting, actors and the script.
5. There are a number of other characters mentioned in the play that never appear like Sally and Frances, Angus and Morgan’s neighbours and the other actors in Miles’ acting group. Why do you think these characters are never seen?
6. If you were in Morgan’s position would you have kept the truth from Angus or told him the real story? Why?
7. Form a small group and interview people in your community.
THE OFFICIAL GRAND THEATRE STUDY GUIDE
471 Richmond St.
London, ON N6A 3E4
Box Office: 519-672-8800
Online: www.grandtheatre.com
The Drawer Boy
About the Writer
Michael Healey is a Canadian playwright and actor. He was born
August 25, 1963 in Toronto, Ontario and was raised in Brockville,
Ontario.
In 1985, Healey graduated from the acting program at Ryerson
Theatre School in Toronto. His acting credits include The League of
Nathans, Reading Hebron, Three in the Black, Two in the Head, The
End of Civilization, The Optimists and Better Living. In 1995 Healey encountered the history of The Farm Show while acting at Blyth
Festival which in turn was inspiration for his own play, The Drawer
Boy.
Healey began writing plays in …show more content…
In 1999 he produced his first full-length play, The Drawer Boy, at Theatre Passe
Muraille in Toronto and remounted it by Ed Mirvish Productions at the
Winter Garden Theatre. The Drawer Boy received international acclaim and has been produced internationally and across North
America. It has been translated into German, French and Japanese.
The Drawer Boy has won the Governor General’s Award for Drama in
1999, the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best New Play, A Chalmers
Canadian Playwriting Award and the Governor General’s Literary
Award.
In 2002 Healey co-authored the Road to Hell with Kate Lynch and his play Plan B premiered at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre, winning a Dora
Mavor Moore Award for Best New Play. In March of 2003 he also premiered one of his plays, Rune Arlidge, a three-act tragedy, at the
Tarragon Theatre. It was nominated for the Governor General’s Award in 2004.
In 2005 Healey performed in his own play, The Innocent Eye Test, at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto.
He has also appeared in the CBC TV series, This is Wonderland.
Healey continues to work as an actor and a playwright. He is a writer at the Tarragon Theatre and recently premiered his latest …show more content…
Grand Theatre Study Guide 2008/09 Season
The Drawer Boy
Questions & Activities
1. Miles, an actor from the city, travels to Southern Ontario to research life in a rural community. How is the rural and urban culture portrayed in the play? Give some examples where the characters clash due to their cultural differences.
2. Miles and Morgan sometimes disagree on the way things should occur. In your opinion, do you think that the differences are due to the fact that they both come from different cultures or do you think age plays a factor? Explain.
3. After seeing the production why do you think the play is so successful? Do you think that both rural and urban communities can relate to the play?
4. Write a review for the production. Review the set, costumes, lighting, actors and the script.
5. There are a number of other characters mentioned in the play that never appear like Sally and Frances, Angus and Morgan’s neighbours and the other actors in Miles’ acting group. Why do you think these characters are never seen?
6. If you were in Morgan’s position would you have kept the truth from Angus or told him the real story? Why?
7. Form a small group and interview people in your community.