Whale Riding Weather

A love story in which a faded old queen finds his life slipping away from him along with his young lover, who meets a new, younger man.

“One day when I was sitting in a tiny little basement bar I noticed a man sitting alone at the bar—an elegant old queen with snowy white hair perfectly sculpted around his translucent face. His eyes could have been any colour—they were empty. He remained very still, holding a brandy snifter with great reverence while a steady stream of tears flowed down his cheeks. I suddenly found myself inventing his history, wondering what it must have been like for him growing up gay—maybe in a small fishing village on the east coast.

Had he been ridiculed by his peers?

Disowned by his parents?

Did he run to a big city at too early an age?”

Cast of 3 men

AUTHOR

Bryden MacDonald

Bryden MacDonald is a playwright, director, actor and teacher. His published plays are Whale Riding Weather, The Weekend Healer, Divinity Bash/nine lives, With Bated Breath, and Odd Ducks. He’s created and directed theatrical interpretations of the words and music of Leonard Cohen (“Sincerely a Friend”), Carol Pope & Rough Trade (“Shaking the Foundations”), and Joni Mitchell (“When All the Slaves Are Free”). He has coached students at the National Theatre School of Canada and McGill University. He’s been in residence at Factory Theatre; The National Theatre School; Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal; Mulgrave Road; Neptune Theatre; The Stratford Festival and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Bryden lives in Halifax.

Reviews

“… powerfully written. Whale Riding Weather succeeds mainly because of MacDonald’s ability to create empathy for his emotionally hungry and interdependent characters.”
– Toronto Star

“MacDonald’s script, a roller-coaster ride of pain and humour and pathos and love, is an actor’s dream.” – Vancouver Sun

“MacDonald has become a colourful voice in Canadian theatre.” – Globe & Mail

“This is the most promising playwriting talent I’ve seen in a long time.” – CBC Radio