The late Leonard Nimoy may have been best known for his role as Spock on the original Star Trek series and subsequent Star Trek movies, but he was also a great writer and producer — one of his plays is being performed at the Barbara Barrett Theatre in the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John’s this week.
“Vincent,” presented by St. John's Players and Signpost Players, is directed by Louise Kearley and stars Andrew Halliday.
The last two shows are tonight and Saturday night.
Nimoy's story depicts the passion, love and life of world renowned artist Vincent van Gogh.
“A few days after the death of little-known painter Vincent Van Gogh, rumours are flying in Paris,” a synopsis of the play states. “Some say he was a penniless madman, a frequenter of prostitutes, a derelict and soon-to-be forgotten artist of trifling quality. Others denounce him as a wayward priest and a foreigner. Many whisper that he took his own life in a moment of insanity.
“His brother Theo, Vincent's confidante and life-long supporter, is enraged. Tonight, he hopes to set the record straight.”
A news release states the multi-image dramatic staging received rave reviews when it was toured with Leonard Nimoy playing the one extraordinary role. The excitement and colour of Van Gogh's life and art enhance this production through the projection of images that are easily handled and carefully cued to add impact to the words.
Halliday, an experienced and popular local actor, says this is his first one-man show and he describes it as a challenge — in a positive way.
“Leonard Nimoy adapted it from a play he was familiar with. He wrote it about 1980-81 and then he performed it, took it on tour in the United States for a year, a year and half maybe,” Halliday said. “When I heard that, it was definitely one of the motivators for me. It’s actually been joked to me that ‘Spock actually wrote this’. I am saying the words that Spock wrote. That’s a cool thing, I’m a fan of Leonard Nimoy in all things, not just Star Trek.”
The play has been attracting good crowds all week.
