(Talonbooks, 1981 pb; photo of Peterson in early Vancouver East Cultural Centre production; cover credits: Glen E. Erickson and Thomas Hayes)
(left: scarce–the revival production on DVD; Soulpepper Theatre Co./Union Pictures; right: rare double-signed LP, Tapestry, 1979; design: Mike Bowness, cover photo: Glen Erikson )
(signed Penguin, 2006 pb)
Eric Neal Peterson (1946-) and John (MacLachlan) Gray (1946-) are the celebrated authors and performers of the musical which won the 1982 Governor General’s Award for Drama. The play was lauded by the great U.S. director Mike Nichols which led to some south-of-the-border tours, even getting to Broadway. Not bad for a play that originated in Ottawa. The revived version of the play was later recorded on DVD (see above).
Peterson was born in Indian Head, SK and has been a long-time stage and TV actor in such shows as Corner Gas (Oscar), Seeds, and Street Legal. His friend and collaborator John Gray was born in Ottawa and raised in NS. He worked with the famous Theatre Passe Muraille and wrote and composed other stage musical such as 18 Wheels, Rock and Roll, and Don Messer’s Jubilee. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000.
The comedian and comedy writer Brent Butt (1966-) was born in Tisdale, SK and based his popular Corner Gas series in rural SK. He started his career on the Yuk Yuk’s comedy circuit and later also wrote the Hiccups tv series.