Dear Editor:
Theatre goers in Yorkton had the opportunity to watch a unique, and surprisingly realistic play titled “JAKE’S GIFT”, presented by the Yorkton Arts Council on Saturday, April 29.
The unique part being one performer saying the lines and copying the characters and expressions of three people. A most difficult role, and done to perfection by the lone performer and author of the play, Julia Mackey. The main theme throughout was the feeling of loss and sadness by those whose loved ones had made the ultimate sacrifice, and never returned home from the war. This ties in with the motto of the Royal Canadian Legion, which headlines this article.
Since World War 1, The Legion has distributed red poppies, signifying the blood shed by Canadian Service men and women, to be worn each year on Remembrance Day, November 11, to honour and remember those who lost lives and limbs and lay in graves in distant countries.
The Yorkton branch, No. 77 was honoured to receive a beautiful print from actress and author Julia Mackey, and accepted by the youngest of the handful of remaining WW II veteran Legion members, still left in Yorkton.
Ms. Mackey first introduces us to ‘Jake’, an old veteran, whose brother was buried in a Canadian graveyard near Juno Beach. The sense of loss and sorrow is relayed to the audience by the author as she takes us on a roller coaster ride of emotions, as she introduces some humour into the conversation, as well. By then, I doubt if there is a dry eye in the house. Next, we see a ten year old French girl, Elizabeth, (also performed by Ms. Mackey) who meets Jake at the graveyard, where he has hesitated to go to his brother’s grave.
During this scene we learn about the loving care given to theses graves by the local townspeople and their children. Among them, Elizabeth, who also happens to be taking care of the grave of Jake’s brother, and convinces Jake to go to his brother’s grave, tell him how much he is missed and loved, while saying his last goodbyes. More misty eyes and sniffles erupt!
We then begin to understand why mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children and surviving veterans take that excursion to Europe, some more than once, to visit the killing fields where battles were won or lost, to Vimy Ridge to visit the impressive monument erected to commemorate the bravery, courage and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers on the battlefield, to Juno Beach, where the Allies landed on D Day in the face of a wall of hundreds of thousands of German machine guns and artillery on the shoreline and, finally, to the graves, so lovingly attended by the local children, as if their own.
In conclusion, Jake’s gift to Elizabeth after he returned to Canada– a large cardboard box, crammed full of maple leaves to put on the graves, and a bugle to play The Last Post! I understand Julia is presenting her play to various Legion branches across Canada. And has even played to audiences in Europe.
I am not a professional critic, but I would rate this unique play as a 5 star, Extraordinary. If you ever get the chance, this is a must see!
Bill Stubbings, Legion member and veteran
Yorkton, SK.
