In Belle Moral: A Natural History, we are steeped in a world on the
cusp between magic and art, and science and madness.
Set in 1899 just outside Edinburgh, the play unfolds in the venerable
estate known as Belle Moral, home to Pearl MacIsaac, an avid amateur
paleontologist and proud "new woman"; her maiden Aunt Flora, a sweetly
maternal figure who nonetheless keeps an iron-grip on her set of keys;
and a staff of quirky household retainers who seem to know more than
they are willing say. As Pearl steels herself for the reading of her
late father's will and the inevitable arrival of her wayward younger
brother, Victor, she also does her best to dismiss the sinister signs
that her home may house another occupant...one whose existence her aunt
and the good Doctor Reid seem determined to keep secret.
This dark yet redemptive gothic comedy is a story both of family secrets
that come to life, and the birth pangs of the modern era--but above all,
it is truly a play of morals. Reaching out in two directions to
reconcile the extremes of rationalism and romanticism, Belle Moral
embraces a complex range of thought with Ann-Marie MacDonald's incisive
insight and trademark wit.
* * * * * * * * * *
Copyright (c) 2005 A. M. MacDonald Holdings Inc.
CAUTION Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that BELLE
MORAL is subject to a royalty. It is fully protected under the
copyright laws of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and all
British Commonwealth countries, and of all countries covered by the
International Copyright Union, the Pan-American Copyright Convention,
and the Universal Copyright Convention. All performance rights,
including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, public
reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound taping, all
other forms of mechanical or electronic reproduction, such as
information storage and retrieval systems and photocopying, and rights
of translation into foreign languages, are strictly reserved.
Inquiries concerning the performance rights should be directed as
follows:
Lorraine Wells and Company Talent Management Inc., 10 St. Mary Street,
Suite 320, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1P9, (416) 413-1676 / fax (416)
413-1680.