The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society proudly presents Where the Blood Mixes on Tuesday, March 5th at 8:00pm at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Where the Blood Mixes is the final show in the Society’s 2012/13 Theatre Series.

Winner of the prestigious Governor General Literary Award for Drama, Where the Blood Mixes is a deeply moving story of loss and redemption. Brutally honest and irreverently funny, Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas) and Craig Lauzon (Royal Canadian Air Farce) star in a production that explores one of Canada’s darkest secrets: the British Columbia Residential Schools.

While the residential schools were torn down years ago, their legacy endures through alcoholism, suicides and broken families as the memories still haunt those who spent their childhoods there. “We don’t talk directly about the residential schools, but that era caused this kind of pain for people.” explains director Bradley Moss, “It’s that repercussion that we’re working through in this play.”

Characters Floyd and Mooch, both victims of the residential schools, are forced to confront their pasts when Floyd’s daughter Christine, estranged for 20 years, finds her father in a search to discover her roots. Her arrival forces Floyd and Mooch to confront their inner demons, and ultimately begins the healing process. “I think the sense of someone who’s searching for their purpose or trying to find their roots is universal.” says Moss, “It’s beautiful that way. It’s hope, it’s a chance, and that’s all that anybody can really ask for.”

Despite tackling a tough subject, Where the Blood Mixes finds levity through irreverent humour. “Believe it or not, it’s super funny.” says Moss, “Floyd and Mooch are hilarious together. They just find the humour out of every little thing in life, which is really the point of life, to appreciate what you have. There’s a real joy in that.”

Written by Kevin Loring, Where the Blood Mixes is a moving and deeply personal story about humanity and survival. “It’s beautiful, it’s funny and it’s poetic.” adds Moss, “Come and enjoy it, it’s a really beautiful play.”

This production contains mature subject matter and coarse language.

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support: Valley Medical Labs, Care Systems, 107.5 Kiss FM, the Okanagan Advertiser, the Vernon Morning Star, the Prestige Inn, the British Columbia Arts Council, the Department of Canadian heritage, the Regional District of the North Okanagan, and the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives.

Top Photo: Where the Blood Mixes_Craig Lauzon_Lorne Cardinal_arm wrestle_photo Barbara Zimonick.jpg
Photo Description: Craig Lauzon (Royal Canadian Air Farce) and Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas) in Where the Blood Mixes, coming to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre on March 5th 2013.
Photo Credit: Barbara Zimonick

Photo: Where the Blood Mixes_Robert Benz_Craig Lauzon_Lorne Cardinal_photo Barbara Zimonick.jpg
Photo Description: Robert Benz, Craig Lauzon and Lorne Cardinal in Where the Blood Mixes, coming to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre on March 5th 2013.
Photo Credit: Barbara Zimonick