A unique twist on a once in a lifetime event

This story is part of a Gazette series that will uncover the science behind the total solar eclipse that will be observed from Kingston on April 8, 2024. For more information and resources on the total solar eclipse, visit the Queen’s eclipse website.

Kingston is preparing for a once in a lifetime event as the city will be plunged into darkness for three minutes and four seconds during the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.

To celebrate this unique and historic event, the Dan School of Drama and Music and the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy have joined forces to present A Total Eclipse of the Arts, an evening of seven plays written by students in Sarah Waisvisz’s playwriting class, directed by students in her dramaturgy class, and featuring a cast of both physics and drama students.

“This production was the brainchild of Sarah Sadavoy from the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy,” Dr. Waisvisz explains. “Building off that, I presented the eclipse to my playwriting class as a theme, and they wrote 24 unique scripts, and seven were selected to be developed. We have now started rehearsals to prepare for the show on Monday, March 25.”

Ben Ma (front) goes over details of his play while Deanna Cervi takes notes.

The seven scripts include Inefficient Intimacy, A Chance Encounter of Lovers’ Chariots, The Light by Which Plants Grow, The Call from the Sun, The Box, Seven Minutes in Heaven, and No.1 Eclipse Party Anthem.

Dr. Sadavoy says the idea came during the pandemic when her sister was part of various theatre groups in the Oakville area, and she helped produce a series of one-act 10 minute plays that were shown on YouTube.

“One of those plays was space-travel themed, and that made me think of having 10-minute plays on eclipses,” she said. “I've read up on the history, mythology, and science of eclipses, and could see that eclipses are natural inciting incidents that make them perfect for storytelling.  So when I got Sarah's name from a colleague as someone to contact, she thankfully jumped on this opportunity, and we discussed what it could look like and how to make it happen.”

First year Masters student Paul Hughes is studying quantum optics in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy but jumped at the chance to try something new and get involved in the production. His last acting experience was back in high school but says he is excited about this opportunity.

“I wanted one more opportunity to do something on stage,” Hughes explains. “When I saw the email looking for actors, it caught my eye, and I thought it was something I could do.”

Sophia Galbraith has experience on stage but is making her directorial debut in this production.

“I grew up doing productions in my high school so halfway through, I transferred to an arts high school. I knew I wanted to pursue it at the university level, so I came to Queen’s. I’m in the mixed media performance production program. My experience has always been in acting specifically so this is a different experience for me as a director.”

She adds the term dramaturgy is used a lot in theatre and she was unsure what it meant. This production gives her the chance to expand her horizons in the theatre world.

“It’s a lot of pressure because this is such a big event but, at the same time, there is an understanding that this is a totally new experience. Something that makes theatre so important to so many people is putting on productions about experiences that people have never known before.”

The physics department brought the drama students to the Queen’s observatory and gave them a glimpse into what they study and the work they do. “They showed us why the eclipse is important and now it’s our job to take that information and create art.”

Ben Ma says he got involved in the production due to his love of the magic of theatre. “I’ve always been trying to prove something to people who aren’t as open to loving theatre as much as I do. When I heard this was such a big, interdisciplinary project, I knew this was my time to play with the audience’s mind but also push myself to communicate things in a unique way.”

He added there are so many different inputs into the production, he’s excited to try something different. “This is a prime time to try new things. This is university so it’s the perfect place to try something unique.”

Ma says when you think about big moments, this is his chance to be the bridge between people who don’t get the eclipse and those who do. “This is a rare opportunity to come together as a diverse group of students. This is a chance to let all our voices shine and for me to take some risks.”

This is free event takes place on Monday, March 25 at 7:30 pm ET in Convocation Hall, in Theological Hall on Queen’s Campus, or via livestream (Physics @ QueensU). The McDonald Institute is a partner in the event and is presenting the live stream. For more information and for tickets, visit the event webpage.