Yellowknife (Oct 01/04) - Jeremy Findlay's role as Harold in Harold and Maude is proving more dangerous than he expected.

In the play, Harold tries to get his mother's attention with a series of ingenious faked suicide attempts.

Erica Tesar plays Maude and Jeremy Findlay plays Harold in the Kitsch In Sync production of Harold and Maude opening next Wednesday at NACC. - photo courtesy of Janet Pacey

Findlay was crossing the street one day on his way to rehearsal when he started wondering how hard it would be to fake getting hit by a car.

"Harold's a troubled young lad," said Findlay. "But he's just an extreme version of what we all go through."

Harold's fake suicide attempts, and his hobby of attending funerals, might lead playgoers to think the show is darker than it is.

"On the surface it's about death, but it's really about life," said Findlay.

Harold meets elderly Maude at a funeral and through her practical, yet quirky way of life, she inspires him to live life to the fullest.

Erica Tesar is hoping that Maude's joie de vivre and unconventional attitudes will stay with her after the play is over.

"Sometimes you play characters that aren't pleasant, and they always infiltrate your life," said Tesar.

"In the past, people have said 'Oh my god she was unbearable when she played so and so.' But this is one of those lovely joys that come your way from time to time."

The octogenarian character steals cars, though she doesn't believe anyone can really own anything, therefore in her mind it's not stealing.

She creates bad paintings and sculptures and invents "odorifics," a form of art using smells.

"Everybody's a little odd in this play," said Tesar. "Maude could be the most normal person."

Stage adaptation

The play is a stage adaptation of the popular 1971 movie written by Colin Higgins.

"A lot of people remember that movie with fondness and I'm one of them," said director Christopher Foreman.

"I've always loved it and I was delighted to discover that he had done a stage version."

The play has its more serious moments as Maude reveals bits of her past from time to time, hints of terrible events she lived through during the Second World War.

But the play's overall message is life-affirming, said Foreman.

"The slogan should be that everyone has the right to make an ass of themselves," he said. "You just can't let the world judge you too much."

Tesar and Findlay last performed together five years ago in Marvin's Room. The two anchor a cast of 12, including Chic Callas, Allan Ross, Robin Williams, "all the Hall kids" -- Devon, Brad and Kira -- and Karen Leyck.

The play opens Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. at NACC and runs until Oct. 9