A love story in which a faded old queen finds his life slipping away from him along with his young lover, who meets a new, younger man.

“One day when I was sitting in a tiny little basement bar I noticed a man sitting alone at the bar—an elegant old queen with snowy white hair perfectly sculpted around his translucent face. His eyes could have been any colour—they were empty. He remained very still, holding a brandy snifter with great reverence while a steady stream of tears flowed down his cheeks. I suddenly found myself inventing his history, wondering what it must have been like for him growing up gay—maybe in a small fishing village on the east coast.

Had he been ridiculed by his peers?

Disowned by his parents?

Did he run to a big city at too early an age?”

Cast of 3 men

Bryden MacDonald
Bryden MacDonald is a playwright, director, dramaturge, and teacher. His published plays are Whale Riding Weather, The Weekend Healer, and Divinity Bash/nine lives. His latest play, With Bated Breath, premiered at Montreal’s Centaur Theatre in April 2009. He has created and directed theatrical interpretations of the words and music of Leonard Cohen (Sincerely a Friend), Carol Pope & Rough Trade (Shaking the Foundations), and Joni Mitchell (When All the Slaves Are Free). He has taught and coached students at The National Theatre School of Canada and McGill University, served as resident dramaturge at Playwrights Workshop Montreal, and was the mentoring director for Imago Theatre’s Inaugural Directors’ Gym. He has conducted workshops or been artist-in-residence or guest artist at a number of theatres and festivals across the country, including The Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Factory Theatre, and Neptune Theatre. He has sat on juries at The Canada Council and been a member of the board of directors for The Quebec Drama Federation. He is happy to be making his home in Nova Scotia again.

Bryden MacDonald's profile page

• Short-listed, Governor General's Literary Award for Drama

“MacDonald’s script, a roller-coaster ride of pain and humour and pathos and love, is an actor’s dream.” – Vancouver Sun

“… powerfully written. Whale Riding Weather succeeds mainly because of MacDonald’s ability to create empathy for his emotionally hungry and interdependent characters.”
– Toronto Star

“MacDonald has become a colourful voice in Canadian theatre.” – Globe & Mail

“This is the most promising playwriting talent I’ve seen in a long time.” – CBC Radio