Tickets
Bedford Fringe Festival (UK) – July 24, 25, 2024
Camden Fringe Festival (UK) – July 29, 30, 31, Aug 1, 2, 2024
ONE and THE OTHER
a play by Kent Stetson, C.M.
Two young men grapple with nihilistic twenty-first century hatred, hatred to which one succumbs, hatred over which one triumphs. From its shadowed depths, the play rises toward the light.
Fourteen-year-old Canadian Zaydan Khalil is abandoned by his father at a Taliban compound in Afghanistan. The boy is gravely injured, then captured in a US/Taliban firefight. He’s transported to the United States military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he is held for ten years without charge. Did Zaydan throw the grenade that killed an American medic? Despite the lack of evidence Zaydan Kahil, boy to man, is lost to his family and forsaken by his country. He survives ten years of gross human rights abuse and state-sanctioned torture. Zaydan’s humanity holds: His spirit is magnified, not diminished.
A life of privilege is no shield against Kerry Long’s darkening aspirations. The gifted, rudderless young man becomes a conduit for the nihilistic hatred of North America’s extreme right. We watch Kerry assemble a cadre of like-minded nihilists. Under the influence of the faceless Colonel, his conversion is swift and inevitable: Kerry Long murders eight men at prayer in the Grand Mosque of his Canadian hometown.
The day 25-year-old Zaydan comes home to Canada to claim his freedom, Kerry Long relinquishes his. The Imam of the desecrated Mosque and Kerry’s Jewish case worker arrange for the two young men to meet. In their first encounter, Zaydan evokes compassion, wisdom and mercy, the cornerstones of the three great Abrahamic faiths.
“No one” Zaydan tells Kerry, “deserves to live without hope.”
Kent Stetson, CM - Playwright
In 2001, Kent Stetson’s epic survival drama in three acts for fifteen men, The Harps of God, expanded his international reputation while earning his country’s highest literary tribute, the Governor General’s Literary Award. His essays, novels, works for the large and small screens, his mentoring of emerging dramatists and work as an arts policy adviser solidified his standing as a major creative force in Canadian arts and culture. Stetson was trained in television drama direction by the British Broadcasting Corporation, worked extensively with The National Film Board of Canada, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and independent film and video companies as an award-winning screenwriter and director. In 2007, Stetson, then in his early fifties, was honoured with his nation’s highest civilian distinction: He was inducted into the Order of Canada and became E. Kent Stetson, C.M. MasterPlayWorks.com.
Rahul Gandhi – Director
Rahul Ghandi is a bilingual actor, director, creator, and producer born, raised, and located in Montreal. Notable theatre direction includes Anusree Roy’s Letters to My Grandma (Watermark, 2023), as well as Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (House of Actors, 2021) which won BroadwayWorld Montreal’s Best Direction of a Play award. Notable acting credits include: Rafi in What Rough Beast (Centaur Theatre Brave New Looks) for which he was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance at the Montreal English Theatre Awards, and Miles in The Drawer Boy (Watermark Theatre). Notable arts work includes being the past Director of Operations for the Quebec Drama Federation, as well as a seat on the Professional Association of Canadian Theatre’s National Advocacy Committee.
Fadi Malo – Zaydan
Fadi Malo is a versatile actor known for his compelling performances, drawing from his Syrian and Armenian roots. He honed his craft through graduate studies at the renowned Dawson Theatre Professional Program in Montreal. Fadi's portfolio spans theatre, film, television, voice acting, and motion capture, showcasing his diverse talent and dedication to the art of storytelling. His ability to embody characters with depth and authenticity reflects the rich cultural tapestry he brings to every role.
Aidan Cottreau – Kerry
is an actor and writer based in Montreal. Graduate of Acting for Theatre at Concordia University, Aidan has created characters such as Johnny in What Rough Beast by Alice Abracen (Centaur Theatre 2023), Milo in Red Paper by Xander Chung (MTL Fringe 2023), Tony in A Little Bit Pregnant by Kate Lavut (Toronto Fringe 2023), and Jonah in the podcast Dreamers. His writing can be found covering the Montreal arts scene on ForgetTheBox.ca. As part of the Segal Centre’s JAM cohort, he is continuing the development of his play The Beinoni.