Strike!
Encyclopedia
Strike! is a musical depicting the Winnipeg General Strike. It has been adapted into a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
radio production and a 17 minute short film meant to solicit interest in producing a feature film.
immigrant from Galicia who was killed by Royal North-West Mounted Police
on "Bloody Saturday", 21 June 1919. The account of his life is heavily fictionalized, and is character is composited
with another Ukrainian-Canadian labourer. Sokolowski begins the play as an anti-Semite
who loathes so-called Jewish Bolshevism
, but learns better due in part to a romantic sub-plot involving his godson Stefan (originally Myron) and his Jewish neighbour Rebecca.
. On 15 May 2007, a special performance at the Burton Cummings Theatre was recorded for CBC Radio. The theatre was chosen in part because it had been used as a meeting-place for labour activists prior to the 1919 strike. The radio adaptation was broadcast on Labour Day
, 3 September 2007.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
radio production and a 17 minute short film meant to solicit interest in producing a feature film.
Content
Strike focuses on Mike Sokolowski, a UkrainianUkrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
immigrant from Galicia who was killed by Royal North-West Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
on "Bloody Saturday", 21 June 1919. The account of his life is heavily fictionalized, and is character is composited
Composite character
A composite character is a character composed of two or more individuals, appearing in a fictional or non-fictional work. Two fictional characters are often combined into one upon adaptation of a work from one medium to another, as in the film adaptation of a novel...
with another Ukrainian-Canadian labourer. Sokolowski begins the play as an anti-Semite
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
who loathes so-called Jewish Bolshevism
Jewish Bolshevism
Jewish Bolshevism, Judeo-Bolshevism, and known as Żydokomuna in Poland, is an antisemitic stereotype based on the claim that Jews have been the driving force behind or are disproportionately involved in the modern Communist movement, or sometimes more specifically Russian Bolshevism.The expression...
, but learns better due in part to a romantic sub-plot involving his godson Stefan (originally Myron) and his Jewish neighbour Rebecca.
Performances and adaptations
After two private workshops in 2003, a public outdoor "preview" of Strike was performed at Old Market Square on May 15, 2004. In spring 2005, the full play was premiered at Winnipeg's Kildonan Park Stage (aka Rainbow Stage) as an independent production. The next fall, a re-vamped version premiered at Saskatoon's Persephone TheatrePersephone Theatre
Persephone Theatre, is a theatre company based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The theatre company was founded in 1974 by Janet and Susan Wright and named after the greek goddess Persephone. The first season performances were held at the Mendel Art Gallery, with the second season at the...
. On 15 May 2007, a special performance at the Burton Cummings Theatre was recorded for CBC Radio. The theatre was chosen in part because it had been used as a meeting-place for labour activists prior to the 1919 strike. The radio adaptation was broadcast on Labour Day
Labour Day
Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...
, 3 September 2007.
Book
A book based on Strike! was released by Playwrights Canada Press on 10 December 2007.Film
A 17 minute film adaptation of Strike! has been produced and screened publicly. It is meant to solicit interest in producing a feature film, planned for filming in Winnipeg over spring and summer 2008.Financing
Strike was primarily financed by a limited partnership of investors from across Canada, with a mix of arts grants and donations from Canadian labour unions.Cast and crew
Strike was created by Danny Schur, who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the text with Rick Chafe.Original (2005) cast
- Catherine WrefordCatherine Wreford-Biography:She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in June, 1980.She starred in the Broadway production 42nd Street.-Movies:* Chloe * Pittsburgh * The Butcher * Lords of the Underworld...
as Rebecca Almazoff - Jay Brazeau as Mike Sokolowski
- Marc Devigne as Myron Dudar
- David Friedman as Moishe Almazoff
- Christopher RyanChristopher RyanChristopher Ryan is an English actor. Ryan is perhaps best known for his role as Mike "The Cool Person" in the BBC comedy series The Young Ones.-Early life:...
as Senator Gideon RobertsonGideon RobertsonGideon Decker Robertson, PC was a Canadian Senator and Canadian Cabinet minister.Robertson was a telegrapher by profession and had links with conservatives in the labour movement. In January 1917, he was appointed to the Senate as a Conservative as a means of bringing in labour representation...
Radio (2007) cast
- Jeff Skinner as Mike Sokolowski
- Marc Devigne as Stefan Dudar
- Adrienne Merrell as Rebecca Almazoff
- Kevin Aichele as Senator Robertson