After a long and successful career as a mystery writer spanning nearly 50 years, William Kasinski has hit a protracted and unsettling fallow period. Does this mark a temporary setback or the end of his professional work life? At his agent’s insistence, Kasinski agrees to attempt a memoir in hopes of reigniting his career, and to this end, returns to his hometown to revisit his beginnings. Once there, triggered by an encounter with an up-and-coming Young Adult novelist, William must reckon with long-ignored events of his youth, and their impact on his journey.
Now, in William’s hometown, over the span of a few weeks.
WILLIAM
A successful mystery writer who is currently enduring a sustained fallow period. Old fashioned and surly, we find him at a time when he is at the most depleted as a person and as an artist.
HANNAH
A high school teacher in William’s hometown, and Young Adult novelist. Fierce and dogged, she is determined to help William re-examine fully the events of his youth.
STORYTELLERS
Observers of the story and facilitates the action of the play. And perhaps something more.
For over 50 years, Spokane Civic Theatre has been a second home. In 1973, I first appeared on stage as Dr. Chasuble in The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Margot Ogden. My first play, Caution: The Surgeon General Has Determined… premiered in this space on June 5, 1977, directed by Dorothy Darby Smith, who would go onto direct a number of my early works (My parents, Bob & Bobbie, who lived in Southern California at the time, conspired with Sue Ann to surprise me for opening night). Our kids, Ben, Ryan and Trish grew up around the Civic. In the 1980s, the entire family was involved in productions of A Christmas Carol, directed by Dorothy Darby Smith.
In the last 49 years, I’ve written over 45 plays of varying lengths (and quality). Throughout this time I’ve had the good fortune to receive much guidance and nurture within these walls. In addition to Dorothy and Margot, many others were instrumental in developing my craft, including Betty Tomlinson, Jack Phillips, Marilyn Lengbehn, Jack Delehanty, David Casteal, Irish Everette, Liz McAlpine, Adell (McAlpine) Whitehead, Firth J Chew, Peter Hardie, Susan Hardie, Jodine Watson, Melody Deatherage, Pam Kingsley, Jeanne Hardie, Vicky Hawker, Olivia Shea, and Jake Schaefer.
Of course, I’m most grateful for my partner of 56 years, Sue Ann, the love of my life.
The hardest thing for a playwright to find, other than their voice, is a place to call home, a sacred space in which to do their work. I’ve been one of the lucky ones! Thank you Civic, for all you’ve done for me, my family and for all you’ve done and continue to do for the Spokane community!
– Bryan Harnetiaux
Archival Photos by Marlee Melinda Andrews