• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
United Active Living

United Active Living

United Active Living Communities for independent living

  • Home
  • Care Options
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Alzheimer’s
    • Integrated living
  • Communities
    • Garrison Green
    • Fish Creek West
    • Fish Creek North
  • About Us
    • Our Values
    • Partnerships
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Cost Calculator
    • Affordability Calculator
  • Contact Us
  • Book a tour
  • 403-873-3953
  • 587-841-5134

Cello and Voice Bring an Emotional Tale to Life

July 4, 2019
Eugene Stickland and cellist Morag Northey performing at Garrison Green
Eugene Stickland and cellist Morag Northey performing at Garrison Green

Telling someone’s life story in an hour is a daunting task, but through a combination of narration and a cellist/singer who wrings an emotional performance from her instrument, a very unexpected and pleasing performance results.

As part of United’s commitment to the arts, the Garrison Green community invited cellist Morag Northey and Calgary playwright Eugene Stickland to perform. Morag is a talented performer and has countless credits to her name. She has played with the Calgary Philharmonic and taught others through her classes at Mount Royal University. This month she debuted with the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, and will perform with the Hershey Symphony this fall. In 2015 she won the Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Theatrical Composition.

Her lifelong love for the cello is evident in her playing. She raises a variety of sounds that complement the highs and lows of Eugene’s storytelling.

Eugene Stickland and Morag Northey rehearsing at Garrison Green
Eugene and Morag rehearsing

“I met Eugene during the production of Queen Lear, a play he had written for Joyce Doolittle for her 80th birthday in 2009. Joyce starred in the play and I played cello to punctuate her emotions,” said Morag.

She originally wrote her emotional life story as a series of concerts, but in 2016 worked with Eugene to retell her story in a much shorter, hour-long performance called 17 – When Emptiness Turns Inside Out.

“I invited Eugene to the Wells, B.C. Sunset Theatre Artist Exploration Series as my Dramaturge for a former project.  We performed a showcase at the end of the time and having Eugene’s distinctive male voice added balance to what could be a female heavy vibe. The truth is, my story belongs to all of us. 17 can be likened to the body of an iceberg where over 90% of its volume (and mass) lies underwater.”

The two of them created a polished production that combines poetry, prose, cello, song, storytelling and improvisation to relate the range of harrowing experiences Morag lived through in her early life and her various attempts to find light in the darkness. In 17, the cello, the voice and the story are equal partners in the play.

“It took us about two weeks to create the performance out of Morag’s original concert production,” said Eugene. Morag said she survived some potentially devastating atrocities and recognizes that having a balance of male and female voices is an important part of her story. “I think it was important to have a male storyteller, to create a male-female balance,” said Eugene. Balance plays an important part in the performance. The difficult emotional episodes are countered with humour, and Morag uses song and her cello to perfection to insert sound effects – whale songs, the voice of a golden eagle and a babbling brook – as exclamation points in the narrative.

“17 is a musical memoir. I wrote and composed it as a suite of nine poetic pieces, each offering a glimpse into significant moments, markers or turning points that shaped my view of life and my place in it,” said Morag. “17 marks a unique genre. You could also call it a theatrical concert.”

“Life is a journey, and when you think of it in those terms, it all becomes manageable,” said Morag. “The cello pulled me through this life. It’s been with me in the worst moments alone in the dark. What I realized is that I could view this nothingness as a gift and the gift was that I had the power to choose what I would allow back in. I could choose a new life, a new way.” Her new way took her to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago with her cello on her back. She stopped along the way to play when requested by others. Later, Morag struck out on a four-day vision quest with the help of Blackfoot elders. She came away from the experience with a renewed hope. “After everything, I am alive!”

“It’s a very courageous piece,” said Eugene, who has recently been nominated for the Order of Canada. “There are parts of her journey that we need to hear. Many women have come up to her after the performance to say that they too identify with her experiences.”

“Despite its darkness, the story reminds us that we can move on, embrace our stories, share our stories and move on together,” said Morag.

Morag Northey, left, with Joyce Doolittle and Eugene Stickland
Morag Northey, left, with Joyce Doolittle and Eugene Stickland

The performance at Garrison Green left the audience wanting more. Most were struck by how versatile the cello can be. Many stayed to ask questions. “I thought it was fantastic!” said resident Wendy Martin. “The balance between Eugene and Morag was exceptional. They played off of each other very well. And she really brought the cello to life!”

Joyce Doolittle, who won the Order of Canada for her work in theatre, has known both Eugene and Morag for many years. She was instrumental in inviting them perform at Garrison Green. “The most important thing in the work is to share your talents, ” said Joyce. “Eugene and Morag are incredible talents. You could hear the sadness and the joy throughout. It wasn’t a concert or recital, and it wasn’t a play. It was a combination of several types of performances.”

Photos and video by Sherana Productions

Do you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community? Send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a tour. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Want more great articles like these sent straight to your inbox?

Sign up for a newsletter.

Footer

logo
(403) 873-3953
Book a tour
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • Instagram
  • youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Our services
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
  • Our difference
    • United minds
    • Commitment to wellness
    • Integrated living
  • Health & wellness
    • Wellness services
    • Hospitality services
    • Services & amenities
  • Programs & events
    • Partnerships
    • Education programs
    • Arts & culture programs
  • About us
    • FAQ
    • The transition to senior living
  • Reaching us
    • Careers
    • Contact us
Garrison Green (Integrated Living) 3028 Don Ethell Boulevard SW
Calgary, Alberta
T3E 0C9
 
Rentals and leasing: (403) 917-1389 Concierge: (403) 685-7200 Fax: (403) 240-3772
Fish Creek North (Memory Care + Assisted) 51 Providence Boulevard SE
Calgary, Alberta
T2X 0X2
 
Rentals and leasing: (587) 841-5134 Concierge: (587) 481 7907 Fax: (403) 873-3961
Fish Creek West (Independent Living) 14720 1 St SE
Calgary, Alberta
T2X 2A3
 
Rentals and leasing: (587) 609-8167 Concierge: (587) 481 7907 Fax: (403) 873-3961

Copyright © 2023 United Active Living Website licensed by Tastic Marketing | Marketing by Digital SeniorityTerms of servicePrivacy policy

Unique Assisted Living at United's Garrison Green - Calgary, AB