Written and directed by Juli Harland, The Party discusses grief and a celebration of life.

Outside of the roles Harland occupies, she shared with The Chronicle that she wrote it inspired on her personal life.

“My mother was a challenging woman, and she had opted for medical assistance in dying, and she wanted to throw a little shindig at the end of her life and there wasn’t really anybody who came so there was a very small little bunch of us,” said Harland.

This left some of the challenging questions, like what kind of life someone has to live in order to have people show up to have something special at the end. For example, to be celebrated instead of left.

Harland took some time to process the loss of her mom that happened around seven years ago and late last year she challenged herself to write about it.

The story follows a woman, Alice, in her 50s that has discovered she is terminal.

“In response to this Alice decides that she wants to throw a party for her closest friends and family so that she can see them enjoying themselves and having fun and they can have a time to remember her,” said Harland.

Alice has lived a life full of adventures with her friends and family. They know she has a terminal illness, but they do not know how soon things might happen.

Max Kruppers is the producer of the play and was there from the beginning. He read the first draft hoping it could become something bigger.

“As the name implies, it is a celebration. It is a celebration of life and memories and choices,” said Kruppers. “It also touches on death in ways that sparks a conversation to show that life does go far beyond our mortal coil, Alice is an incredible main character.”

The condition she faces becomes a second thought since it is most people around her that are worried.

Alice is portrayed by Mimi Malbeouf who got offered the part unexpectedly and accepted. “Alice is intimidating simply because Juli has written an incredibly layered, beautiful character and she’s facing some real challenges,” said Malbeouf.

As a character Alice is described by Malbeouf as incredibly selfish but also loving.

“There are varying thoughts and feelings, and stages of grief throughout all of the different people who are there at the party,” said Harland.

Outside of grief the play explores the connection of love portrayed by the other characters. There is a big connecting bond amongst the family and friends of Alice.

Malbeouf finds that the overarching theme is the exploration of the relationships Alice has.

“I think it’s going to create a lot of big feelings for some people, and I welcome that because I think it’s going to be really kind of challenging for a lot of people to get through,” said Malbeouf.

The overall idea the play will try to leave with those who see it is the importance of cherishing time with family and friends. Malbeouf shared that it will explore Alice’s relationships individually.

For Harland she wants to leave the public with some reflections. “Especially in the world that we’re in right now [it’s important] to remember that really, at the end of it … is that you know to love the people you are around,” said Harland.

The play is also for those who want to feel deeply Kruppers shared. “I would say that it’s a roller coaster of all of life’s ups and downs. There’s humor, there’s sorrow, there’s memories. There’s the unknown up ahead,” said Kruppers.

Catch the Party at the Pavillion Theatre from Oct. 15 to 18 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as evening performances and then Sunday as a matinee. Tickets are on sale now at Kamloops Live Box Office.

Editor’s note: Juli Harland is a freelance writer for the Kamloops Chronicle. The Party also features Todd Sullivan, the Chronicle’s editor, as an actor.