Image: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS

WCT opens 2022/23 season with ‘Sleight of Mind’

Oct 4, 2022 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — A new Western Canada Theatre (WCT) season is launching this month in Kamloops. A new play, titled Sleight of Mind, is set to debut at the Sagebrush Theatre.

Written by Canadian actor and playwright Daniela Vlaskalic, Sleight of Mind is set in Europe during the post-war 1920’s. The play explores the concept of life after death, love and fame — all based on historical events surrounding paranormal psychic Rudi Schneider.

Teo Saefkow was cast as Schneider for the world-premiere of the production and says the character holds plenty of interest.

“When [Schneider] was a boy, his parents discovered his ability to contact the spirit realm, and so they used to hold sittings and bring in some people from out of town and from all of Europe,” explains Saefkow. “He gained some notoriety, and then started gaining attention from the scientific community.”

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Danielle Klaudt takes the stage as Schneider’s love interest, Mitzi Mengal, and says the production is sure to entertain.

“What I love about a piece like this is it’s meant for the theatre. You know what I mean? There’s elements that are unique to theatre versus if there were to be a film version of this. And I think there’s a lot of old-school theatre magic in it,” she adds.

WCT artistic director James MacDonald is also at the helm of this production as the play’s director. He notes that the show touches on the renewed interest people had in spiritual mediums after the massive death toll during World War I.

The paranormal topic also allows the cast and crew to get creative with special effects on stage.

“I know as an audience member when I go see a play and there’s little theatrical effects that happen, I’m like ‘That’s cool. I wonder how they did that?'” says MacDonald. “I hope that there’s enough of those in this story that people get sent into the night with a kind of magical feel.”

Sleight of Mind runs October 13-to-22 at the Sagebrush Theatre in Kamloops. Tickets can be purchased online, or in person through Kamloops Live! Box Office.