After reading the July 23rd article in the San Juan Journal about Island Stage Left’s summer production of The Drawer Boy, my interest was definitely piqued. Although a departure from many years of Shakespearean productions, The Drawer Boy sounded intriguing.

My wife and I attended one of the initial performances, and I was captivated from the moment the first of the three actors walked onto the stage. This play was like none I have seen. It was such a unique and bold story to tell, and the actors did a remarkable job of creating magic on a beautiful island evening.

One moment I was laughing, and the next I was feeling the anguish of each of the characters as a young self-absorbed actor, sent to live with two middle-aged farmers in Canada to gather stories of farm life, slowly and unwittingly discovers the truth of their painful past.

I won’t give up the details, but rest assured; this is a brilliant one act play that deals with the clash of rural and urban culture and life, friendship, devotion, lost love, tragedy, and the difference between myth and reality.

Yes, it really does have it all, and in an extraordinarily sensitive portrayal. What a way to spend a summer evening under the stars.

We are so fortunate on our small island to have so many varied cultural venues, and I am grateful to Island Stage Left for making it work for yet another year, and with such creativity. I know it was difficult for Island Stage Left to forego Shakespeare in order to keep this valuable theatre project going, yet I think Shakespeare would have appreciated The Drawer Boy.

Leonard Eiger,

San Juan Island