TheatreXtra delves into infidelity

When a prodigious young film producer and screenwriter casts his wife and his best friend as lovers in his new film, and their on-screen intimacy spills over into real-life, he has to wonder: did he unwittingly tap into a pre-existing affair, or did he write it into existence?

TheatreXtra's latest production, Wide Awake Hearts, by Canadian playwright Brendan Gall, exposes love's deceptions and truths in the David Spinks Theatre Mar. 1-3 nightly at 8 p.m. nightly, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Mar. 3.

Recently nominated for a Governor General's Award, this production of Wide Awake Hearts is the first time the play has been performed since it premiered at Toronto's Tarragon Theatre in Nov. 2010. For fourth-year drama major and second-time TheatreXtra director Kyle Schulte, this play was the perfect choice.

"I was introduced to Gall's script by my drama professor, Nicholas Hanson. When I read it, I was on the edge of my seat. The play is very dramatic with hard-hitting relationships among four characters, and some unexpected twists," Schulte says.

Incorporating multimedia projections provided Schulte and his crew with numerous challenges but will dramatically add to the audience's enjoyment.

"I'm excited to see it all come together," he says. "I'm thrilled to present a fantastic new Canadian play as part of this year's season. It's a privilege to be directing for TheatreXtra again."

Tickets for Wide Awake Hearts are on sale at the University Box Office.