What Lies Before Us is a comedic play by Morris Panych. It takes place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in 1885, where a railway survey team, Keating and Ambrose, and their Chinese servant Wing, are stranded after being abandoned by their wilderness guide. The play was a 2007 nominee for the Governor General's Award for English-language drama.[1]

Keating and Ambrose argue over what to do - winter approaches and their food supply is dwindling. Ambrose eventually decides to go for help, but an avalanche injures his leg and traps them. Ambrose learns that Keating has contracted rabies from a squirrel, and that he himself has gangrene on his injured leg. While Keating remains optimistic even after becoming paralyzed, Ambrose loses hope. Ultimately, both Keating and Ambrose die, and Wing is left alone to deliver a monologue in Chinese.

The premiere tour of What Lies Before Us featured:

  • Director: Jim Millan
  • Keating: Matthew MacFadzean
  • Ambrose: David Storch
  • Wing: Wayne Sujo

References

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  1. ^ "CanLit heavyweights among Governor General finalists". CBC News. October 16, 2007. Retrieved November 27, 2021.

Sources

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  1. Pat St. Germain. "'What Lies Before Us' a bleak comedy". Sun Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2007-03-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. Richard Ouzounian (2007-01-29). "What Lies Before Us". Variety. Retrieved 2007-03-12.