About the Book New Canadian Drama - Volume 2, edited by Patrick B. O´Neill. "Through a skillful combination of comedy and pathos, mime and music, poetry and prose, Mirage chronicles seventy-five years of Saskatchewan life. The three generations of Rylands experience two World Wars, drought and Depression, Tommy Douglas and John Diefenbaker against the continuing claim of their ancestral farm." "Pogie has none of the bitterness one might expect to find in a look at the breakdown of family life wrought by chronic unemployment. Heide has captured the flavour of Maritime humour and mounted it in a cabaret display case." "The Dollar Woman carries us further back in time to the late nineteenth century, but the disturbing ulcer on our history which it reveals forces the audience to reconsider its current attitudes to social welfare in general ... the masterful characterization, the rich and vigorous dialogue, and the sustained theatrical awareness of Nowlan and Learning´s script make The Dollar Woman come alive on stage."

About the Authors Christopher Heide
Christopher Heide (1951- ) has written two dozen plays and directed theatre companies such as Nova Scotia's Mulgrave Road Theatre and, currently, Liverpool International Theatre Festival, Chester Playhouse, and Mermaid Youtheatre. "Pogie," co-written with Al Macdonald, is part of the book "New Canadian Drama--Volume 2" (1981, Borealis). Using drama, Heide has worked with community groups on topics as diverse as literacy, abuse, and teen suicide, and taught courses at four Maritime universities.

Walter Learning
Walter J. Learning (1938- ) has pan-Canadian theatre experience--as head of the Canada Council's theatre department, the Vancouver Playhouse, and the Charlottetown Festival. The Newfoundlander co-authored, with Alden Nowlan, the plays "Frankenstein: The Man Who Became God," "The Dollar Woman" (featured in "New Canadian Drama--Volume 2," 1981, Borealis), and "The Incredible Murder of Cardinal Tosca." Learning also founded several theatre groups, including Theatre New Brunswick.

Al MacDonald
Al MacDonald is the co-author of "Pogie", a play published in "New Canadian Drama - Volume 2" by Boreals Press, 1981.

Alden Nowlan
Alden Nowlan (1933-1983), Nova Scotia native, wrote poetry, plays, short stories, and novels. His poetry book, "Bread, Wine and Salt" (1967), won the Governor's General award. His work reflects his roots and a love of common people. His books include "I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Poems" (1974), "Smoked Glass" (1977), "X-Ray" (1978), and "Double Exposure" (1978). "The Dollar Woman," which he co-wrote, has been published in "New Canadian Drama," Volume 2 (1981 Borealis).

Patrick B. O'Neill
Patrick B. O'Neill (1940- ) is a professor in the Department of Communications at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is the editor of volume 2 of the Borealis Press series "New Canadian Drama." He has also written "Canadian Plays: A Supplementary Checklist to 1945" (1978). Additionally, he has articles about Canadian theatre in magazines and many entries in the Canadian Encyclopedia to his credit.

Gwen Pharis Ringwood
Gwen Pharis Ringwood (1910-1984) was an early prairie Canadian playwright. Her writing also included short stories, poems, novels, radio dramas, musicals, and children's plays. When she was young, her family moved from Washington State to Alberta, which became her home. She pioneered in community and educational theatre in western Canada; her one-act folk tragedy, "Still Stands the House" (1938), cemented her reputation. "The Collected Plays of Gwen Pharis Ringwood" (1982 Borealis).