North York theatre company's first production in five years

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An Italian theatre company based in North York will be performing its first production in five years with opening night this Thursday.

Frank Spezzano, founder of The Pirandello Theatre, is excited about the play he wrote titled Bressani, which is based on the life of the first Italian Jesuit missionary in North America.

"It took me a year to write the play," said the retired drama teacher, who started the local theatre company in 1991 and has produced a half dozen productions since then.

The North York resident was inspired by the story of Father Francesco Bressani who, upon visiting Quebec, was captured by the Iroquois in 1644 then beaten and tortured.

But the priest survived and returned to Canada a year later to negotiate a peace treaty among warring tribes including the Iroquois who he embraced as brothers.

"It appealed to me because he had heroic qualities that were uncommon even in priests," said Spezzano, publishing his play just last year.

It hasn't been easy finding funds to put on theatrical shows in the last five years. This year, however, several commercial donors as well as the Italian Pastoral Commission came through with some financial support.

"Even though the economy is bleak, we're pressing on," said Spezzano, who's been rehearsing for the past five weeks with his cast and crew of 20 people at the Columbus Centre near Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue. "Things look very good."

Bressani runs from Nov. 13 to 16 at the Don Bosco Auditorium in Etobicoke, 2 St. Andrews Blvd. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $10 for students. Matinee performances on Thursday and Friday are half price.