Tough case / David S. Craig.

ix, 98 pages ; 21 cm.

A play.

The story centres on Nessa, a restorative justice worker who grew up in a tough, north Halifax, housing project. Her background allows her to connect with Dane, a sixteen-year old young offender who has hideously vandalized the home of an elderly widow, Grace Ross. Dane is always accompanied by his mother, Marjorie, a woman deeply protective of her son in spite of his crime. We discover she and her son are fleeing from an abusive relationship with Dane’s father. Nessa tries to contact the victim, but Grace Ross is too traumatized to speak and too fearful to sleep in her own home. Nessa meets instead with Tom, Grace’s son, who attacks the process that he sees as a “slap on the wrist”. To Tom, restorative is a make work project for progressives who are too unrealistic to realize that only punishment works. We see Nessa confront and cajole these angry, hurt people to attend a meeting where Dane and Grace must face each other and where the real truth (and reconciliation) emerges.

Left Foot First Productions, in association with Roseneath Theatre.

9781770912601 (pbk.)

Men

D C886to 2014