Gideon's Blues

David E. Kemp, a former professor of drama at Queen’s University, is
the author of The Pleasures and Treasures of the United Kingdom.

George Boyd is a graduate of the former Nova Scotia Institute of
Technology and a former broadcaster with the CBC. He made his theatrical
debut at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax with the play Shine Boy.

In Gideon’s Blues, an examination of racism and drugs in Halifax, a
young black college graduate is lured into trafficking cocaine. In
addition to serving as a microcosm of the impact of crack cocaine on the
black community, the play offers insights into the emotional dynamics of
family and culture through its treatment of such themes as love,
loyalty, devotion, and justice. Boyd’s deeply human characters
effectively communicate his play’s underlying message—that drug
abuse and the breakdown of the traditional family are not exclusive to
the black community, but racism makes their effects particularly
destructive. With its unflinching honesty and commanding dialogue,
Gideon’s Blues is a play that remains in the memory long after the
theatre lights have dimmed. Highly recommended.