Homechild.

Between 1869 and 1948, many British youngsters were sent to Western Canada to meet the soaring demand for domestic servants and farm labourers. Dr. Thomas John Barnardo, an Irish-born philanthropist, was singularly responsible for exporting more than 30,000 of them. Canadians called them “Home Children.” Homechild looks at the world of two “Barnardo Boys.”

Alistair, the main character now in his 80s, shares his childhood experiences with his neighbour Dorrie who, it turns out, also lived through similar experiences. The two friends grumble about life in general. Various family members fracture things further. The memory of Alistair’s wife’s death 10 years earlier is a major source of his unhappiness. He is an elderly man who sees little good in life.

There is obvious friction between Alistair and his daughter, Lorna—the “come from away Toronto” child, who pounces on the homestead with her teenaged son. Another intriguing character is Katie, Alistair’s younger, peace-loving sister. She actually becomes the “smoothing factor” for the whole play. After Alistair has a devastating stroke, Lorna begins a quest to find Katie. After she succeeds, Alistair’s memories surface in tragic snippets. At one point Alistair remarks, “Not everything someone does is worth remembering. Ever think of that?”

What was done to the Barnardo children is a shameful past event. Macleod commendably relates this through her poignant writing and complex characters. I found myself “hearing” Alistair’s voice long after I finished reading the play.