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Oakville playwright's work debuts in Hamilton Book Club takes stage next week at Hamilton Theatre Inc. -- Aug. 20-22 and Aug. 27-29 What happens when three men infiltrate a ladies-only book club in an effort to meet women? It's nothing short of a disaster. That's the plot for Oakville playwright Kristen Horner Da Silva's first full-length play, Book Club, which is being staged next week. It's a dream a long time in the making for the 37-year-old married mother of three, who has been acting on stage since she was eight years old. "There's something totally different about putting something out there that other people get their hands on and watching them take what you have written and bring it to life," said the Oakville woman. "It's a totally different level of rewarding. It's pretty amazing." Da Silva began writing the comedy in January 2014 when she was on maternity leave from her marketing job with her youngest child. Personal turns professional At first, she began writing the story for her own entertainment, but then a friend of hers read the script and he told her she should workshop the play. "People then just took to it and they were urging me to do it (produce the comedy)," said Da Silva. After several read-throughs and workshops, Book Club went into full production in the spring. It is being staged at the Hamilton Theatre Inc., 140 MacNab St. N., in Hamilton from Aug. 20-22 and Aug. 27-29 with all shows starting at 8 p.m. Book Club is co-produced by There's A Production and Da Silva's own theatre company August Theatre Co. Tickets cost $27 tickets and can be purchased online at hamiltontheatre.tix.com or augusttheatreco. com, or by phone at 905-522-3032. The lead actor is also an Oakville resident -- Vincent Perri who plays Josh. Perri is an alumnus of Vanier College Productions at York University, which is the same program where Da Silva honed her acting and playwriting skills. Majoring in political science and labour studies at York University, Da Silva admitted she never intended to continue with acting as she wanted to focus on school -- the Oakville playwright had taken any opportunity to act in plays in elementary and high schools. "I almost tried getting away from it, but it didn't let me," she said with a chuckle. It was at York where she met Fred Thury, the then-artistic director for Vanier College Productions, which was developed outside the umbrella of the theatre program, and initially intended for non-theatre majors. Program has grown Da Silva says the program now has grown to include theatre students who join to augment their studies. "I was in the program in my entire four years at York and worked with (Fred) -- until he passed away -- as my mentor and he brought me in to direct of few productions for him," she said. "I was pretty much involved in everything from main stage shows, his (Fred's) improv company, and by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 43 | Thursday, August 13, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com playwriting competitions." It was then Da Silva says she knew playwriting was something she would get into again down the road when she had the time again for it. After graduating from York, she returned to Oakville and began looking for theatre groups to get involved in. For the past 10 years, she has been involved with numerous shows with various groups, including Oakville Players and Burloak Theatre Group. In 2006, Da Silva won the Association of Community Theatre Ontario award for best performance of a female in a supporting role for her portrayal of Caterina in Vinci, a story about Leonardo Da Vinci and his beginnings. Da Silva has also received nominations for her roles in Crimes of the Heart and Communicating Doors. Emerging Oakville playwright Kristen Da Silva poses with a copy of her first full-length play titled Book Club. It will be making its debut at Hamilton Theatre Inc. next week. | photo by Jayson Mills, special to the Beaver General $8.50 | Children & Seniors $6.50 | All seats Tues $5.00 Fantastic Four (PG) SHOWTIMES FOR AUGUST 14-20 NEW THIS WEEK: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. ANd SOUTHPAW Fri - Tue: 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 7:00, 9:10 Wed: 4:50, 7:00, 9:10 Thu: 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 7:00, 9:10 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (PG) Fri - Thu: 1:00, 3:40, 7:10, 9:45 Minions (G) Fri - Thu: 12:15, 2:15, 4:20, 6:30 Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (PG) Fri - Thu: 1:15, 4:00, 6:40, 9:20 Fri - Thu: 12:45, 3:00, 5:00 Shaun the Sheep (G) Southpaw (14A) Fri - Thu: 6:50, 9:30 Fri - Thu: 8:40 Vacation (14A) TOONIE MOVIES Kung-Fu Panda (PG) and Home (G) Fri, Mon - Thu: 10:30 AM 171 Speers Road, Oakville (at Kerr St.) | 905-338-6397 (MEWS) www.film.ca