{"product_id":"the-crossword-of-hope-by-matthew-sheppard-pamela-edwards","title":"The Crossword of Hope by Matthew Sheppard \u0026 Pamela Edwards","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe play opens with the eccentric, majestically robed Madame Emotion, a theatrical guide who commands the stage with an academic flair. She invites the audience to help her solve a 2018 newspaper crossword puzzle titled \"Can You Solve 'The Crossword of Hope?'\". Asserting that hope is the driving force of human existence, she explains that each clue in the puzzle represents an emotional synonym or facet of hope. As the puzzle is solved piece by piece, despite Madame Emotion being frequently interrupted by the comedic bickering of her sidekicks Carol and Frank. The audience is thrust across space and time into a series of deeply moving human vignettes that will make you wonder what are you really hoping for?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeywords: Hope; homelessness; homeless issues; social commentary; magic; imagination; dating; friends; teenage life; homeless encampments; family issues; divorce; love; romance; dancing; laughter; school; teacher; physical education; volleyball; art; sickness; death; dining out; medical setting; 2SLGTQ+ issues; 2LSGBTQ+ acceptance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduced at the Avalon West Regional Drama Festival, Carbonear NL, 2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenre: Drama, Play with Music, Mystery\u003cbr\u003eActs: 1\u003cbr\u003eRun time: 45 minutes\u003cbr\u003eSuitable for students 12+\u003cbr\u003eContent notes: Contains significant references to the death of a parent\/spouse and intense grief, medical\/hospital settings, discussion of life-or-death situations, references to homelessness and poverty, parental pressure and emotional distress, coming out and period-typical\/outdated LGBTQ+ humour, and mild references to animal dissection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCast size: 12 actors\u003cbr\u003eMale roles: 3\u003cbr\u003eFemale roles: 7\u003cbr\u003eOther roles: 2\u003cbr\u003eCasting notes: The \"other\" roles could be played by any gender. The roles vary from teenagers to adults. There are many quick costume changes in this show.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe doubling up on multiple roles are as follows:\u003cbr\u003eMadame Emotion \u003cbr\u003ePatrick \/ Patricia | Waiter \/ Waitress (1)\u003cbr\u003eMr. Stenton | Bill | Alex Graham (2)\u003cbr\u003eDr. Novak | Secretary | Candace (3)\u003cbr\u003eMrs. Fairfield | Coach Connors | Kelsey | Sheena’s Mom (4)\u003cbr\u003eFrank (5)\u003cbr\u003eCarol (6)\u003cbr\u003eLorraine | Emma (7)\u003cbr\u003eNoah \/ Nora | Ben\/Bella | Harley (8)\u003cbr\u003eMike | Sheena’s Dad (9)\u003cbr\u003eJulie | Ben\/Bella’s Mom | Kelly (10)\u003cbr\u003eOphelia | Sheena (11)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PGC","offers":[{"title":"Digital (PDF)","offer_id":46121890906285,"sku":"SRS-MSPE-CRHO","price":14.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2362\/0235\/files\/Screenshot-2026-05-31-at-12.26.34-PM.png?v=1781620848","url":"https:\/\/www.canadianplayoutlet.com\/products\/the-crossword-of-hope-by-matthew-sheppard-pamela-edwards","provider":"Canadian Play Outlet","version":"1.0","type":"link"}