In 1950s London, Mr. Pym, a shy middle-aged academic, rents a room from divorcee Mrs. Fields. Alone upstairs, Mr. Pym dreams of the perfect woman: young, beautiful, and exotic. Downstairs on the sofa, a book and a glass of sherry her only companions, Mrs. Fields longs for warmth and human contact. As their lives begin to intersect, the two learn that they share an interest in Tolstoy, a common affection for Africa, and a lonely existence. Eventually desire overcomes their inhibitions, and the couple must deal with the painful—and sometimes painfully funny—consequences of intimacy. Graceful tender, and erotic, The Walls of Africa is an exploration of loneliness and emotional connection by one of Canada’s most innovative and original playwrights.

Hrant Alianak made his debut as a writer in 1972 at Theatre Passe Muraille with his play Tantrums. Other plays he has written and directed include Night, Passion, and Sin; The Big Hit; Lucky Strike; and The Walls of Africa (Scirocco Drama, 2002). He formed his own production company, Alianak Theatre Productions, in 1992 and has been directing and producing his, as well as other writers’ plays since then. He lives and works in Toronto.

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