Q&A: Tainted

Canada's tainted blood scandal is back in the public eye this season as actress/writer/producer Kat Lanteigne prepares to stage her new play Tainted on the 20th anniversary of the Kever Inquiry (opens Thursday, September 26 at Daniels Spectrum). Directed by Vikki Anderson, the show features a powerful cast, including Claire Calnan, Maria Vacratsis and Richard Greenblatt, in a harrowing portrayal of a family in crisis. 

Here, Lanteigne talks openly about her passion behind this project, and why it can't be ignored.

Theatromania: What inspired you to write a play about the tainted blood scandal?

KL: I learned about the tainted blood crisis when I was quite young because an extended family member was affected. I knew what AIDS was but tainted blood and the scandal was a part of the story that confused me. It took me a long time to understand the levels of systemic government betrayal. It always haunted me because it happened to so many people and it was in direct opposition to what I believed and understood Canada to be. It was hard to imagine our government and the Red Cross knew the blood was tainted and still sent it out across the country. But they did.

Theatromania: You've assembled a powerhouse cast and crew for this project. How would you describe this production in a sentence or two?

KL: It is a powerful, tour-de-force family drama. It is a story of how a family fights to stay in tact when an unseen force is tearing down the walls of their house.

Theatromania: What has been the highlight of this experience for you so far?

KL: Working with Vikki and the cast throughout the first week of rehearsal. It has been a collaborative process in every respect. And I have benefited greatly from the artistic wisdom of Vikki and the entire cast combined. Richard and Gord are also playwrights so they have added insight that has been invaluable. In fact, every actor has come into this process with his or her heart on the floor. There is no ego, no weirdness—just a real investment to make the play authentic and real. Maria Vacratsis has also been very encouraging. But she plays the Mom in the play, so maybe she’s just in character!

Theatromania: Have you experienced any particular challenges during this process?

KL: Yes! This play has taken years to write and it started as a film not a play. To distill the largest health tragedy in our country and the story of how it impacted thousands of families into one shared story was a mountainous task. But I think I finally found it in the Steele family (my fictional family). They represent an experience that was lived by many—and their emotional truths are similar across the board. That, and the fact that I wrote this play through a veneer of tears. I have a great sense of representing an authentic experience and doing this story justice. I don’t sleep very much anymore.

Theatromania: What do you hope audiences take away from this performance?

KL: I hope it leaves an indelible imprint on their hearts and minds as to why and how the tainted blood crisis happened. I hope they leave with a better understanding of denial, and how it is deadly—no matter what. Denial never serves any circumstance. It only causes harm. And I hope they come away with the most important theme of the play—the only path to forgiveness is through love.

Theatromania: What's next for you?

KL: Haha! I’m trying to stay alive through this show! But, my partner and I optioned Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall’s novel Ghosted and are developing it into a television series. I’m also starting to write my new play, The Emancipation of Clara Evans, which explores relationships between mother/daughter and daughter/mother in-law…I just have this feeling I may need alternative invites to Christmas if it’s ever staged, because I just have to tell the truth. It’s part of my internal crisis. But to be honest, I’m hoping to spend some time working as an actor for a little bit in between.

Tainted opens Thursday, September 26 and runs until October 12 at Aki Studio, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas Street East). Visit gromkat.com for more information and to buy tickets.

Gallery