Playwright takes on mysterious murder
Published Wednesday June 10th, 2009
Entrepreneur, artist and painter Robin Hanson is now being applauded for his work as a playwright.
The Oromocto businessman and French Lake resident has written a three-act play called Murder of the Peddler.
The story, based on a local 19th century event, will be presented by the Grade 8 class of Fredericton Junction's Sunbury West School today at 7 p.m.
After no one else took up the challenge of writing about it, Hanson said he challenged himself.
As it turned out, Sunbury West School was interested in putting it on and the rest will be history later tonight.
Hanson said he has known about the story of the peddler, who was murdered on the Diamond Square Road, just past Fredericton Junction, for several years.
"I probably interviewed about 20 people," Hanson said. "There were so many versions of the story that it was really difficult to write. I ended up not really knowing who to believe because so many people believed they had the right story."
Regardless of who was correct, it was obvious the murder had an impact on the community, he said.
Hanson said it took him about a week to write the play, following two months of research.
"In the beginning, although I had tried to portray a fair bit of history, time had taken away real accuracy," Hanson said. "I knew it would have to be taken with a grain of salt."
It isn't known who the peddler was.
Hanson said the Grade 8 students have been "so charged" by being part of the effort.
Christa Gourley, a language arts teacher at Sunbury West, said preparation for tonight's debut is going well.
"The kids just jumped at it and were really excited to do it," Gourley said.
She said there has been a lot of support for the effort and everything has come together nicely.
As to whether the play will be put on every year, Gourley said she wasn't sure at this point. Tickets are $6 and include refreshments.
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