1 By Katie Bondarenko (really by James Reaney)Sticks And Stones By Katie Bondarenko (really by James Reaney)
2 Reaney and the donnellysReaney began as a poet and academic before he became a playwright with the release of ‘The Killdeer’. He had always been fascinated with the Donnelly murders, and lived near where they lived in Southwestern Ontario. Apart from a revision of ‘The Killdeer’ in 1968, he focused on writing ‘The Donnellys’ for the next eight years. By 1973, he ended up with a massive script that was broken into three plays: ‘Sticks and Stones’; ‘The St Nicholas Hotel’; and ‘Handcuffs’. Part I premiered at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre in 1973, Part II in 1974, and Part III in Keith Turnbull directed this production. Each won many awards. He and his theatre company toured it across Canada. It was reproduced at the Blyth Festival in 1989 and again at the National Arts Festival in Stratford in 2005.
3 Reaney included a poem in his collection ‘Performance Poems’ called ‘Imprecations’, which celebrates cursing and name-calling. This pairs well with Sticks and Stones, as Reaney always thought that names wounded more than physical violence. Reaney discovered opposing viewpoints in his research for the play-some celebrated the Donnellys and some condemned them. He was sympathetic to them. The play shows the morally upright Donnellys standing up to the mob of Whitefeet in Biddulph and refusing to be intimidated. It’s about family loyalty and integrity and essentially explores what it means to be a Donnelly.
4 Modern productions Chris Doty restaged Donnelly trialJeff Culbert created a one-man musical called ‘The Donnelly Sideshow’ Jonathan Christanson created a rock opera version called ‘Vigilante’ which opened the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton on March 2015
5 Real history of biddulphThe Donnellys (a Catholic family) immigrated to Canada in 1844 from County Tipperary, Ireland. Settled in Biddulph Township near London Ontario. Family began their troubles by squatting on land that didn’t belong to them. Over the years conflict with neighbours and community alienated the Donnellys from everyone. In 1857 James Donnelly Sr went to jail for killing Patrick Farrell, who was involved in the fight over the Donnellys’ contested land. Remained in jail for seven years. By that time, the family consisted of James Donnelly Sr, his wife Johannah, and their eight children, James, William, John, Patrick, Michael, Robert, Thomas, and Jane. Donnellys accused of every crime that happened in the county, especially assault, arson, and mutilating farm animals. The boys all grew up and earned a reputation for violence.
6 It appears that the Donnellys got an unfair trial as well as an unfair share of the blame (possibly?) – Mike was stabbed to death in 1879; his attacker was only jailed for two years. February 3, 1880: a mob entered the Donnelly home that night and killed James Sr., Johannah, Tom, and a niece, Bridget, and later, John as well. Despite an eyewitness that identified many in the mob, nobody was convicted for the murders of the Donnellys. After that their ‘reign of terror’ was ended in Biddulph (Or the Whitefeet triumphed, depending on which side you support).
7 The feud in the play An ongoing feud came to Canada with the Donnellys. They were called Blackfeet in Ireland by the Whitefeet, a secret society of Catholics that was formed to harass the English Protestant landlords. They called any Irish who didn’t join them Blackfeet, and they persecuted them as much as they did the Whitefeet. Animal mutilation was a common Whitefeet tactic. The Donnellys settled on an uncleared 100-acre lot on the Roman Line (called that because of the number of Irish Roman Catholics who lived on that road) belonging to landlord John Grace. They agreed to clear the land and have the first right of purchase eventually, but Grace sold the farm to Mr. and Mrs. Fat, who became their enemies. The Donnellys managed to keep half of their land, but they had to give up the other half to the Fats, and a fence was built between them.
8 The presence of the Whitefeet is felt the first time that the crippled son Will is called a Blackfoot by another boy. At the logging bee before James Sr. kills Pat Farl (pg. 148). When the Donnellys’ barn is burned down they find the water pump broken and over their spring a sign saying ‘No water for Blackfeet’. Intimidation by township authorities, Cassleigh and Mr. Stub (pg 167-8). The bishop not allowing the Donnellys to join the church (pg 168).
9 Themes/symbols Power of name callingConstant interruptions of people speaking like they’re in court-like an accounting The ladders Fence Law/punishment always close at hand (the manhunt; the barrel) Intimidation Arson (against black immigrants as well as Blackfeet) Recurring negative slurs and slang-’Six eggs to you, Rody, and half a dozen of them rotten’ (130); Black humour Murder Entrapment
10 Irish influence The tavern song that weaves through the entire playThe map of Ireland shown at the beginning Whitefeet members and tactics brought to Canada (barn burnings, animal mutilations, beatings, driving ‘Blackfeet’ out of Biddulph, and James Sr. disguising himself as a woman while on the run) Surrounded by Irish families only-Donnelly, Keefe, Mulowney, etc. Continuation of Irish politics and feuds-Protestant/Catholic feud pg 139
11 Set design – Bishop’s university 2013
12 Jerry Franken and David Ferry in Sticks and Stones, at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, 1973
13 Metafictional elementPlaying around with time (Jenny looking back at the events before the deaths of her parents and brothers) Johannah speaking to the Ghost James Sr. watching the false Donnellys in the future and correcting their show (he’s dead by the time they put together their travelling show of course). Pg 134, James Sr.’s speech
14 sources David Scott. "Donnelly Myth Endures Test of Time." Western Alumni. Blackbaud. Web. 23 Jan