Joy Gaze had a revelation to share with her audience.
On stage as part of a review of performers at , she stood there on her own as she prepared for what she had to say next.
鈥淚 looked at them and quietly said, 鈥業鈥檝e got something to tell you鈥� I have a secret lover,鈥欌�� she revealed as a wave of astonishment fanned out across the room. 鈥淵ou could hear the gasps and whispers,鈥� laughed Mrs. Gaze, 96, who has been a resident at the boutique independent and assisted retirement community in Vancouver鈥檚 Fairview and South Granville area for over 16 years.
鈥淚 told a made up story about how my 鈥榣over鈥� came with me everywhere 鈥� to dinner, shopping, and even into the bathroom as my lover held my hand in the shower,鈥� she chuckled, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
鈥淚 went on and on, padding it out, then started to cry when talking about how when you have to go to hospital they don鈥檛 allow them to come with you.鈥� Awash in a flood of tears and sadness, Mrs. Gaze slowly exited the stage, only to return, this time proudly wheeling along a walker, her almost constant companion, and introducing it as her 鈥榮ecret lover.鈥�
It was a triumphant moment for Mrs. Gaze, a goal she longs to achieve as a seasoned community theatre performer. 鈥淚t鈥檚 that bit of theatre magic when you have done a good enough job that your audience believes you鈥檙e actually the character you are playing,鈥� she explained.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a thrill when you know you鈥檝e got them,鈥� she added. 鈥淲hen I told my son Christopher (artistic director of Vancouver鈥檚 Bard On The Beach) what I did, he said, 鈥楳om, you are so wicked!鈥欌��
The love of performing started for Mrs. Gaze as a child growing up in southern England. She remembers one of her first roles as a magical faerie in a production of Shakespeare鈥檚 A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream. 鈥淚 was about five-years old, and despite the director鈥檚 repeated pleas, I would not stay put on stage. 鈥楩aeries never stand still,鈥� I told the director!鈥�
Eventually, she did comply, staying stationary in character just long enough until the scene was over, then proceeded to flit about the stage.
鈥淐hristopher threatened he鈥檇 put that role in the program for a Bard production, 91 years after I first played it,鈥� Mrs. Gaze smiled.
Mrs. Gaze鈥檚 theatre patronage continues to this day. 鈥淚 do go to the Arts Club and other smaller theatres to see live performances when I can, but at 96-years old, I am beginning to think I like my bed more,鈥� she quipped.
Joy Gaze. Photo: Rob Newell
With her performing days few and far between now, Mrs. Gaze prefers to foster the spirit of community at Terraces On Seventh, where she has helped to establish and organize a variety of creative programs, such as talent nights and a charitable knitting group called In Stitches.
鈥淚 was watching America鈥檚 Got Talent and Canada鈥檚 Got Talent on TV and thought to myself, Terraces has got talent, too,鈥� Mrs. Gaze recalls. 鈥淪o, I asked around about what other residents did before they came here, and what I found out was amazing.鈥�
She discovered there were those with skills making silver jewelry, woodworking, and looming, among plenty of other artistic talents.
Each Tuesday afternoon, Mrs. Gaze gathers her In Stitches group together to make blankets for young mothers. 鈥淲e knit sweaters, hats, scarves, mittens, baby blankets, and also collect money for charity.鈥�
Photo: Rob Newell
鈥婽o showcase their efforts, each November, In Stitches puts on a display of what its members have created throughout the year. 鈥淲e filled an area with displays of all the interesting pursuits and skills people had,鈥� Mrs. Gaze shares. 鈥淭hen, people could go see our review show to see performances by live performers.鈥�
鈥淥verall, we come up with quite a lot,鈥� Mrs.Gaze said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like grains of sand - you gather together a few and you begin to develop a little mound which can help make a difference.鈥�
It鈥檚 that sense of making an impact which fosters a vibrant community at Terraces On Seventh.
鈥淚 simply love it here. We are very fortunate, thoroughly spoiled, and extremely well looked after,鈥� Mrs. Gaze raves. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always something going on and it鈥檚 wonderful to be a part of it.
Visit or contact 604-738-8380 for more information on the Terraces on Seventh community.
