'Between Breaths' dives deep to explore the true meaning of freedom

It's a difficult yet defining fact of life: every living creature is mortal, no matter how powerful they seem. 

Robert Chafe explores this universal truth in his moving play Between Breaths, which is based on the true story of Dr. Jon Lien — the Whale Man of Newfoundland — and the gigantic creatures that he fought to save.

Lien was well known for his tireless conservation efforts, including his hands-on dedication to freeing whales from fishing nets. He is credited with saving over 500 animals during his career, and was honoured with an Order of Canada for his work.

But despite Dr. Lien's risky vocation, his biggest battle came in the form of a debilitating illness during his final years, a result of a car accident that ultimately left him trapped in his own body, much like the whales he worked to free.

Between Breaths begins with the final moments of Dr. Lien's life, and then moves in reverse chronological order to the beginnings of his career as the Whale Man. The piece ultimately explores what it means to be alive, and free.

Listen to Between Breaths below, in three parts: 

Memorable quotes 

• "How do you untangle a forty-foot whale from a fishing net? Very carefully." - Dr. Jon Lien
• "Where we grew up, we could only dream of the ocean, some sacred distant thing. Where we grew up, all we had was the sky." - Dr. Jon Lien
• "People here. They lives their lives in that queer space between things. Between respecting life and having to take it." - Wayne
• "He was looking me in the eye. And it was like he was saying…this is not me. The real me is long gone. And there's nothing to be done. There's nothing to be done here." - Dr. Jon Lien
• "Such power, one would expect it to go unchallenged. But the tiniest things sometimes. Knotted rope, twisted and turned, colour of dark water, meant to hide in that water and catch things much smaller, things much easier to catch." - Dr. Jon Lien

About the playwright

Robert Chafe is a St. John's based playwright whose work has been seen across Canada, the U.K., and Australia. He is the author of 18 stage scripts and co-author of another ten. He is Artistic Director and playwright for Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, where he frequently collaborates with NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Jillian Keiley.

Two of his plays (Tempting Providence and Butler's Marsh), published in 2004 by Playwrights Canada Press, were shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for Drama. His play Afterimage won the award in 2010. Tempting Providence, directed by Jillian Keiley and produced by Theatre Newfoundland Labrador, is entering its eighth year of national and international touring.

His recent work, Oil and Water, premiered in St. John's in a sold out run in February 2011, and has toured nationally, which included the National Arts Centre in 2014. He has been a guest instructor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, and the National Theatre School of Canada.

Cast and crew 

• Dr. Jon Lien: Steve O'Connell: 
• Wayne: Darryl Hopkins
• Judy: Berni Stapleton

The play also features original music by The Once, performed by musicians Steve Maloney, Brianna Gosse and Kevin Woolridge.