Local News
Winnipeg Playwright Gilles Messier Brings Atomic Age Tragedy to the Fringe
By MARTIN ZEILIG Winnipeg playwright Gilles Messier is turning his lifelong fascination with the Manhattan Project into a new stage production for next summer’s Fringe Festival.
His latest work focuses on Louis Slotin, the Winnipeg-born physicist whose fatal accident at Los Alamos in 1946 made him both a cautionary tale and a reluctant hero of the atomic age. Slotin was conducting a criticality experiment with the notorious plutonium “demon core” when his screwdriver slipped, unleashing a burst of radiation.
The core itself was a 6-kilogram plutonium sphere intended for an atomic bomb of the same type as the Trinity “Gadget” detonated at Alamogordo on July 16, 1945 and “Fat Man” detonated over Nagasaki on August 9. It only became known as the “demon core” after Slotin’s death, because it had already killed physicist Harry Daghlian under similar circumstances eight months earlier.
Slotin absorbed a lethal dose while shielding his colleagues from the worst of the blast. In Winnipeg and beyond, he was celebrated for his sacrifice. Among fellow scientists, however, he was remembered as a brilliant but sometimes audacious experimenter. Messier says it is precisely this contradiction—heroism at home, recklessness among peers —that drew him to Slotin’s story.
“That tension between brilliance and recklessness is what inspired me to write this play,” Messier explained in an email interview.
Told Through Alvin Graves
The play unfolds through the eyes of Alvin Graves, the physicist Slotin was training at the time of the accident. Graves received the second-highest dose of radiation and survived, though his life was forever altered.
The frame story is set in a Los Alamos hospital, where Slotin lies dying and Graves recovers from his injuries. Slotin’s parents, Israel and Sonia, arrive from Winnipeg to be at their son’s bedside and press Graves for answers. Through flashbacks, audiences see two versions of Slotin: the dutiful son his parents knew and the risk-taking scientist his colleagues remembered.
Messier says he became increasingly intrigued by Graves during his research. Despite experiencing radiation sickness firsthand, Graves later denied the long-term effects suffered by survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He went on to direct the Nevada Test Site, assuring the public that nuclear testing posed no danger.
“Graves is a fascinatingly contradictory figure,” Messier noted. “In some ways, even more than Slotin.”
Support and Sponsorship
Producing a Fringe play is never simple, and Messier’s latest project presents unique challenges. Period costumes, authentic props, and the recreation of Slotin’s fatal experiment all add to the expense. If the production does not win the venue lottery, it will need to “Bring Your Own Venue,” further increasing costs.
Messier is seeking sponsorship from the general community and, in particular, the Jewish community. Financial support would help cover costumes, props, and venue rental. He also welcomes offers of rehearsal space, auditions from community members, and consultation on cultural or historical aspects of the show. Sponsoring organizations will be promoted in programs and posters.
Cast and Characters
The play features a cast of eight:
· Louis Slotin
· Alvin Graves (portrayed by two actors, one in the hospital frame story and another in flashbacks)
· Harry Daghlian, another physicist killed by the same plutonium core
· Israel and Sonia Slotin
· A Nurse and a Doctor
Several roles double as prominent physicists, including Leo Szilard, Enrico Fermi, and Otto Frisch.
Writing and Refinement
Messier drafted the script in about three weeks, a pace he describes as typical for his Fringe productions. But the work continues to evolve.
“I don’t consider a play truly finished until opening night,” he said.
His last show, If Day, saw half its jokes devised by the cast during rehearsals.
Looking Ahead
For now, the play is slated for next summer’s Winnipeg Fringe Festival. But Messier is open to other opportunities.
“If venues or companies elsewhere are interested in hosting performances—or even taking over production entirely—I’m willing to explore those possibilities,” he said.
Authenticity remains central to his vision. Messier is already building period-accurate props, including replicas of the critical mass experiments that killed Slotin and Daghlian, as well as a full-size replica of the Trinity “Gadget,” the world’s first atomic bomb.
About Gilles Messier
Messier brings both technical expertise and creative experience to the project. A graduate of Carleton University with a degree in aerospace engineering, he worked as a tool design engineer before turning to writing and research. He is chief writer for the Today I Found Out YouTube channel and the sole writer, presenter, and editor for Our Own Devices. He also leads the Miami Bunker Project in Manitoba.
His previous Fringe productions include The First Pillar (2017), The Sport of the Engineer (2018), The Mercury 13 (2019), Murmurs of Earth (2022), Countdown to Babylon (2023), Nuclear Family (2024), and If Day (2025). He is also the author of Calling All Stations (2020).
Messier’s upcoming play promises to shine a spotlight on one ofWinnipeg’s most unlikely connections to the atomic age. By exploring the contradictions of Louis Slotin and Alvin Graves, the production asks audiences to grapple with the paradoxes of science, responsibility, and memory.
As Messier put it: “Slotin’s story is not simply about one man’s fatal mistake. It’s about the contradictions at the heart of the atomic age—brilliance and recklessness, courage and denial, heroism and tragedy.”
To contact Gilles Messier for sponsorship, etc.: maxqproductionswpg@gmail.com
Gilles Messier
Sidebar: A Story Worth Supporting
As someone long fascinated by the life of Louis Slotin, I feel compelled to add a personal note.
My first feature story about Slotin, “Dr. Louis Slotin and ‘The Invisible Killer’” (The Beaver, Volume 75, Number 4, August–September 1995), gave me an early opportunity to explore his remarkable and tragic life.
A few years later, in 1998, I worked as a researcher, writer, and associate producer on the documentary Tickling the Dragon’s Tail: The Story of Louis Slotin, directed by Tom Radford and co-produced by Great North Productions of Edmonton and CanWest Global. The film was broadcast in April 1999.
These projects, along with earlier works such as Dexter Masters’ The Accident (1955) and the fictionalized Slotin character portrayed in the film Fat Man and Little Boy (1989), deepened my appreciation for Slotin’s complex legacy and the importance of sharing his story.
Building on that experience, I believe Gilles Messier’s new play, Fission, deserves strong community support. He revisits Slotin’s life in a novel and compelling way, using theatre to explore the contradictions of brilliance and audacity, heroism and tragedy.
This is not only an important Winnipeg story, but one that resonates far beyond the city. Among fellow scientists, Slotin was remembered as brilliant yet audacious—qualities that tragically led to his death.
Messier’s production would be a perfect undertaking for institutions such as the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, which could provide a platform for a work both historically significant and artistically ambitious. His play offers audiences a chance to reflect on the human side of the atomic age.
It is not just theatre—it is a vital act of remembrance.
Local News
Fringe Festival star Melanie Gall to appear at Gwen Secter Centre July 16
By BERNIE BELLAN A veteran performer at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Melanie Gall, will be making a special guest appearance at the Gwen Secter Centre on Thursday, July 16.
Melanie will be the featured speaker (and entertainer) for the Remis Speakers’ Series that day. The Remis Speakers’ Series is held every Thursday starting at noon and ending at 1:30. This year’s series began May 7 and will continue through the end of October. This year it has been attracting increasingly large audiences – ranging from 40-60 people, as it offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy a delicious – and kosher lunch, while listening to a very diverse variety of speakers – all the way from Gail Asper talking about returning the Ten Commandments to Assiniboine Park to Rabbi Matthew Leibl performing Christmas songs that were written by Jewish songwriters. At the same time it provides those attending a chance to make new acquaintances – or perhaps bump into old friends they haven’t seen in a long time.
Melanie Gall’s own story is sure to be riveting. I’ve written about Melanie in the past, but the past two summers had been especially nerve wracking for Melanie, as she was subjected to a torrent of antisemitic abuse over her support for the State of Israel.
You can read my story about what Melanie went through during the Winnipeg Fringe Festival – both in 2024 and again last year, at Melanie Gall subjected to antisemitic abuse.
Melanie, who will be entering her 13th year of performing at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, will be peforming in only one show this year – a departure from her past practice of performing in multiple shows (as many as three different shows) during the Fringe Festival.
Elsewhere on this website we’ll be offering a preview of Melanie’s show (which is called “The Ballad of Isobel Gunn” and which is based on an incredible, but true story), along with previews of several other shows.
In the meantime, if you’re not already a member of the Remis Speakers’ Series group, but would ike to attend this coming Thursday, simply email us at jewishp@mymts.net and we’ll reserve a spot for you. The cost for the lunch is only $20.
The Gwen Secter Centre is located at 1588 Main Street (corner of Smithfield). There is parking available on a lot behind the centre or on the street.
Local News
Folk Festival Report
(Posted July 10) During this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival we’re going to be running an ongoing blog report – with photos and blurbs from the festival, sent to us by our Folk Fest correspondent Heather Silbert.
Here’s Heather’s first entry (sent Friday at 3:33 pm): “It’s a hot hot day at the 51st Winnipeg Folk Festival! Lots of people; lots of good vibes; and an abundance of awesome music!!”
“We just moved to spruce hollow. Nice and shady. listening to Jacob Brodovsky.”
4:21 pm: “Jacob just announced that he lost his job and received a lot of vitriol from the Jewish Community because he’s a Jewish person who believes that Palestinian and Jewish lives are intertwined, and he is against genocide. He is very deeply feeling, and expresses all these big feelings through his songs. I want to give him a hug, but it’s so hot outside!”
5:33 pm: The inscription in the plaque below begins with some lines from a Bruce Cockburn song called “Joy Will Find a Way (A Song About Dying)”: and continues with: “Memory Lane honours those who are no longer with us but whose presence lives on in the music, memories and moments we share here…”
7:06 pm “Gorgeous hand made polymer clay jewelry! Amanda Greisman makes gorgeous pieces that can be worn across many occasions! And she’s so so nice!” (See her booth called “Blue Sky Jewelry.”)
(Posted July 11, 4:20 pm) “Would you drive your bike to BHP for FF in this weather? I would drive here, but not sure if I’d have enough steam to bike home!”
“There’s aren’t any flower/leaf art installations this year(that I’ve found!) but loving the fairy village!!”
“It’s another sweltering day. Bright blue sky and a light Breeze. Cat Clyde is rocking it out at Bur Oakbank!! Loving it!!”
8:04 pm: “Snacktime! Excellent energy, good time! We’re sitting 2 tarp rows in front of the frog to the left of the Canadian flag. (Total FF directions! LOL!)”
Local News
New GrowWinnipeg “Grow Together” highlights diverse origins of our growing Jewish community
By MYRON LOVE On Monday, June 11, about 120 younger Jewish Winnipeggers from diverse backgrounds came together at the Asper Campus for an evening of food and music, games and prizes and, most important, the opportunity to socialize with their peers from a growing community that reflects the long term success of our community’s 26-year-old GrowWinnipeg initiative.
“We are gathered here to celebrate your and your parents’ decisions to come to Winnipeg, build families and raise families here,” noted Dalia Szpiro, GrowWinnipeg’s director, in addressing the young adults in attendance.
To summarize, the GrowWinnipeg Initiative arose when our past community’s leadership recognized that our Jewish population was an aging and shrinking community with aging infrastructure.
The first stage was the planning and construction of the Asper Campus, which brought our major institutions and organizations under one roof in an attractive new building.
The next challenge was to attract more people to our community. GrowWinnipeg was created to take on the challenge. The initiative, which was officially launched in 2000, is unique in its efforts to reach out to young Jewish families throughout the Western world.
The first outreach efforts were directed at Argentina’s sizeable Jewish community at a time when the South American country’s economy was going through a very difficult period. Several of our community leaders visited the Jewish community in Buenos Aires and a website was established. Arrangements were made for local families to host Jewish Argentinians here on exploratory visits and the community helped the prospective immigrants navigate the then new Provincial Nominee Program, find jobs and establish themselves here.
Since then, many young families – from Argentina, as well as a great number of other countries – have chosen to make Winnipeg their new home. The young people at the recent GrowWinnipeg evening were reflective of the diversity of our growing community. During the course of the evening, I had the opportunity to speak with not only Israeli-born participants, also young people from Russia and Ukraine, Turkey and Uruguay – and a young lady who grew up in Ottawa.
Naomi Kirshenblatt Palansky originally came here from Ottawa to go to university. She met and married local entrepreneur Noah Palansky in 2023. (We wrote about Noah in the December 19, 2025 issue). That same year, the former competitive swimmer who competed in the Maccabiah Games in 2009 and 2013 served as manager of the Canadian Junior swimming team participating in the games. She is currently the director of operations and strategy for a company called CoinFlip.
Although born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Yael Borovich grew up in Winnipeg. She is the daughter of Dalia Szpiro and Eduardo Borovich (and younger sister of Vanessa) all of whom moved here in 2002. She is a graduate of the Asper School of Business and works as a senior client relationship manager for Scotia Bank’s commercial branch.
Siblings Igal and Edem Avimelek arrived here from Turkey six years ago with their parents, Etel and Moris. Edem is in her second year at the University of Manitoba while Igal is studying engineering at UBC.
They report that their father, Moris, has established the Upperwear Textile Agency – marketing textile products online – while their mother Etel, is senior IT Director, software development and data analytics and enterprise architecture at Standard Aero.
“Our parents were looking to move to a new country and came across the GrowWinnipeg webpage,” Edem says. “GrowWinnipeg has been really supportive of us in helping us move here and become established.”
More recent arrivals Alex Tsmokaliuk and Jane Hin are from Ukraine and Russia respectively and have been together since 2022. “We were looking for a peaceful place to start a family,”: Alex says. “We heard about GrowWinnpeg and here we are.”
Alex is a fitness trainer while Jane is working for WRE Development as a property manager.
Dora Bronstein, who is originally from Beersheva, is also a recent arrival to our community. “I came to Winnipeg because I wanted to get away from war – and I heard about GrowWinnipeg,” she says.
She is currently working for L.C. Taylor Licensed Insolvency Trustee as an estate manager.
Erele Tzidon and Daniel Mejnov
Last October, GrowWinnipeg introduced its new Youth Ambassadors program.
“Since October, we have been working to create an organized system and opportunities to help young newcomers find their people within our community,” wrote Youth Ambassador Erele Tzidon on Facebook.
“Our mission is to help young immigrants find a sense of home in Winnipeg and support a smooth and welcoming transition.
We are excited to help bring our young Jewish community together.
As reported in the Jewish Post about 18 months ago, Tzidon is originally from Moshav Ginaton in central Israel. She came to Winnipeg in 2018 with her parents Ofer – formerly regional manager for a car rental agency in Israel and now an RBC branch manager – and Sharon – an emotional therapist in Israel who is currently working as an educational assistant at Gray Academy – and three younger brothers.
The 20-year Gray Academy graduate has recently completed her third year in Science at the University of Manitoba. For the past three years, she has also been a member of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin’s research team at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS), researching the link between pregnancy complications and the risk for heart disease.
In November, 2024, Tzidon was presented with the Dr. James S. McGoey Student Award – based on the quality of her cardiovascular research at the ICS, which operates out of the St. Boniface Hospital campus’s Albrechchtsen Research Centre.
Tzidon’s fellow Youth Ambassador is Daniel Mejnov. He was born in Beersheva but moved to Winnipeg with his parents, Dennis and Victoria (and younger brother Alon) 14 years ago. He is currently enrolled in an IT program at the University of Winnipeg.
Mejnov welcomed all those in attendance at the celebration and thanked the volunteers who helped him and Tzidon organize the event.
“It has been great being able to bring so many people together,” he said. “This is a good way to unite our community.
Two other individuals of particular note that I spoke with at the event were Orit Agabayev and Alina Plis, partners in three year old A and O Event Décor, who provided the balloon arches and walls, table settings and centre pieces for the evening.
Agabayev is originally from Netanya and Plis is from Yeruham (in southern Israel). The latter has been here for 18 years and operates a daycare. The former came 16 years. Her principal career is working in the field of animal nutrition.
In an Instagram PosI from four years ago, Plis noted that “I have always been passionate about planning parties and events. I started out with planning big surprise birthday parties for my kids. Eventually I began planning and decorating events for family and friends. Now I am taking the next step with my friend, Orit, who shares the same level enthusiasm as me. What drives me to go above and beyond is simply the excitement my creations bring to those who see my work.
On Facebook, Agabayev added that “Alina and I are so excited to start A&O event decor. We both love decorating and planning different events. We hope that you can put your trust in us to create or decorate an event for you. We do Birthday parties, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette parties, proposals, weddings and more..
“Message us with your ideas to get a free quote and you’re one step closer to having an unforgettable event.”
