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
The Jewish Post Ltd. launches new website for food lovers
By BERNIE BELLAN Three months ago I wrote a story about something my daughter, Shira, had started doing on social media that had proved to be wildly successful – much to her own surprise. That story was titled: Local foodie finds fame by trying foods on Facebook Marketplace
What Shira was doing was going on to Facebook Marketplace and trying different foods that she was able to buy from local vendors. She often didn’t know what the heck it was she was ordering, but each time she would get a new food she would film herself reacting to that food.
The results have been consistently entertaining – often hilarious, to the point where Shira now has over 10,300 followers on Instagram, as well as on Facebook, TikTok, and Youtube. (You can find her Instagram page at Winnipeg Marketplace Food Finds.)
I suggested to Shira that she ought to parlay the success she’s found by posting on social media into a further venture: creating a website that would give wider exposure to the food vendors whose food Shira liked the most.
As a result, Shira and I teamed up with the marvellous web designer whose name is Mario Lacunza who is responsible for the design of jewishpostandnews.ca -to create a brand new website called Winnipeg Marketplace Food Finds.
On that website you will find pictures of some of the most popular foods Shira has tried from Marketplace, along with links to the original Instagram posts where she reviewed those foods – and links that will take you directly to the vendors’ Facebook pages.
There are so many brilliantly creative people selling food on Marketplace and Shira’s social media posts have brought many of them a lot of new business. Our hope is that our new website will bring them even more business.
The website will also offer stories about food from a variety of sources. So, take a look at the new site and be amazed at the originality of the foods being produced on Facebook Marketplace.
Local News
UNVEILING for the headstone of Dr. Velimir Kon (Sept. 18, 1950-June 27, 2025)
A true mensch and person of many talents and profoundness, Dr. Velimir (Shlomo) Kon is deeply missed and loved by his family and friends.
Known for his warmth, kindness, integrity and love of learning and teaching, Velimir continues to inspire all who knew him and his memory warms our hearts and souls. Velimir is deeply missed.
You are invited to helps us remember and honour our beloved husband and father who passed away almost a year ago.
We, Branka, Deborah and Lea Kon, wish to inform our relatives and friends of the unveiling of a headstone dedicated to his loving memory on FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2026 at 11:00am at the HEBREW SICK CEMETERY (2605 McPhillips Street) followed by lunch at the Chabad Lubavitch of Winnipeg – Jewish Learning Centre (1845 Mathers Avenue). Please come say a l’chaim in his honour.
In Memoriam
1st Yahrzeit
In loving memory of Dr. Velimir (Shlomo) Kon who passed away June 27, 2025, 12 Days in Tammuz.
⁃ Forever and deeply loved and missed by his wife of over 50 years, Branka, and daughters Deborah and Lea Kon. Velimir brought joy to our lives with his boundless kindness and gentleness, irrepressible humour, great intellect and love of people, tikun olam and Judaism.
Not a day goes by that we do not mention Velimir and feel his presence with us. Our lives are not the same without him and we deeply miss and cherish him. We can never forget his presence that was larger than life, yet also his humility and thoughtfulness.
A gentleman to the very core, Velimir was respected as a scientist, academic, professor, researcher, and later as a teacher and mentor. He always endeavoured to make every place he worked and lived at better and was able to bridge many cultures. He was Abraham of his generation and made many personal sacrifices; giving up status, position and privilege in order for his family to have a better and peaceful future.
May his memory always be a blessing. He left us at only 74 years young and we wish we had had more time together. Indeed, to know him was to love him.
Local News
Younger Jewish talents continue to shine in their respective categories at annual Winnipeg Music Festival
By MYRON LOVE A number of younger members of our community were repeat stars at the most recent (108th annual) Winnipeg Music Festival – which takes place annually in March. Among the repeat Jewish singers and musicians in the ranks of high achievers this year were” Yale Rayburn-Vander Hout, Gregory Hyman, Alex Schaeffer, Juliet Eskin, Noah Kravetsky, and Lyla Chisick.
Vocalist Yale Rayburn-Vander Hout, the oldest of this year’s group of Jewish repeat winners, was competing in his fifth straight festival, where he continued to build on his accomplishments in previous festivals. This year, the 20-year-old son of Samantha and Peter finished first in two musical theatre categories – songs from musical theatre productions between 1965 and 1999, and shows from the past 26 years. Yale sang “I’m Allergic to Cats,” from the 2016 musical “The Theory of Relativity,” and “Suppertime,” from the 1967 musical, “You’re a Good man, Charlie Brown.”
The former Gray Academy student is currently enrolled at the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music in the Choral program. Yale says that he is hoping to get into the performance track in the fall with the goal of earning a degree in Classical Voice Performance en route to pursuing a career in musical theatre.
As reported previously, Gregory Hyman is a multi-faceted artist who can do it all. The 18-year-old son of Hartley and Rishona Hyman is a singer/songwriter/musician (guitar) who records and performs under the stage name, GMH. His versatility shone through once again in his eighth Music Festival, in which he registered first-place finishes for vocal performances in both “Popular and Contemporary Music” and “TV and Movie Music “categories.
Gregory notes that he was also recommended to compete in the provincial finals in June. The St. John’s-Ravenscourt student (and soon-to be) graduate continues to be busy on stage. In January, he headlined a sold out solo show at Sidestage on Osborne featuring some of his new material. In March, he released an album of his newest songs. Readers can check out his latest compositions on any of the music streaming platforms as well as his own social media (thegmh) on Instagram.
Gregory also continues to host his own podcast: “Talk and Rock with GMH – now in its fifth season – in which he interviews various people in the music business across Canada.
While Gregory says that a musical career is his “dream,” he reports that he is hedging his bets and considering different potential career opportunities. Come September, he will be enrolled at the University of Manitoba in a University One program, which will allow him to select from a variety of courses that can count toward a degree.
Sixteen-year-old Alex Schaeffer won first place this year in the “Musicals Prior to 1965, 16 Years and Under” category with “Try Me” from “She Loves Me,” and was runner-up in the “Musicals 1965 to 1999, 16 Years and Under” category with “On My Own,” from “Les Misérables.” For the son of Marc Schaeffer and Kae Sasaki, this was his fifth year competing in the festival.
The Grant Park High School student made his big stage debut three years ago as Kurt von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” followed by playing Michael Hobbs in “Elf the Musical” this past winter at the Royal MTC.
Alex recently performed in Grant Park High School’s production of “Something Rotten!” This summer Schaeffer can be seen again at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, where he will be appearing in a production staged by Rem Lezar Theatre.
Rounding out the voice winners is Lyla Chisick. The daughter of Daniel and Baillee was competing in her second music festival. This year, she scored Gold performances in the “Vocal Solo,” “Manitoba Composers,” and “TV/Movie Musical, 12 and under” categories.
Lyla reports that she began taking voice lessons from Jessica Kos-Whicher three years ago. She says she regularly takes part in the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue Family Service and has sung at several community events. Lyla adds that she is already looking forward to next year’s music festival.
Nate Kravetsky and Juliet Eskin competed in the festival as musicians rather than singers. Juliet, 16, plays the viola, and is also is the violist in the Assiniboine String Quartet. In this, her fifth go-round at the festival, Juliet, the daughter of the musically talented Kelly Robinon and Josh Eskin, had first place finishes in the “Viola Solo, level 8,” “Baroque or Classical Concerto,” and “Romantic Composers” categories.
Juliet originally took up the violin – adding the viola a couple of years after. She also just finished performing in the Grant Park High School production of “Something Rotten!”
Nate Kravetsky is currently in Grade 5 level piano. He studies with Erica Schultz and has been taking lessons from her since age 5.
Nate competed in three categories at the Winnipeg music festival: “Baroque,” “Sonata,” and “Contemporary/own choice.”
His own choice selection was the theme from his favourite video game, “Hollow Knight.”
Nate, who is in Grade 7 at Gray Academy, is also preoccupied preparing for his upcoming bar mitzvah.
We look forward to the continued musical success off Yale, Gregory, Alex, Nate, Juliet and Lyla, and what new talent may be unveiled at next year’s Winnipeg Music festival.
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