Playwright Charles Fariala dies at 36

Charles Fariala, a medical worker who helped create the stage production Victoria, has died. He was 36.

Police found Fariala dead at his suburban Montreal home Sunday and charged his mother, Marielle Houle, with aiding and abetting a suicide Monday.

Fariala, an orderly in a chronic-care facility, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year. His friends say he had trouble walking and had spoken openly about committing suicide.

Fariala collaborated with popular Montreal performer Dulcinea Langfelder to develop Victoria, a stage production which deals with the issues of illness and loss of control through the story of a wheelchair-bound elderly woman who suffers from Alzheimer's.

Combining dance, mime and theatre, the play has toured Canada, Europe and Asia. It will be performed at the National Arts Centre in late October.

'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NETHERLANDS - Canadian singers win Dutch awards

Acclaimed Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman added three more awards to her mantle last weekend as the New Brunswick-born singer won the overall award of excellence and other distinctions at the Dutch International Vocal Competition.

In total, Brueggergosman won more than $25,000 at the competition, held in the central city of 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

Two other Canadian performers also won prizes at the event: tenor Colin Balzer of British Columbia and bass Robert Pomakov of Toronto.