Heaven Above Heaven Below
At Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto. Written by Linda Griffiths. Directed by Karen Hines. Set by Kimberly Purtell. Lighting by Rebecca Picherack. Starring: Layne Coleman and Linda Griffiths.
A Theatre Passe Muraille Production in association with Duchess Productions. Plays until December 7.
Linda Griffiths’ latest play, Heaven Above Heaven Below is a continuation of a conversation between her two characters known simply as He and She, that started twenty years before in her play The Darling Family. At that time He and She had known each other about three months and She was pregnant with his baby. What to do? They discussed it from every angle. Twenty years later we find out. She had an abortion and they hadn’t seen each other since then. A chance meeting at a wedding brings them to her hotel room to drink, snort, and discuss what happened, from every angle. They have both moved on in their lives, or have they?
Linda Griffiths has the guts of a bandit. She has said in an interview that she nearly gave up on the play because it cut too close to the bone. But she didn’t give up. To add an even more sobering note to this production Griffiths is living with cancer and getting treatment during the show’s run. And she’s playing She to Layne Coleman’s He.
Heaven Above Heaven Below is a painfully difficult show to review for many reason, including those listed above. How does one say with sensitivity and compassion that the play and production are a disappointment?
Full review broadcast on CIUT FRIDAY MORNING, 89.5 FM Friday, November 22, between 9 am and 10 am.