STOCKHOLM at the Tarragon Extra Space until June 3. Written by Bryony Lavery. Directed by Kelly Straugham. Designed by Lindsay C. Walker. Lighting by Kimberley Purtell. Choreography by Susie Burpee. Sound and original music by Verne Good. Starring: Melissa-Jane Shaw and Jonathon Young.
Produced by Seventh Stage in association with Nightwood Theatre.
A couple, Todd and Kali, are intensely in love and lust with one another. Sex is good and often and sometimes rough and ready. They are planning to go on vacation in a few days to Stockholm. But they might already be there, as in Stockholm Syndrome—in part it’s defined as: “strong emotional ties that develop between two persons where one person intermittently harasses, beats, threatens and abuses, or intimidates the other.” Yup, that sounds about right.
Kali is inordinately jealous. When things are good they are electric. But often she goes haywire, thinking Todd is cheating on her. She lashes out at Todd. He fights back. It’s compelling.
Bryony Lavery’s writing is elegant, poetic and deceptive. This is a gripping, beautifully directed production by Kelly Straughan, with two terrific performances by Melissa-Jane Shaw as Kali and Jonathon Young as Todd. It looks at the obsessive, compulsive behaviour of people in lust and love. It doesn’t let you look away.
Full review of STOCKHOLM on CIUT 89.5FM on CIUT FRIDAY MORNING between 9 am and 10 am.