At the Streetcar Crowsnest, Carlaw and Dundas St. E, Toronto, Ont.
Written by Kristen Thomson
Directed by Chris Abraham
Set by Julie Fox
Sound by Thomas Ryder Payne
Lighting by Kimberly Purtell
Video designed by Zack Russell
Costumes by Ming Wong
Cast: Jason Cadieux
Virgilia Griffith
Trish Lindström
Moya O’Connell
Tom Rooney
Kristen Thompson
The Wedding Party by Kristen Thomson is a fitting way to open the Streetcar Crowsnest, Crow’s Theatre’s new permanent performance space at Carlaw and Dundas St. E. The building is bright, airy and full of light with sturdy, comfortable seats. It’s important the seats be sturdy with The Wedding Party because the occupants of the seats will be shifting and perhaps bouncing, what with all the laughing they will be doing.
The Wedding Party is about a wedding from hell. Kristen Thomson has focused her keen, observant eye on every cliché about weddings that go wrong and turned it on its ear. The snobbish father of the groom looks down on the hard-drinking mother of the bride. The groom’s father’s second wife is a fragile soul who wants everything to work out. The groom’s father is a twin who is estranged from his brother, who is invited to the wedding, and we see why the brothers don’t talk. The grandmother of the bride defines the word ‘inappropriate.’ Every guest seems to be a problem. And the bride and groom are nowhere to be seen. Are you getting all this down—there will be a test.
Thomson deals with these many and various situations with razor sharp humour and perception that is at once loopy, smart, and sophisticated. And when you least expect it she inserts moments of breathtaking emotion.
The cast of six play multiple parts often switching genders, this includes Thomson who plays the mother of the bride and the beloved dog of the parents of the groom, among other parts.
It is directed with style, detail and a keen sense of humour by Chris Abraham, Crow’s Theatre’s Artistic Director. It is a tremendous opening and bodes well for things to come.
Full review on the blog (slotkinletter.com) shortly. Broadcast review of The Wedding Party will be on CIUT FRIDAY MORNING, 89.5 fm on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 from 9 am to 10 am.