Live and in person at a private residence in Barrie, Ont. Produced by Talk is Free Theatre. Playing until Dec. 7, 2024.
Based on “The Cabinet Minister’s Wife” by Branislav Nusic
Adapted by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman
Translated from Serbian by Cintija Ašperger
Directed by Layne Coleman
Set and costumes by Varvara Evchuk
Cast: Noah Beemer
Laura Condlln
Aidan Desalaiz
Gabi Epstein
Brittany Kay
Mariya Khomutova
Cyrus Lane
Nolan Moberly
Original, outrageous and boldly presented.
The Story. Živka Popovič is a disappointed, self-absorbed woman. She feels she should be higher in station in her small town and resents she is not given her due respect by the other women in her circle. But then she hears that her husband might be made a minister in the new government and Živka is beside herself with glee and anticipation. Minions from the government come to call, thus ramping up her expectations. Matters are fraught. Živka is breathless with anticipation. How will it all end?
The Production. Imagine it–a Serbian play by a celebrated Serbian playwright, being adapted by a celebrated Canadian playwright, directed by an equally celebrated theatre mover and shaker, performed in a private home in Barrie, Ont. by a cast brimming with talent. It must be one of those surprises put together by Arkady Spivak, artistic producer of Talk is Free Theatre. And it is.
The play is performed in the heritage home of Pauline and Paul Stevenson. It’s an impressive mansion on a hill, which makes sense for a woman with Živka’s pretensions. The audience sits in two rooms on either side of the foyer. Each room can be shut off by a sliding door. All the action: the comings, goings, secrets shared and the arrivals and departures take place in that foyer and it’s not large. And being true to the style of farce that Madame Minister is, director Layne Coleman keeps the action going at breakneck speed without losing one clue, joke, sight gag or telling side-long look. Layne Coleman has such control on the comings and going that he also seems to be regulating how fast the audience’s heart is racing keeping up with all that whizzing activity.
As with all comedy and certainly farce, the cast handles this all seriously, as if it’s life and death for the characters, because in a way, it is. Reputations are on the line for these characters. Payback, revenge. Serious stuff. Leading the pack is Laura Condlln as Živka Popovič. This is such a beautifully modulated performance. You are never in doubt that Živka is almost overwrought with anticipation that her husband will become the Minister and so as his wife she will become “Madame Minister.” When Živka hears the news about her husband’s appointment she goes into overdrive giving orders, having people prepare things, chastising her daughter Dara (compassionately played by Brittany Kay) for not marrying ‘better’, and criticizing her son-in-law Ceda (a kindly Nolan Moberly) for not being more ambitious. Condlln is so nuanced, so detailed in her playing that we are never overcome with the angst of it all, we a ‘just’ mesmerized at the artistry of the performance. Cyrus Lane plays Pera, the person who very solemnly brings the news about the impending promotion. He also plays Doctor Ninkovič, a professional lothario who speaks with a French accent but mispronounces all French words. Hilarious. Opening and closing doors is Anka (Mariya Khomutova), the put upon maid. Anka never met a hairstyle she didn’t like and segues from a French twist, to braids, to seductively loose hair. Mariya Khomutova plays the part of Anka with a wink and a confidence of one who knows the nonsense going on in that house and plays along with it. Gabi Epstein plays Aunt Savka and Mrs. Nata with different levels of seriousness and arrogance that are funny in their own way. And rounding out the gifted cast are: Aidan Desalaiz in various roles (Uncle Vasa, a policeman, a photographer) that are variations of kindly, nosey, and eager to be involved and finally Noah Beemer as Rista and a Young Man from the Ministry, brings a fresh exuberance that is endearing.
Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman has written a bracing, very funny adaptation that puts us in the world of the Serbian playwright as well as in our own of needing to be “liked”, seen, shared with, included, embraced and felt to be important. Social climbing is an art to these characters and Corbeil-Coleman has captured that beautifully in her adaptation.
Comment. Madam Minister is one of those treats produced by Talk Is Free Theatre as a matter of course. The programming is so adventurous that Arkady Spivak, the artistic producer of Talk Is Free Theatre has a loyal following who are up for any theatrical adventure and prove it by showing up show after show, whether they live in Barrie or elsewhere. Worth a visit.
Talk is Free Theatre presents:
Plays until Dec. 7, 2024
Running time: 80 minutes (no intermission)