Appropriate

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Appropriate

Playwright/s – Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins

Production Company/Theatre space – (semi-professional) the theatre (yes, the new company is called “the theatre”), 14^th Ave and 2^nd Street SW.

Length – Two Acts 2 hours 10 minutes (one intermission)

Genre/s – Comi-drama

Premise – Three siblings reunite at their father’s plantation to pack up and sell his belongings.

Why this play? Why now? – While many in the theatre think we should only be doing Canadian plays at this MAGA mad time – some contrarians (me included) think we should be doing the best scripts.

Curiosities – The playwright writes in the script that the cicada sound effect goes on and on until the same thought occurs in every head “Is this it?” “Is this the whole show?” I was curious to see how many folks around me thought it was a mistake and not the faithful explicit wishes of the playwright. How does a show that closed on Broadway last year snatch the rights away from the “big guys”? This is a Stratford play. I’m also curious to see if other theatres can learn from a company that doesn’t do trigger warnings trusting the audience will come through unscathed without speeches, post-show panels, sharing circles to unpack feelings, directed healing moments, pamphlets, and community workers in the lobby or political diatribes in the program. How lovely it is to be treated like an adult.

Notable Moment – Not one, but three distinct moments. When first reading the play, I thought “well I’ve never seen that moment before on stage” and I finally got to see them all.

Notable writing –2025 Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Jacobs-Jenkins gathered a handful of trophies for this play, Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Critic Awards -- and deservedly so. The script is brilliant. At a time of carefully written plays designed not to offend, this play will make your toes curl and your skin crawl. You’ll gasp and then laugh.

Notable performances – This is a talented even ensemble. Abagail Vanmerlin, Michael Rolfe, and Colin Munch are the dynamic dysfunctional siblings. Along with their partners played by Emily Brown and Aliza Sarin present five deeply flawed humans and say things that shouldn’t be said. These actors don’t hold back. They have all committed themselves completely, without the “tells” that lesser actors would subtly signal, “I’m not really like this”. Ian Reip, the awkward teen, also does lovely work. And kudos to the kids Wyate and Hallie, you lovely scene stealers.

Notable design/Production – This production tested the bounds of this small black box theatre and won.

Notable direction – Co-Artistic Director Jakob Schaefer balances frenetic energy and stillness. He faithfully follows the rhythms that Jacob-Jenkis lays out and like a conductor to a score leading all the elements to a unified purpose. I can’t wait to see what he does next. Rico Pfeiffer’s fight direction is top notch as well.

One reason to see this show – With the company’s first show I said “This is a small spark of what promises to be a roaring fire of a theatre company.” Go warm yourself at the fire.