Boom Baby

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Boom Baby

Playwright ­– Natalie Meisner

Production Company/Theatre space – Sage Theatre and Mount Royal University, Victor Mitchell Theatre, Pumphouse Theatre.

Length – 2 Acts (2 hours 30 minutes, 1 intermission)

Genre – Drama

Premise – In this fish out of water play, three East coast workers in the oil patch clash with two executives in the same company over status, unplanned pregnancy, and infertility.

Why this play? Why now? – Meiser and Mehmel have friendship that has seen them work on other projects successfully, so it was natural that he gives her play its second production.

Curiosities – Why is this a play and not a TV show or movie? What makes it theatrical? Why have actors bring on set pieces at the top of the play? Why not cover that in preset? While I appreciate the artistry to make the program into a pub menu, why have the images take-up so much space that the font for the artists was five point? Was this design part of the MRU student project?

Notable Moment – In a play ostensibly about women, it was McIver and Sklar that delivered the best bits.

Notable writing – This APN award winning play has had seven script workshops and readings, and a workshop production. This is more than any Canadian play I’m aware of. The play smashes together two issues. The first is removing oil and greening the environment after oil companies have savaged the land.  This is paired with unplanned pregnancy and infertility. In a play about pregnancy, there are only six options for an outcome: death of mother, infanticide, miscarriage, termination, keeping, or adoption. So, in this case it’s a matter of waiting for which ending is coming. Meisner has created some well-rounded characters and sharp dialogue to tell this story of desperation, homesickness, and greed.

Notable performances – The characters (all annoying and endearing in equal measure) are played by a talented cast of five. Kendra Hutchinson and John McIver (who were excellent together in Fire Exit’s Outside Mullingar) are joined by much-in-demand actor David Sklar, stand-up comic Spencer Streichert, and playwright/actor Camille Pavlenko.

Notable design/Production – Brad Levitt’s set design was confounding. Putting the bed behind the bar/kitchen table meant many busy adjustments to hide it in other scenes. The bridge between the two locations didn’t serve any purpose; even symbolically it wasn’t a link between the two worlds of the play. This big stage could have facilitated a set that supported the text.

Notable direction – Doula Director Jason Memel delivers a healthy baby without major complications. His challenge is producing. Different venues may work for budgets, but it challenges audience building. Maybe their partners at MRU can provide their theatres?

Sage needs a home.

One reason to see this show – It’s an especially important time to support Canadian theatre.