Botticelli in the Fire

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Botticelli in the Fire

Playwright – Jordan Tannahill

Production Company/Theatre space – Downstage Theatre & Hit and Myth Productions / Big Secret Theatre, Werklund Centre.

Length – 2 Acts (2 hours 15 minutes, one intermission)

Genre/s – Fantasy Drama

Premise – Consigned to the void after death, Botticelli creates a reimagined play in which he risks everything when he has sex with the wife of his rich patron and fights for the life of his love (his assistant Leonardo) with the priest who turns a blind eye to “sodomites” being burned alive in the streets - all against a backdrop of a plague.

Why this play? Why now? – Islamic states mandate capital punishment for homosexuality, oligarchs have more power than politicians, and the rise of a right-wing Christians in the USA makes this play (sadly) contemporary and not resigned to history.

Curiosities – Downstage in the past has produced some flaccid productions -- is this an exciting new thrust? How much power did Hit & Myth muscle add to the show? Why didn’t the playwright’s bio get edited? When will we see parity in gender nudity?

Notable Moment – The negotiation of art.

Notable writing – Jordan Tannahill is the new Brad Fraser but with more Governor General Awards. His latest play, Prince Faggot, premiered in June 2025 and ran for seven months off Broadway. Tannahill is also a novelist his debut novel honoured with France’s Youth Books Award and his second novel, The Listeners, was shortlisted for the 2021 Giller Prize.

Notable performances – It has been such a pleasure to see the trajectory of the work by Eric Wigston, now one of Calgary’s most talented actors. He owns the stage, cocksure in his abilities to command the spotlight. Zachary Parsons-Lozinski brings his drag talents and Ethan Vasquez Taylor as Leonardo paints a picture of a besotted and talented painter. Sydney Williams is an actor we want to see more of. Co-antagonists, Christopher Hunt and Joel Cochrane deliver the top-notch performances we have come to expect. Kris Alvarez shows maternal support for her brilliant son.

Notable design/Production – Rebecca Toon’s costumes span the ages from hints of Renaissance, to 80s clubwear, to contemporary pieces. In lesser productions, this could look like a nightmare of “pulled from stock” but she has cleverly created her own language for the play. Alixandra Cowman paints the perfect sound design.

Notable direction – Clare Preuss has set the bar high for future shows at her theatre. Fight Director Brianna Johnston’s work is excellent.

One reason to see this show – Thoroughly enjoyable. One of the best of the Calgary 2025/26 season.