“Having once embarked on your marital voyage, it is impossible not to be aware that you make no way and that the sea is not within sight—that, in fact, you are exploring a closed basin.”
—George Eliot, Middlemarch
If you’re like me and have mixed feelings on the institution of marriage, Grand Horizons is guaranteed to make those feelings more complicated, and may make you swear off tying the knot for good. But don’t let that scare you! The Ottawa Little Theatre’s presentation of the lauded American playwright Bess Wohl’s dark comedy, Grand Horizons, is on until April 20, and you don’t want to miss it.
It tells the story of a couple who want a divorce 50 years into their marriage. While they appear indifferent, their two adult sons’ lives are thrown into chaos and are forced to re-examine everything they thought they knew about their parents’ outwardly happy lives.
Set in the living room of Bill and Nancy’s room at the Grand Horizons retirement home—with an incredibly realistic set—the play rotates through the perspectives of the family as they discuss their thoughts on marriage, love, and the lies we tell to keep things afloat.
Photo by Maria Vartanova.
Grand Horizons manages to explore the dark side of happily ever after, with equal parts silliness and existential despair. This balancing act is a rare feat, and between the raunchy jokes and physical comedy, many moments of sincerity shone through.
The set of Grand Horizons immediately evokes the aesthetic of a ’90s sitcom, so I was happily surprised when it became clear that the story was subverting the genre and had a more feminist perspective on marriage. My favourite moments were when Nancy talked about the silent sacrifices mothers make and her desires for an independent life of her own.
Being a play influenced by the “bedroom farce” genre and older sitcoms, there are some clichéd moments and dialogue, like when a character exclaims “What is this, opposite day?”. But overall, these influences are more of a strength than a drawback to the play, as evidenced by the constant audience laughter throughout.
Directed by Chantale Plante, this play was perfectly cast, bringing all-too-familiar family dynamics to life. Andrée Benson as Nancy had incredible comedic timing and delivery, never breaking while delivering outrageous lines about vibrators and sex in your 80s.
Photo by Maria Vartanova.
John Savard was such a lovable grandpa as Bill—he reminded me of my own grandfather when he told corny jokes and practiced his stand-up delivery.
While being wickedly funny, Grand Horizons is also an inspiring story about it never being too late to make a change and pursue happiness. Despite the irony, the cynicism and the fatalistic views of marriage, the play manages to end on a hopeful note that I think will leave viewers walking away believing in the enduring power of love.
Grand Horizons is playing at the Ottawa Little Theatre from April 3-20 with showtimes at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. To grab your tickets, you can call the Ottawa Little Theatre’s box office at (613)-233-8948 or check out their website.
