Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on Instagram and Facebook.
The beauty of live theatre is that it brings people together for a unique moment in time to stretch their imaginations and empathy and forget about the outside world for a few hours. Right now, with all the wild politics and stories in the media, is the perfect time to take 90 minutes of your day to go see Late Company at The Gladstone Theatre.
The reason to see this show might surprise you, because it’s not to escape and lose yourself in a big dance break or chorus line. Rather, Elevator Theatre Company’s production reminds us that when everything feels too big and impossible in the world, what we can control is our day-to-day interactions with others. How you never know what’s going on in someone else’s life, but that your actions and words can make a huge difference — for good or bad.
Photo by Laura Collins
Late Company, written by Ottawa playwright Jordan Tannahill, deals with two families coming together over dinner to deal with grief. The topic is not an easy one, and there will be moments in the show where you’re meant to feel the awkwardness of confronting grief. Everyone deals with grief and loss, but we rarely discuss it in society. This show gives us the chance to explore it.
Director Josh Rigo has shown his adept ability at bringing together some of the city’s best actors to cast for his shows, and Late Company is no different. This play is a roller coaster of emotions and it’s all pulled off by the talented five-person ensemble. Ottawa high schoole William Mann packs a powerful punch into his role as Curtis, and Vivian Burns as a grieving mom will break your heart even when you don’t see her onstage. The two families don’t always agree but show the fragility and complex layers of a situation that is often reduced to tropes or simple and empty messages.
Photo by Laura Collins
Often when tragedy strikes we look for something or someone to blame. Late Company shows us how blurry this line can be, and that it doesn’t always lead to a path of comfort or relief. Life is messy and complicated, but our everyday actions, words, and ability to be there for someone can have lasting effects.
Don’t be late to catch this premiere play production from one of Ottawa’s newest and most striking theatre companies. Take the opportunity to celebrate Ottawa theatre and pull up a seat to the dinner table — audiences are in for quite the meal.
Late Company takes place from Feb. 5–15 at 7:30 pm. An understudy performance runs at 2pm on Feb. 9. Industry night is Feb. 10 at a reduced ticket price. The show runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are $33 with reduced prices available for senior, student, artist and unwaged audience members.
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