By Megan Payne
When all else fails, you can always count on your sisters.
In the town of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, Babe Botrelle (played by Olivia Lee Brown) is accused of attempting to murder her husband. She does not deny she shot him in the stomach (when she was really aiming for his heart), which plunges her life into crisis. But she is never alone: Her two sisters, Lenny and Meg Magrath (Sarah Aaron and Katie Torresan, respectively) rally around to support her through the mess.
Crimes of the Heart is a story about mental health and self-sabotage, laughter and sorrow, and sisterhood and familial bonds that unite these sisters in their time of need.
The play, running at the Ottawa Little Theatre until Sept. 2, is performed with a certain lightheartedness. The dialogue between characters is kept light and there is no lack of bickering between the sisters. Alongside the back and forth of jokes between characters, there are pointedly funny moments, like when one of the sisters chases an unwelcome visitor from their home with a broom. This comical effect is further complemented by the décor and costume choices, all drawing from a colour palette of sunshine yellow and robin’s egg blue. The attention to detail by the performers, lighting, costuming, and set design teams worked cohesively to set the tone for this performance.
At the halfway point, audiences truly experience the tragedy of the play, coming in stark contrast to its comedic moments. Just before the intermission, Babe reveals her motive. In a stunning performance, Meg tries to find out what happened in order to get Babe the legal help she needs. This moment carried so much weight, and Brown had the audience hanging on her every word during her monologue. These heavier emotional moments, combined with the lighter tone of the play, make it well worth seeing.
Crimes of the Heart continues at Ottawa Little Theatre until September 2. Tickets are $14 for students, $26 for seniors 60+, and $30 for adults. The Besserer St. entrance provides step-free direct access to the auditorium and an accessible washroom. There are six wheelchair seating locations and wheelchair ramps are available upon request. Patrons with hearing disability have access to hearing assist devices, located at the coat check and the Besserer St. entrance free of charge.
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