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 Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Youth Infringement Festival opened its 25th season at Arts Court Theatre on March 8. The festival is focused on Ottawa youth between the ages of 16 to 25, supporting them in creating and developing original pieces of work.
We attended the first three productions, which run on rotation daily until March 10. All three productions had impressive subject matter and made use of their simple sets and small casts quite well. Even with a few technical issues, all three shows had strong storytelling and emotional impact. They were sharp and we could definitely see them continue to be refined and expanded, possibly for future undercurrents or fringe productions.
Four Exes and a Funeral
Director: Janani Suthan
Stage Manager: Sam Mason
Featuring Amelia Alam, Luke McCaskill, Mika Argyle, Theresa Graham
Four strangers meet in a room at a funeral. What do they all have in common? A romantic history with the deceased. Maddie’s funeral brings together four very different past partners who work through whether they really ever knew her at all. Four Exes and a Funeral explores the way grief can both pull people apart, bring them together, and ultimately help them move forward.
Scene from Reality. Photo provided by YIF.
Reality
Director: Harley Wegner
Stage Manager: Julie Mathison
Sound Designer: Luke McCaskill
Featuring Arkyn Kornell, Jennifer Omoike, Kate Addison, Lexie Tait, Megan Maclean, Nick Gray, Owen McGowan
Reality delves into the realities of living with mental health issues, showing the audience both the figurative and literal monsters hanging above our heads. With beautiful movement and deep explorations into the corners of the psyche, Reality works to give insight into those struggling with their mental health, along with the loved ones who may sometimes struggle to support them, and highlights how the journey of recovery is not a straight line, but can include many bright moments in the darkness.
À Demain
Director: Anne Hamels
Stage Manager: El Doucette
Assistant Stage Manager: Ness Maio-Dorion
Lighting Designer: Dina Mohamed
Sound Designer: Liam Bain
Video Designer: Gracien Joslin
Featuring Gracien Joslin, Sarah Komendat, Tasha Burhunduli
À Demain tells the story of a dying woman and her personal care worker, building a relationship between the two characters in the last moments of life and showing the power and impact of connection. A bilingual play, the show jumps back and forth between English and French, connecting two women of different generations and backgrounds.
The second set of shows, including Study 108, The Formaldehyde Files, and CTRL, will play from March 15 to 17. There is no better time to support young artists than through YIF, and we don’t doubt that this year’s productions will only continue to develop and draw in audiences in the future.
The Ottawa Youth Infringement Festival takes place March 8–17 at Arts Court Theatre (2 Daly Ave). The festival alternates three shows each night with performances starting at 7pm. Tickets are pay-what-you-choose with suggested donations of $25 and are currently available for sale on the YIF website. Arts Court is wheelchair accessible via the 67 Nicholas Street entrance.
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