OFF-MIRVISH is a curated series of edgier, challenging and fascinating plays, that’s comprised of three internationally known plays:  US/THEM, ROOM and INDECENT.

Written and directed by Carly Wijs, the Canadian premiere of US/THEM will star Gytha Parmentier and Roman Van Houtven in the brilliant, utterly compelling hit play – a sell-out at the Edinburgh Fringe and London’s National Theatre.  US/THEM will play February 27 through March 15, 2020.

In 2004 a group of terrorists stormed a school in Beslan, Russia, taking hundreds of children hostage. Three days later, many were left dead. By capturing this terrible event from the unfiltered point of view of children, playwright Carly Wijs has created something unexpected and revelatory: a wryly humorous, poignantly matter-of-fact piece of theatre about how the young deal with trauma, and what leads people to do the unthinkable. 

SNAPSHOT REVIEW

US/THEM is not a straightforward account of the Beslan tragedy, but an exploration of the entirely individual way children deal with traumatic situations. Writer and director Carly Wijs was inspired by conversations with her 9-year-old son about the 2013 shopping mall terrorist attack in Nairobi. By talking about elements of current affairs with him, she acquired a direct insight into the way a child absorbs and understands certain topics. This play had its premiere before terrorist threats and attacks had yet to become an everyday reality. It is now more appropriate than ever for us to have in-depth conversations about this, and to include children in those conversations. By doing so we can hopefully make the incomprehensible a little more comprehensible. 

The Canadian Premiere of ROOM, adapted by novelist and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Emma Donoghue will star Stratford’s Alexis Gordon as Ma, Stewart Arnott as Grandad, Brandon Michael Arrington as Big Jack, Tracey Ferencz as Gran, Shannon Taylor as Interviewer/Police Officer and Ashley Wright as Old Nick.  ROOM is directed by Cora Bissett, Music and Lyrics by Kathryn Joseph & Cora Bissett and co-produced with the Grand Theatre, London, ON.  Performances begin April 4 through 26, 2020.

Kidnapped as a teenage girl, Ma has been locked inside a purpose-built room in her captor’s garden for seven years. Her five-year old son, Jack, has no concept of the world outside and happily exists inside Room with the help of Ma’s games and his vivid imagination where objects like Rug, Lamp and TV are his only friends. But for Ma the time has come to escape and face their biggest challenge to date: the world outside Room.

The Toronto Premiere of INDECENT by Pulitzer Prize-winnerPaula Vogel,directed by Joel Greenberg is a Studio 180 Production (Oslo) and stars Jessica Greenberg, Jordan Pettle, Sarah Orenstein, Tracy Michailidis, Alex Poch Golden, Jake Epstein and Dmitry Chepovetsky.

In 1923, after celebrated European productions, the Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s drama God of Vengeance set the stage for an explosive moment in theatrical history. The evocative work of Jewish culture was praised and criticized for taboo themes of censorship, immigration, and anti-Semitism. 

Inspired by these true events and the controversy, Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel tells the behind-the-scenes story of the courageous artists who risked their careers and lives to perform a work deemed “indecent.”  On stage May 5 through 24, 2020

All three Off-Mirvish shows will play the CAA Theatre. 651 Yonge St, Toronto

Tickets for the three Off-Mirvish shows are available at www.mirvish.com or by phone at TicketKing at 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333. Tickets can also be purchased in person at all Mirvish Theatres. Group orders of 10 or more save 25% and may be placed by calling TicketKing.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.