Dead Accounts – unexpected family reunion member sparks many questions – On stage March 3 to 25, 2023 (Toronto)

In Dead Accounts, a brother, a sister, a nearly ex-wife, a high-price secret, and a plethora of pizza complicate a family reunion. Jack’s unexpected return to the family home in Cincinnati throws everyone into a frenzy, and his sister Lorna needs answers. Is he coming home or running away? Where is his wife (who everyone hates)? How did he get all that money? Why did he bring so much ice cream? Dead Accounts tackles the issues of corporate greed, small town values, and whether or not your family will always welcome you back… with no questions asked.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW

Definitely one of the most entertaining productions of the season so far. A deep level look into a divided family that’s split over distance, morality, and money – $27 million in fact. That’s how much Jack has embezzled from the financial firm he works for in New York City. He explains it’s not really stolen money, as it’s from dead accounts, of individuals who have passed and left money in their accounts that the banks don’t track.

He arrives home wired up and out of control, signs of the frantic lifestyle he fell into after moving there from small town Cincinnati where his parents still live with one of his sisters. His out of control behaviour is causing him to go into yelling tyrants and over spending, especially on food, which the cast actually consume on set. Everything from ice cream and pizza, to Cheese Coney hotdogs. When his upper class ex-wife suddenly appears, she divulges all the secrets, wanting him to give her half the money as part of the alimony settlement. His religious mother suggests giving it to the poor to repent, while his sister is undecided on how to resolve things. It’s a confusing and convoluted situation that must come to an end one way or the other.

Dany Sevard gives a grand performance as the loud and boisterous Jack, while both JeN Hashimoto as his sister Lorna, and Neil Cameron as his friend Phil, earn accolades as well in their supporting roles. Great set design, and production work, including the accompany music to match the theme, such as Hit The Road Jack, and a track by The National.

There’s one more production this season, with Mending Fences, set to take stage April 28 to May 20, 2023. Also, announcements will be made soon on Players Theatre 50th anniversary programming happening next season.

Director Statement – Clionna Kenny

This is a story of the will to power, or what happens when one bites off more than one can chew. There is much chewing through American mid-western values, and great effort to digest the crippling effect of the global financial crisis of 2008 on those already struggling with a little less in life. Self-worth, integrity, and morality, are all under the microscope here and I have enjoyed peering through that lens and sharing Theresa Rebeck’s play with Village Player audiences. 

Village Playhouse Theatre, 2190E Bloor Street West (Runnymede Station), Toronto, Ontario,
March 3 to 25, 2023 Click here for ticket, or call 416-767-7702

Masks are still required indoors at all times (except when eating or drinking).There will be six performances at 50% capacity for patrons who would still like to maintain physical distancing. Check here for details.

Cast – Neil Cameron as Phil, Maureen Lukie as Barbara, Dany Savard as Jack, JeN Hashimoto as Lorna, Candice McIndoo as Jenny.

Playwright: Theresa Rebeck, Director: Cliona Kenny.Producers: David Nicholson and Bill Hammond

About Theresa Rebeck, the playwright….

Theresa Rebeck is a prolific and widely produced playwright, whose work can be seen and read throughout the United States and abroad. Four of her plays have premiered on Broadway, making Rebeck the most Broadway-produced female playwright of our time. Other Broadway works include Bernhardt/Hamlet; Seminar and Mauritius (staged by Village Players in 2016).

Major film and television projects include Trouble, starring Anjelica Huston, Bill Pullman and David Morse(writer and director), “NYPD Blue,” the NBC series “Smash” (creator), and the 2022 female spy thriller 355.

As a novelist, Rebeck’s books include Three Girls and Their Brother and I’m Glad About You. Rebeck is the recipient of the William Inge New Voices Playwriting Award, the PEN/Laura Pels Foundation Award, a Lilly Award and more. Closer to home, Ottawa Little Theatre’s 2018 production of Dead Accounts won the best production award at both the Eastern Ontario Drama League and Theatre Ontario.

About Cliona Kenny, the director….

Village Players is thrilled to have award-winning Cliona Kenny follow up our last play before the pandemic, Good People, with her second play with us – Dead Accounts. Her record of accomplishments for Toronto Irish Players include ACT-CO Thea awards as best director for Little Gem (2018) and best direction of an ensemble for Elvis’s Toenail (2015) (the playwright was her sister!). She had previously been nominated for her direction of Shining City, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, Juno and The Paycock, and Translations. Her Little Gem and Translations both won Theas in their year for best production. Her 2019 Good People with Village Players won a startling 9 Thea nominations, including Best Production. That shows the kind of first-rate performances she’s able to inspire in her actors – and which she is now doing again for the benefit of Village Players audiences.

An actor herself, Cliona’s roles have included Moll in Moll, Dophie in Midden, Eileen in The Cripple of Innishmaan, Mrs. Gibbs in Our Town, Maureen in The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Maggie in Dancing at Lughnasa, and Mrs. Tancred in Juno and The Paycock.

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.