THE THING BETWEEN US by Alison Lawrence (mcguffin company). At Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace (16 Ryerson). Runs to October 19. Pwyc-$30. 416-504-7529. See listings. Rating: NNN
The term “frenemy” is a recent invention, but it certainly applies to Linda (Emily Hurson) and Shannon (Mary Francis Moore), the women at the centre of Alison Lawrence’s fascinating if uneven new play.
The women’s strained relationship goes back to childhood, when Linda’s parents take in the young girl after Shannon’s father dies and her mother leaves to “recuperate.”
The precocious Shannon is manipulative and wily, but she’s full of charm, knowing how to get what she wants from Linda and, to a lesser extent, Linda’s generous, concerned mother (Randi Helmers). As the two get older, however – the play spans several decades – Shannon’s problems become more serious than spying and skipping school. And Linda constantly comes to her rescue.
There’s sensitive writing in the early scenes – when Linda calls her father’s being away for work “a sacrifice,” it’s obviously something she’s heard from her parents. And there are some intriguing ideas in here about selective memory.
But the later scenes aren’t as rich, particularly around Linda’s character. And there’s something missing from the bookending structure, with scenes at a funeral. You can also see Lawrence struggling to combine a portrait of female friendship – something akin to an Alice Munro story – with elements of the thriller genre.
Still, the actors, directed by Aaron Willis, with Joe Pagnan’s simple but effective set design and lighting, are a joy to watch. Helmers’s authoritative mom has a proudly earthy streak, and Hurson and Moore evoke the posture and cadences of kids beautifully.
Moore, seen too infrequently on local stages, deserves special mention for making Shannon’s desperate pleas and excuses sympathetic. Her character really believes what she’s saying, and that’s the sad thing.
Read our interview with Alison Lawrence and Mary Francis Moore here.
