ME WITH YOU
Factory Studio
See show info here
Rating: NNN
After a long absence, a young man (Oliver Georgiou) shows up unexpectedly in Toronto to stay with his sister (Myrthin Stagg) for five days. When she reluctantly takes him in, cracks in their relationship quickly surface forcing them to confront a lifetime of family dysfunction.
Backed live onstage by musician Elliott Loran, whose adept percussion heightens the drama and creates continuity between scenes, the play combines physical theatre and text to explore how mental illness can shape and impact family relationships. The dialogue sometimes feels stilted, Stagg’s delivery can be flat, and it all wraps up in a trite way, but thanks to Brittany Larusic’s choreography, the piece soars when the characters interact through movement.
Dozens of cardboard moving boxes serve as props, set, and metaphors for the characters’ state of mind, also creating some fascinating visual effects. The company, Loose Leaf Theatre, is donating proceeds from the show to the CAMH Foundation.
