If you’re looking for a literary comedy, a clever and hilarious performance and a great time at the theatre, then you should hurry hard to watch Alberta Theatre Projects’ The Black Bonspiel of Wullie Maccrimmon. The production is such a fun story and is packed full of brimming talent, it’s definitely not to be missed.
The play, written by W.O Mitchell in 1951 and has had many productions across the country is loosely based on Faust legend. This production is set in the fictitious Wildrose, Alberta, and tells of Wullie Maccrimmon (Kevin Corey) a shoemaker and a part time curler who makes a deal with the Devil (Natascha Girgis), who just happens to show up in his small town. The deal is a bit unusual, because Maccrimmon doesn’t want money or power, but rather, he wants to win a curling match. Not just any match, but the McDonald Brier. The contract as written up by the Devil herself read that if Maccrimmon and his team of friends win a curling match against the devil and her team from hell, Maccrimmon will then go on to skip for the winning team at the Briar Cup. If Maccrimmon loses the match, he keeps his soul for the remainder of his natural life, then has to play on the Devil’s team in hell for all eternity. It’s a deal that Pipe-fitting Charlie Brown (Sheldon Elter) is the first to know and finally decides he is onboard with and they also manage to convince Malleable Charlie Brown (David Trimble). They just need to get Clock Shirley Brown (Kira Bradley) on the ice before they tell her what’s up. Busybody Annie Brown (Valerie Planche) has gotten a whiff of what might go down and she will involve Reverend Pringle (Trevor Rueger) because a bylaw is coming that outlaws curling matches of any kind on Sunday. When they show up for the match, Old Cloutie’s team is made up of MacBeth (David Haysom), Lizzie Borden (Emily Howard) and Judas Iscariot (David Sklar). The match is the second act of the play.
It’s a testament to Corey’s comedic chops that he is so even and unflappable in his delivery as Maccrimmon, because all of the characters around him get to run wild. He is the anchor and every comedy needs an anchor otherwise there is not calibration or balance. Girgis is a master of physical comedy and this role is made for her. She shines in this production and her timing and expressions are pure gold. The production has subbed in Lizzie Borden instead of the original script of Guy Fawks and it works really well with Howard gripping a broom with an axe on the other end. Sklar demonstrates his comedic chops and is a strong team member. It’s such a treat to see Trimble and Bradley on stage as it’s been such a long hiatus for both artists. They bring comedy and energy to their roles, while Elter is a great team member and his expressions are laugh out loud funny. Rueger and Planche are contrasting roles to the rest of the cast, but their steadiness and calm round out the cast. The other comedic star of the production is Haysom, whose lines are delivered with amazing comedic timing and had the audience in stitches. This clever play shines in the hands of this entire cast and credit is due for that to director Christian Goutsis.
The set design by Scott Reid is simple and complex at the same time. Maccrimmon’s workshop moves onto the stage and is complete with a selection of shoes and a heating furnace, while they flood the stage for the ice in the second half, so that they have a surface to play on. Caroline Broadley’s costume design has Lizzie Borden in a bloody apron and Old Cloutie in all black with a tail while Narda McCarroll’s lighting design has the Devil in subtle red lighting when it’s warranted, as well as indicating through light that the entire team is from hell. Reid’s prop design adds to the narrative and even makes sure that the rocks makes the right sound when they collide. It all works together brilliantly.
Sleep no more nights before you rush out to see this production. This play is a break from everyday life. It’s a curling match worth attending.
Alberta Theatre Projects’ The Black Bonspiel of Wullie Maccrimmon runs until March 11th. Tickets are available online.
Photo: Kevin Corey and Natascha Girgis in Alberta Theatre Projects’production ofThe Black Bonspielof Wullie MacCrimmon. Photo by Benjamin Laird. Set & Props by Scott Reid. Costume Designby Caroline Broadley. Lighting Design by Narda McCarroll.