Reviewing Mary’s Wedding

Switching Styles’ very own Dylanna Fisher is reviewing Mary’s Wedding. Presented by Edmonton’s very own Citadel Theatre, “Mary’s Wedding” is a fantastic, sensory experience.

“Forward, the Light Brigade!”

Was there a man dismayed?

Not though the soldier knew

Someone had blundered.

Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die.

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

Excerpt From the Charge of The Light Brigade by Lord Alfred Tennyson

Introduction

Emotional. Exhilarating. Immersive. That’s how I’d describe “Mary’s Wedding”. The Canadian classic itself was fantastic. The actors tugged at the heartstrings throughout the play. Tai Amy Grauman and Todd Houseman delivered a breathtaking, emotional performance.

The Cast and Crew

“Mary’s Wedding” was originally written by Stephen Massicotte and adapted by Tai Amy Grauman, who also plays Mary, to bring together a tale of beautifully woven woe.

Jann Rodgers directed the entire play, highlighting her strength as a director. Granted, the actors didn’t need much directing. As a two-actor play, it was dynamic. With any play with limited cast members, there’s a high chance for a repetitive and monotonous performance. This was certainly not the case with Tai Amy Grauman and Todd Houseman.

The Soundtrack

There’s such a profound impact that live theatre has on the senses. This is something that can’t be replicated in film or streaming services. I promise you.

Now, for one of the most impressive aspects of the play. The audio was fantastic. The background audio amplified each sensation and emotion. Not just the music but the sound effects and background audio created an immersive environment. The play started with the imagery of a field full of flowers, then a storm. Those storm sound effects carried a great deal of symbolism.

Thunder symbolized a flurry of emotions for both characters, but more so for [the male]. “One one thousand two one thousand three one thousand four one thousand, five one thousand,” was repeated throughout the performance, driving home the symbolism of highly emotional scenes. This symbolism is connected to emotions such as fear, anxiety, foreboding, and panic. This symbolism was continued within the war scenes, flashbacks, and the present-day with Mary.

With Sound Design by Dave Clarke and Original Music by Kathleen Nisbet, they combined their skills to make a beautiful soundtrack to the play.

The Context

Not only was it a high-quality performance thanks to everyone involved, but it also had a poignant message for Canadians. The context for this play is very sociological and political. Combining the efforts of the cast, the stagehands, and the overall crew made for an amazing time. The team at the Citadel presented an emotional love story set against the historical context of Canada’s role in WW1.

Charlie wasn’t considered a Canadian despite living in Canada his entire life. He fought and died for a country that didn’t see him as an equal. He fought and died for a country that still doesn’t acknowledge him or his family ties. If that wasn’t emotional enough, it tied into a love story. Arguably, he didn’t fight for his country, at least not really. He was fighting for Mary. That’s what made it so much sadder.

The context of racism was very poignant. Stephen Massicotte wove together a story that won several awards: the Alberta Literary Award for Drama (2003), the Alberta Playwriting Competition (2000), and the Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding New Play (2002).

Logistics Of Live Theatre

The Citadel Theatre provided an amazing experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout Canada, live performances are struggling to keep afloat. Whether that’s musicians, comedians, lifestyle speakers or actors, it’s been hard all around.

At the Shoctor Theatre, this two-actor play offered a show full of wonder, sadness, and love. Performing between August 28th and September 12th of 2021, “Mary’s Wedding” was a play to view for sure.

Final Thoughts

As with many other performances from  The Citadel Theatre, this was a beautiful experience. The Citadel Theatre is one of Edmonton’s most prominent live performance venues.

The Citadel Theatre explains on its website that it, “is committed to seeing our artistic community thrive. Learn about our many opportunities through auditions, play development, mentorship programs, and other artistic programming”.

For more information about “Mary’s Wedding” and other performances, check out citadeltheatre.com.