There are times when you leave a theatre thinking about the deeper meaning of what you’ve just witnessed. And then there are times when you leave wondering what on earth you just watched.
MONKS, now playing at Tarragon Theatre, falls firmly into the second category.
Created, directed and performed by Veronica Hortigüela and Annie Luján, this hour-long production is less a traditional play and more an exercise in theatrical absurdity, audience participation and unapologetic silliness.
And somehow, it works.
The premise is wonderfully simple. Two medieval monks have been left alone in their monastery while their Abbot ventures into town. Free from supervision, they invite a group of strangers, otherwise known as the audience, inside for a little entertainment.
What follows barely resembles a conventional storyline.
There are lentils to count, a donkey to tend to, monastery chores to complete and increasingly ridiculous situations that require the audience’s assistance. But rather than building toward a clear dramatic conclusion, MONKS moves from one absurd encounter to another, frequently abandoning anything resembling narrative structure in favour of another laugh.
And there are plenty of those.
Hortigüela and Luján are skilled physical comedians, committing completely to their exaggerated characters. Their expressive faces, awkward movements, ridiculous costumes and playful exchanges create much of the humour without requiring elaborate scenery or complicated theatrical effects.
But the real third character in this production is the audience.
Throughout the performance, the two monks venture into the crowd, recruit unsuspecting volunteers and encourage everyone to become part of their increasingly chaotic world. Some audience members embrace the opportunity with remarkable enthusiasm, adding their own personalities and unexpected contributions to the proceedings.
Others are understandably less certain about what they’ve signed up for.
That unpredictability is both the production’s greatest strength and one of its limitations. The energy of the performance depends heavily on who happens to be sitting in the room and how willing they are to play along.
On the evening we attended, the audience clearly enjoyed itself. Some participants became almost as entertaining as the performers, creating moments that simply couldn’t be replicated at another performance.
It’s a reminder of what makes live theatre unique.
Still, MONKS is not without its frustrations.
The humour can become repetitive, the plot is almost nonexistent, and some sequences feel stretched beyond their natural conclusion. There’s a point where the sheer volume of silliness begins to overshadow whatever larger message the creators might be trying to communicate.
The production eventually reaches for something more reflective, exploring connection and the value of simply being together. It’s a welcome change in tone, although the emotional moment doesn’t entirely compensate for the loose structure that precedes it.
But perhaps expecting a tightly constructed narrative misses the point.
Rooted in classical clown traditions, MONKS is more interested in creating a shared experience than telling a conventional story. Its humour is sometimes clever, frequently juvenile and occasionally downright bizarre.
Yet watching an audience collectively surrender to the ridiculousness has its own appeal.
It’s also refreshing to see this kind of performance at Tarragon Theatre, a company often associated with challenging Canadian dramas, complex characters and harder-hitting contemporary storytelling.
Not every production needs to tackle a major social issue or leave audiences emotionally exhausted. Sometimes theatre can simply invite people to play, laugh and enjoy an hour of nonsense together.
Having previously enjoyed sold-out runs at the Toronto Fringe Festival and international recognition at the Edinburgh Fringe, MONKS clearly has an audience that appreciates its unconventional approach.
Will everyone love it? Probably not.
Those looking for strong storytelling, character development or sophisticated humour may find themselves wondering what all the excitement is about.
But for audiences willing to leave their expectations at the door, embrace a little embarrassment and become part of the performance, MONKS offers a genuinely entertaining experience.
It’s weird, it’s silly, and at times it’s completely ridiculous. But judging by the laughter in the room, that’s exactly what many people came to see.
Performance and ticket information
MONKS
Tarragon Theatre, Extraspace
30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto
Extended through November 15, 2026
Running time: Approximately one hour, no intermission.
Tickets start at approximately $62 for regular admission, with eligible discounted tickets available for students and arts workers. Prices and availability vary by performance.
👉 Tickets and performance schedule: https://tarragontheatre.com/
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