Julie Fox’s clean set works well in The Best Brothers. Pictured, Daniel MacIvor and John Beale

Julie Fox’s clean set works well in The Best Brothers. Pictured, Daniel MacIvor and John Beale

I often feel like I am on a desert island when I watch theatre.  Those around me are enjoying the sunshine and swimming in the surf and all I long for is to be fed and have a motorboat swoop in and rescue me.  This was precisely my experience watching The Best Brothers at Tarragon.  The audience appreciatively guffawed and seemed to be swept up in the tale but I was not enjoying the ride in the least.

Daniel MacIvor is one of my favorite playwrights who has won many well-deserved awards for his work, including the Governor General’s Award.  Marion Bridge and You are Here are two plays that I adore, so it pains me to say that I did not care for this script and I really wasn’t a fan of the acting either.

The play centres around two brothers: Hamilton (Daniel MacIvor) and Kyle (John Beale) as they deal with the sudden death of their mother Ardith ‘Bunny’ Best, in a ridiculous accident involving a drag queen named Piña Colada who squashes Bunny during Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade.

The two brothers come together to sort out their mother’s affairs, respond to condolence letters, write the eulogy and decide what to do with the deceased woman’s dog Enzo, a beast who managed to destroy Hamilton’s $250, 000 kitchen reno job in a matter of hours.  The brothers are forced to confront their jealousies and the complicated relationship they had with their mother.  Hamilton, the more together brother, struggles with the closeness that Kyle seemed to share with their mother.

Both actors also take turns playing Bunny.  Through these monologues we find out about Bunny’s history and her many failed relationships.  Her only lasting love, it seems, was with her beloved dog Enzo.

MacIvor does have some funny lines and tender moments in the show but this truly was one of his weaker pieces.  It was also muddied by the direction of Dean Gabourie who seemed unable to choose a specific style of acting to go with.  The only choice should have been for the two actors to attack the script with 100% honesty, thoughtful listening, and truly diving into their character’s pain.  Instead, the choices seemed thin and one-dimensional.  There was too much mugging, indicating, pushing and over-acting throughout.  As a result, what could have been a funny piece became increasingly irritating.

Julie Fox’s set is clean and contemporary.  A long middle space of green, with sliding panels making subtle shifts in place with the brothers’ minimalist apartments housed on either side of the stage.  Itai Erdal’s lighting was rich and striking.

The Best Brothers isn’t MacIvor’s best play by a long shot.  His work usually has such depth and beauty but this material seemed frivolous in comparison.

The Best Brothers runs to October 27, 2013

Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace, 30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto, M5R 1X3

 

Tickets range from $21-$53 (including discounts for students, seniors and groups)

Tickets can be purchased through the box office at 416.531.1827 or visit www.tarragontheatre.com

$13 Rush Tickets at the door Fridays (on sale at 6pm) & Sundays

Tickets can be purchased through the box office at 416.531.1827 or visit www.tarragontheatre.com

About The Author

Nicole Fairbairn spent most of her adult life in Vancouver but decided to make Toronto her home four years ago and she’s loving every minute of it. She began writing for fun and it’s turned into a great passion. She’s an avid supporter of the arts and enjoys experiencing the many wonderful cultural events this city has to offer. When she’s not writing, Nicole enjoys reading, ice skating, salsa dancing, travelling and hanging out with her cat. Favourite Place in Toronto: Distillery District with its beautifully restored Victorian buildings, great cafes, stunning galleries, hip boutiques and vibrant theatre scene.

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