Theatre Review: The Best Brothers

Best Brother Daniel MacIvor

Last season’s hit Stratford Festival Production of The Best Brothers launches Tarragon Theatre’s 2013-14 Season.

Sad, grief-struck, anguish describe most funerals, yet here laugh-out-loud and hilarious work best.

The sudden death of their mother Ardith “Bunny” Best – in a ludicrous accident involving a drag queen, a loud- speaker and Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade – brings The Best Brothers together to sort out the details of the funeral. As they look to celebrate their mother, their relationship is tested while they plan the funeral, and wrestle with fundamental questions of love and family: who did mom love more and who gets the dog?

Daniel MacIvor along with John Beale recreate the roles they originated, in this heart-warming and hilarious two-hander. Best Brothers takes a comedic look at love loss and the family dynamic of siblings. Trust me when I tell you there was not a dry eye in the house and that the laughter was often only broken by audience snorts. Yes, some people snort when they laugh.  Lighthearted comedies always seem to have something you can relate to and the over-dramatization makes you feel better about your own issues as we can often all be over-dramatic. And I dare anyone to not find some similarity between themselves and one of the brothers.

The play was well-written, well-directed and well-acted. The main story line of the brothers arranging the funeral is interspersed with their mother’s monologue (played by both actors), which adds the back story that rounds out the play. The language is smart, fast moving and witty. The set and props are minimal but are well-used to convey location and build on the characters’ characteristics. The acting is just flawless, but that is what one expects when two veterans take the stage.

Best Brothers runs to October 27, 2013 at the Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace, 30 Bridgman Avenue. Tickets range from $21-$53 with $13 Rush Tickets at the door Fridays (on sale at 6pm) & Sundays (on sale at 1pm) and can be purchased through the box office at 416.531.1827 or www.tarragontheatre.com.