Let’s Play House – Toronto Fringe 2011 Press Release

From press release:

Got problems? Let’s Play House.
— coming to the Toronto Fringe —

“Among the bravest stage projects I’ve seen.…
This is life at its most naked…. the actors escape gravity.”
–Michael Evans, SEE Magazine

“It’s heavy subject matter, but they keep it light and entertaining
while delivering a powerful message.” -Phil Dupperon, VUE Weekly

“I did not expect this …”
[4.5 stars] – Rick McConnell, Edmonton Journal

Set to birth a culture of ecological imagination & collective creation,
Jonathon & Carlynn are sidelined into caregiving:
Jonathon for his bad-attitude Alzheimer’s-mom; Carlynn for her mystery-pain son.
How can they play on the world stage if fate forces them into domestic drama?

Fresh from leading workshops and performing at FICCDAT – a conglomeration of international rehabilitation & caregiving conferences – Imagiscape makes its premiere at the Toronto Fringe.

“Let’s Play House” tests and showcases the power of art.Jonathon and Carlynn believedthat with artistic thinking, anyone can live a rich life, regardless of constraints. Then Alzheimer’s and mysterious pain struck their families. Sleepless nights and fruitless doctor visits depleted their energy. Frustration bordering on rage slowly snaked its way into their homes, until it seemed only a matter of time before rage would erupt into violence. When they’ve done everything right, but still everything is wrong, what can they do? Explaining their “artistic thinking” was not enough. Badgering made it worse. Just when it seemed art had failed, they decided to submit themselves to the test: to create theatre with their families about their families. In the process, all the characters changed.

Let’s Play House pits the creative spirit against its ultimate test – chaotic caregiving.
Can families rendered desperate by sickness create healthy homes?

P.S. It’s not about caregiving.
It’s about trying to change the world – and finding you can’t even change your family.
It’s about art – can theatre consciousness make any life rich regardless of constraints?
It’s about trying to evolve from consumers to creators.
It’s about trying to renovate your family without making everyone hate everyone.
It’s about … caregiving.

George Ignatieff Theatre
15 Devonshire Place, Toronto
(just south of St George subway station)
Parking lot next door.
Wheelchair Accessible from parking lot.
Tickets: 416-966-1062 (starting June 13)
or fringetoronto.com

Friday, July 8 – 8:45-9:45
Saturday, July 9 – 1:45-2:45
Sunday, July 10 – 3:00-4:00
Monday, July 11 – 10:15-11:15 pm
Wednesday, July 13 – 5:45-6:45
Saturday, July 16 – 12:30-1:30
Sunday, July 17 – 7:30-8:30