A unique, unconventional theatrical experience will take place at Toronto’s intimate Assembly Theatre, 1479 Queen Street West, February 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 2026.
And I’m not missing it. I know nothing about the script or the playwright, and I would like to go in cold, like the other patrons, with no prior knowledge.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour will “feature a different actor, a sealed envelope, and absolutely no rehearsal. With no director, no set, and no safety net, the performer receives the script the moment they step on stage. The actor performing each night is instructed to do no research about the play and just simply show up and read what’s contained in the envelope.” (taken from Assembly website)
Those in the arts community know how terrifying that prospect can be.
Bravo to the Assembly Theatre for presenting challenging theatre that explores the symbiotic relationship between performer and audience. What unfolds will be spontaneous, fearless, and thrillingly unpredictable, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for audiences and performers alike…No two audiences will ever experience the same production.”
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Cass Van Wyck, co-Artistic Director and Managing Director of the Assembly, and asked her why it is important to continue challenging audiences and artists at the theatre. For her, art is always meant to challenge, with a particular story structure, in a safe space. Artists and audiences need to be challenged to reflect on their own ideas and philosophies.
She and I shared a good laugh when she also said:
“The challenge might be just to put your phone down for an hour and a half, pay attention and be present with other people as you watch what’s happening in front of you.”
Amen to that statement.
According to Van Wyck, the Assembly presented the information above to the artists. Excluding logistical elements such as what time to show up and what to wear, that’s it. Nothing else. In Cass’s words: “Just show up and do it.”
Obviously, there is an online presence about White Rabbit Red Rabbit, and Cass knows one can’t stop anyone from doing a quick bit of online research in preparation. However, in the spirit of this upcoming event, this theatrical moment is meant to be in its purest, truest form: “an experiment…to challenge artists and performers to show up and go along for the ride.” The same applies to the audience. Just be open to the process, listen, learn, take it in and reflect.
“It’s another night at the theatre with a twist”, Cass smiles with a knowing wink on camera.
I’ll include the link at the bottom of the article listing who will perform each night.
I will attend the evening when Tony Nappo performs.
How he’s feeling about the upcoming experiment:
“Yeah, of course. A nervous little excitement. The usual fear of failing and looking like an asshole…so my process is to just not think about it until Saturday the 7th. Intentionally…I look forward to that challenge.”
While the media are invited to attend the performance, it will not result in a conventional written review of the evening. Instead, this reporting will be a challenge for me to write about the production without spoiling anything for future audiences. Again, while no two performances will be alike, my goal is to share the overall unique theatrical experience.
The only granular morsel of information the Assembly gives about White Rabbit Red Rabbit:
“The explosive 2011 premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Toronto’s SummerWorks Festival has been performed over 3,000 times, translated into 30+ languages, and has been performed by some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including John Hurt, Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, Bobby Cannavale, and Dominic West.”
The artists for each performance are listed at https://www.theassemblytheatre.com/whiterabbitredrabbit
I’ll report on the event after February 7 and will speak with Tony about the experience after his performance.
To book tickets, visit: https://www.theassemblytheatre.com/whiterabbitredrabbit
To learn more about the Assembly Theatre, visit: https://www.theassemblytheatre.com
