Our Little Secret, now on stage at the CAA Yonge Street Theatre, began at the 2023 Toronto Fringe, where it sold out its run and won the Patron’s Pick and Best of Fringe Awards.
Much of Our Little Secret’s charm rests on Tomaschoff’s affable presence and assured storytelling. Breaking the fourth wall at the top of the show, he shifts deftly from comedy to quieter reflection, trusting the material rather than pressing for an emotional response. Even when close to tears, he resists sentimentality; the restraint makes those moments even more affecting. Humour becomes both an invitation and a shield as he grapples with the unsettling discovery that the family he thought he knew is not quite what it seemed.
The story follows Tomaschoff, a 31-year-old ‘theatre kid’ who grew up believing he was an only child in Toronto. His discovery that he has more than 35 siblings worldwide (from a ‘randy’ biological father) prompts him to reassess his identity and his relationship with his parents. The solo performance examines how unexpected biological connections can complicate one’s understanding of family, identity and belonging.
Adam Pascal’s sensitive, human direction serves Tomaschoff’s cleverly constructed text well, giving its humour room to breathe and letting the emotional shifts register without fuss. Nick Rose’s sound design strikes a welcome balance between band and performer, ensuring Ryan Peters’ witty lyrics remain clear. With Nick Burgess as music director, Tomaschoff delivers the songs with assurance and confidence, while Stéphane Ménigot’s sharply angled spotlights draw the eye to key moments.
The production is less probing when it turns to the wider implications of Tomaschoff’s discovery. It focuses on his personal response rather than a fuller examination of the questions surrounding donor conception.
Spoilers follow.
The revelation that Tomaschoff’s parents used a sperm donor provides the story’s central turning point. It also introduces questions about disclosure and family history that receive less attention than the emotional journey. Tomaschoff repeatedly describes a loving upbringing and his parents’ consistent support. He continues to regard them as his parents, and the recognition he offers them at the conclusion is genuinely heartwarming.
The donor’s health and family history, however, remain largely unexplored. The musical raises these questions without examining them in comparable depth. Discovering more than 30 half-siblings carries considerable emotional and psychological implications. Although the musical acknowledges the magnitude of this revelation, it spends less time examining how such an unexpected expansion of one’s biological family might reshape personal relationships and one’s sense of identity.
That limited scope does not undermine the opening night performance, though it leaves aspects of the story unresolved. A compact solo musical cannot address every implication of the discovery, and some details may reasonably remain private.
Our Little Secret succeeds through its inventive combination of song and storytelling, supported by Tomaschoff’s engaging, understated performance. Its exploration of the broader questions is limited, but its account of identity and family remains affecting.
Running time: approximately 85 minutes with no interval/intermission.
The production runs to November 22 at the CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge Street, Toronto. For tickets: mirvish.com or call 1-800-461-3333.
DAVID & HANNAH MIRVISH present
A Russell Citron Production
Our Little Secret: A True New Musical
Written and performed by Noam Tomaschoff
Directed by Adam Pascal
Music by Ryan Peters
Created with Russell Citron
Music Director: Nick Burgess
Lighting Designer: Stéphane Ménigot
Set Designer: Bruno-Pierre Houle
Sound Designer: Nick Rose
Production Manager: Maya Royer
Bad Hats: Victor Pokinko and Matt Pilipiak
Stage Manager: Robert Harding
