I must credit Port Perry’s Theatre on the Ridge (TOTR), the North Durham Region professional production company that has handled sensitive plays with respect in previous seasons. Two notable examples are: Innocence Lost: The Steven Truscott Story and Punch Up.
This March Break, TOTR presents Mark Crawford’s highly sensitive Boys, Girls and Other Mythological Creatures, aimed at children and young audiences.
Billed on the TOTR website as a thoughtful and hilarious play about transformation, the story is seen through the eyes of Simon (Michael Williamson), Abby (Hannah Forest Briand), and Zach (Cooper Bilton). The setting is a spring afternoon in the present, with flashbacks to long ago.
In Simon’s basement, there is a secret world of imagination and adventure. The stage features costumes on hangers, with various odds and ends of props and stuff crammed into boxes. A ladder is present, and upstage are curtains that allow quick costume changes.
Abby, the new kid in school, arrived just four days ago. Simon invites her over after school to work on a class project. They decide to create a play. However, Simon’s older brother Zach feels uneasy about their pretend play and dressing up. The story unfolds as they improvise a fairy tale about a magic prince, an evil king, a brave girl, and a fire-breathing dragon that seems to grow more real by the minute.
There are playful, childlike antics of kids pretending to be princes and kings. As a theatre piece, Creatures is magical because it captures the carefree, imaginative spirit of childhood, when kids feel free to pretend to be anyone and do anything—princes and dragons being just two examples.
Carey Nicholson keeps the show’s pacing lively with her attentive direction, never letting it falter. As a theatre creator and arts educator, she understands the importance of letting kids be kids and allowing their imaginations to flourish.
Michael Williamson, Hannah Forest Briand, and Cooper Bilton embody this childlike spirit with exuberance. They perform with uninhibited imagination, having great fun portraying younger characters, and their enthusiasm is infectious. They sometimes break the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience. Williamson and Briand play impressionable eight-year-olds, while Zach, the older brother, is just entering his challenging teenage years—he’s thirteen.
There is an endearing precociousness in the performances of these talented actors. Briand wears oversized overalls reminiscent of Scout’s in To Kill a Mockingbird. Williamson’s portrayal of Simon, eager and expressive, highlights his belief in the magic of make-believe. Cooper Bilton, as Zach, sports a backwards baseball cap, jeans, a t-shirt, and running shoes. He’s the stereotypical older-brother bully who picks on his younger sibling, much like a young Kiefer Sutherland picked on Will Wheaton in the film version Stand By Me.
However, the play may present challenges for some audience members, not because of the production but because of Mark Crawford’s script itself.
Creatures becomes sensitive as it addresses fluidity in gender identity. One character seeks to be recognized for his/her true self, defying chromosomal and scientific medical classifications. That character requests to be called by his/her new gender identity, which might raise questions for some families.
Families may have different approaches to discussing gender and sexual identity at home. Parents might feel it’s their responsibility to address these topics themselves rather than leaving it to others.
Nicholson is fully aware of this parental responsibility. Her vision for the play remains sensitive to various family values. She recognizes that Crawford’s script might not align with all families’ beliefs, whether or not they follow a particular faith.
Final Thoughts:
Theatre on the Ridge’s staging is a wonderful way to introduce children to live theatre.
It’s a lovely production, but parents should keep a few points in mind:
Given the play’s sensitive nature, parents are encouraged to do their due diligence. Watch the show together with your children, discuss it afterwards, and listen to their thoughts. Share your own perspectives, too. If you’re uncomfortable with the play’s themes, it’s best not to bring young children to this performance. Promotional material advises that this production is suitable for elementary school-aged and up.
Running time: approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.
The production will tour public libraries across Durham Region this March Break. For more information on show times, ticketing, and locations, visit https://theatreontheridge.ca/march-break-tour/
THEATRE ON THE RIDGE presents
Boys, Girls and Other Mythological Creatures by Mark Crawford
Directed by Carey Nicholson
Stage Manager: Joanne Norman
Sound Design: Lyle Corrigan
Production Design: Carey Nicholson and Cast
Technical Crew: Andy Williamson
Performers: Michael Williamson, Hannah Forest Briand, Cooper Bilton
