Yolande Ramsay for Curtains Up
Happiness is relative. It has a different meaning for each person. The play, “On This Day”, explores ways in which the road to happiness can lead to manipulation or miscommunication. In spite of appearances, the ideal situation may not be so fruitful.
This sharp dramedy tells the story of Henry and Sarah (Carlo Mestroni and Leni Parker), a long-standing cosmopolitan couple, who travel to the country to visit friends on the occasion of Sarah’s birthday. Along the way, the travelers accidentally hit a young woman, Grace (Emelia Hellman), with their car. The girl insists that she is fine; however, Henry is determined to bring her to the party. Sarah agrees because they are late but she is also suspicious of Henry’s attention to the girl.
They finally arrive at the organic farm of their friends, Clive and Celia (Trevor Hayes and Stefanie Buxton). Clive and Celia are married with children and have left the modern world to “live off the grid”. The conversation around the wine fueled dinner party seesaws on the questions of life choices, the meaning of happiness, and if a couple can be happy with the same things. During the tense exchanges, the characters’ unfulfilled desires and blind faith emerge.
Clive loves the life they have made; Celia longs for something more. She has difficulty communicating her needs to Clive. The bickering culminates in the classic ‘You are not listening to me’ argument that many couples can relate. Henry and Sarah’s situation is darker. As Henry pulls away, Sarah tries emotional manipulation to hold on to him. Grace is the reality of life’s harsh truths. She is struggling with tragedy and how to live with the pain.
Mr. Hayes and Ms. Buxton, play the married couple with tenderness and acceptance of each other. Mr. Mestroni gives Henry an energy that can make the character somewhat sympathetic in spite of his many faults. Ms. Parker is very strong in portraying Sarah’s anger and deep disappointment. Ms. Hellman gives Grace a ghost-like presence as she floats in and out of the scenes.
The multi-level set gives a sense of depth of the vast world around the characters. However, the simplicity of the farm home conveys Clive and Celia’s plain lifestyle. Amidst the rustic home life, the space behind the characters seem to invite them to look beyond what is in their lives and hope for something more.
The play has many comic lines that do not come off as contrived. While the play can be rough with its emotional violence and intensity, it does not leave you with the futility of seeking happiness. It has a sense of the optimism for change and moving forward. The play moves briskly with surprising moments of calm and reflection.
Sometimes happiness is all around you with the people in your life, in your memories, and in your values. But, happiness cannot be forced or manipulated. It can create pain that is mistaken for something that is better than nothing.
‘On This Day’: Presented by Centaur Theatre Company. Directed by Alain Goulem. Written by Alexandria Haber. Show continues to March 6, 2016 at the Centaur Theatre, 453 St-François-Xavier, Old Montreal. Tickets $50 to $28.00. Call the box office at 514-288-3161 or go to www.centaurtheatre.com
