How much clutter do we drag around in our lives? Who cleans up the mess when someone passes away? Which is easier to get rid of: the junk or the emotional baggage?
Successions is a family drama that packs an emotional wallop. It is a tough, funny, emotionally brutal story on a messy dispute between brothers. It lays bare the crushing impact of accumulated pain and bitterness of dysfunctional relationships.
Set in a run-down home in St. Leonard, lawyer Anthony (Carlo Mestroni) and his chronically irresponsible brother Enzo (Davide Chiazzese) meet to discuss the succession of their late parents’ estate. Due to overwhelming debts, Anthony believes that the best course for everyone would be to renounce all claims to the property. Enzo, however, wants to buy his portion of the succession. He wants to live in the house and hopes his brother will help him, just as he had all of their lives. Anthony makes it clear he wants to cut all ties to the house and forget about the difficult family past. This opens a can of pent up anger. Cleaning out a house of pain will take more than a signature on a document. Yet, moments of humour give respite and insight into the emotional bond between the brothers.
The gathering is rounded out by Cristina (Tara Nicodemo), Anthony’s self-sacrificing wife, and Nat (Gita Miller), Enzo’s very pregnant girlfriend. The women try to bring reason and compassion to the escalating tensions between the brothers. But the men are so different from each other; a middle ground is almost as insurmountable as the debts.
The cast is powerful with energy that complements and fuels each other. Mr. Chiazzese is terrific as the loving but vulgar Enzo. Mr. Mestroni brings compassion to the put-upon Anthony. Ms. Miller sparkles and Ms. Nicodemo conveys poignancy to a wife who is trying to define herself within her marriage.
The sets look like many cellars or garages of hoarders; full of broken furniture, piles of papers, empty jars and pipes. The symbolism for unresolved issues is heavy, indeed.
When clearing out the closet, we keep items of use and get rid of the rest. But sometimes the entire closet needs to be tossed out. Some things are not worth holding on to as they will drag you down.
Photo Credit: Andrée Lanthier
Successions: Presented by Centaur Theatre Company. Directed by Tamara Brown. Written by Michaela Di Cesare. Show continues to May 6, 2018, at the Centaur Theatre, 453 St-François-Xavier, Old Montreal. For tickets call the box office at 514-288-3161 or go to www.centaurtheatre.com
