By Jessica Dionne for Curtains Up (@maccajess)
What happens when love is no longer enough? When everyday life becomes mundane, and when loneliness is no longer simply a feeling but rather a way of life? Award-winning playwright Colleen Murphy’s latest dark comedy The Goodnight Bird examines old love and the courage it takes to face the unknown.
When the lights go up the audience looks onto a beautiful and modern bedroom and are introduced to Lily and Morgan Beaumont, a married couple getting ready to retire – both for the evening and from their respective careers – when an argument about locking the front door leads to a night of complete and utter chaos. Visited unexpectedly in the dead of night by a stranger who has fallen from the roof onto their balcony, the Beaumonts’ lives are turned upside down as they try to cope with their prejudices and face their deepest fears and regrets.
Old wounds are ripped open and everyone exposed – physically and emotionally, but the comedic and even poetic moments reign in the chaos and force us to take a hard look at our own secrets.
The play is perfectly cast; Graham Cuthbertson delivers an electrifying performance as Parker the intruder, and the Beaumonts, played by Nicola Cavendish and Christopher Hunt, could not have been more suited to play opposite each other. It is a treat to watch them bicker and grow together, and at times you feel as though you should not be privy to the extremely personal and painful memories they share.
Definitely not afraid to tackle some of life’s darker issues in her plays, Colleen Murphy’s The Goodnight Bird takes a comedic approach yet shines an important light on mental illness.
If you’re going to see one play at the Centaur this season, make it The Goodnight Bird. With still two more to go in the 46th season, it’s without a doubt the best one so far. Don’t miss it and for goodness sake; don’t forget to lock your doors at night.
The Goodnight Bird runs until March 22nd at Centaur Theatre. For tickets, call 514-288-3161 or visit www.centaurtheatre.com
