Rifles

Kate Hennig and Cyrus Lane in Rifles. Photo by Max B. Telzerow.

Adapted from Brecht's Senora Carrar's Rifles (1937), Nicolas Billon's interpretation is a chilling reminder of the choices people face in times of war. Set during the Spanish Civil War, the play tells the story of Senora Carrar (Kate Hennig), a steadfast widow determined to keep her two sons, Jose (Araya Mengesha) and Juan (Wade Bogert-O'Brien), alive as Franco's army marches toward their village. She has already lost her husband to the cause, and doesn’t see the sense of fighting violence with more violence—a sentiment that the passive Father Francisco (Hume Baugh) echoes in a visit to the family home. But Senora Carrar’s brother Pedro (Cyrus Lane), and neighbours, Mrs. Perez (Barbara Gordon) and Manuela (Zoe Sweet), are suspicious of her motives, mistaking her inaction for treason.

Featuring haunting original composition and live foley by Beau Andrew Dixon, and authentic set and costume design by Erin Gerofsky, this absorbing 60-minute production speaks to the eternal human question: can bloodshed ever be justified? Michael Wheeler gets strong performances out of the cast, with Hennig delivering particularly powerful work as the conflicted Senora Carrar.

Relevant, resonant and raw, Rifles is a must-see at this year’s festival.

Rifles runs until January 19 at Factory Theatre Mainspace as part of the Next Stage Theatre Festival. Visit fringetoronto.com for more information and to buy tickets.

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