Spoon River

Spoon River ensemble. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Adapted from Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology (1915), Soulpepper's latest production is a life-affirming, foot-stomping musical tour-de-force composed by resident musical director Mike Ross. Director Albert Schultz has created a memorably immersive theatre experience, inviting the audience to become mourners at a funeral as we arrive through a side entrance past an open casket to take our seats in the "graveyard" beyond. 

Diego Matamoros introduces the evening with a eulogy for the deceased young woman we met as we arrived, opening the floor to voices of the dead as the residents of the rural Ameican town of Spoon River narrate their own epitaphs, telling of their lives, loves, losses and truths. Tales of jealousy, heartache, infatuation, drunkeness, imprisonment, murder, arson and untimely demise unite in an uplifting 90-minute exploration of the human experience.

Featuring eerie set and lighting design by Ken MacKenzie, and a knock-out ensemble of 19 performers, including Soulpepper veterans Oliver Dennis, Stuart Hughes, Nancy Palk, Raquel Duffy and Gregory Prest, as well as a cast of newcomers—the talented Frank Cox-O'Connell, Mikaela Davies, Katherine Gauthier, Hailey Gillis, Gordon Hecht, and Oyin Oladejo to name a few—this soulfully staged production is jocular and moving in equal parts. Mike Ross is gloriously in his element leading the actor-musicians throughout the piece. Each cast member contributes to the folky, bluegrass score with impressive skill, while Miranda Mulholland's spine-tingling violin stands out as particularly haunting and beautiful.

Spoon River is heart-stirring, boisterous fun that is not to be missed! Catch it until November 15 at the Young Centre. Visit soulpepper.ca for more information and to buy tickets.

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