The Story

Under a blanket of stars, the air is thick with the scent of pine and hot chocolate. A shepherd carrying a lantern leads a bundled up audience through a series of “stations” in a witty re-telling of the story of the nativity. With the beautiful natural landscape of the Evergreen Brickworks in the Don Valley serving as a backdrop, Theatre Columbus‘ The Story is performed entirely outdoors, and features a combination of music, comedy, and history.

The story of the nativity, a Christmas tradition, is known as one of wonder and hope. The Story begins with the introduction of three wise men (Neema Bickersteth, Sanjay Talwar, Jeff Yung) clad in elaborately colourful costumes by Catherine Hahn, and carrying gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They are clearly very confused, and interact with the audience whom they believe to be from the future.

The audience follows the confused trio into the heart of the Brickworks, led by the shepherd’s lantern, where we meet the young Mary (Haley McGee) and the passionate Joseph (also played by Yung), who have just had an argument. Their comical banter endears the audience to these two characters, who are rarely portrayed as the teenagers they are.

As the production continues, King Herod (Rylan Wilkie) is introduced as an angry monarch who cannot believe that a baby is about to be born who will, as the three wise men insist, “be a new kind of king.” Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel (played to perfection by Wilkie in another role) who runs giddily down a hill wearing a white robe and a flashing, battery-operated crown to share the news that she will soon become pregnant. What ensues after this meeting is well-known as part of the nativity story, but is told in a fresh, comical way.

The Story shines in its excellent use of the Evergreen Brickworks, a community environmental centre that allows visitors an escape from the city, with Toronto’s skyline sparkling in the distance. The production takes the audience on a journey, walking as part of a group while a choir singing traditional Christmas carols is never far behind. Volunteers with flashlights stay close by throughout the show, guiding the procession through five or six different locations. Theatre Columbus’s production of The Story is a wonderful way to spend a December evening. Remember to wear mittens, scarves, boots and wool socks—hot chocolate is available just before the show begins.

The Story until December 30th at the Evergreen Brickworks. Visit theatrecolumbus.ca for more information and to buy tickets.