The Valley

Michelle Monteith, Ian Lake and Susan Coyne. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

The nature of delinquency is held under a spotlight in Joan MacLeod's riveting Vancouver-based drama The Valley, now on stage in a new production directed by Richard Rose at Tarragon Theatre.

The play tells the story of a promising student and creative writer, Connor (Colin Mercer), who is diagnosed with clinical depression after a violent encounter with a police officer on the SkyTrain. The officer, Daniel (Ian Lake), is simply doing his job protecting the public from a young man in the midst of a psychotic episode—a duty that takes him away from his unstable wife Janie (Michelle Monteith), a former cocaine addict, and their nine-month-old son Zeke. After the incident Connor’s overbearing mother Sharon (Susan Coyne) accuses Daniel of wrongful conduct, believing he should have protected her son since he was clearly in distress. As the two families collide, the question of where to draw the line becomes increasingly blurred, and the only way forward is through compassion.

Rose’s production makes excellent use of the theatre space, with the audience seated on either side of Graeme Thomson’s versatile set, as the actors move in and out of scenes from four designated chairs. This immersive staging technique is especially powerful when Mercer remains on stage for the duration of the intermission. Combined with first-rate performances from the cast, and subtle, yet highly effective sound and lighting design, The Valley is a poignant and timely portrayal of life’s peaks and canyons. Don’t miss it.

The Valley runs until December 15 at Tarragon Theatre. Visit tarragontheatre.com for more information and to buy tickets.