Blueberry Toast by Mary Laws is something that you should see this year before 2018 ends. Its produced by Sugar-daddy Theatre Company at the Theatre at the Foundry and directed by Sue Diepeveen. The 1950’s inspired set was designed by Barry Altwig. Blueberry Toast asks you questions about what happens behind closed doors and what is kept secret. This production kept me thoroughly grossed from beginning to end, with an intimate setting, I felt like I was Big Brother and had front row seats to the devastation of a family. We follow the family on a Sunday. Somehow I can relate to this with my grandparents. Father sitting at the kitchen table drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper while the mother makes the breakfast and the kids are playing.
The script was intelligent and the actors were brilliant in capitalizing on the text as the show had a lot of symbolism. There was a lot of laughing as many could relate to how annoying our spouses could be and a lot of “wow, I don’t think you should have said that moments, too”, if you seem to value your life. Gavin Werner, played Walt, the stereotypical All-American father, bread winner, and a grump. Personally I didn’t like the character and Barb, his wife, was the ever so accommodating slave. Barb made sure that everyone is happy in the family but mostly concentrated on her husband who seem to have wandering eyes for someone. Marlisa Doubell’s portrayal of Barb throughout the show was captivating as she stuck to the period. This duo works well together and was perfectly cast. Their children Jack and Jill played by Nikita Latimer and Daniel Wolson were the ones to watch.
They had decided to entertain their parents through out the day with mini scenes that showed some parallel to their parents crippling marriage. For these youngsters, I was very impressed to be exposed to such text so young. When I was 11, I was playing with my Power Rangers let alone witnessing a demise of a family on stage. These kids shone like stars that they are. The only issue I did have was the acoustics of the venue which I struggled to hear some of the cast. This could easily be rectified with some alterations at a later stage.
I may sound a little vague in this review because this production, this show should be witnessed by you. Even though the show is set during the 50’s the subject matter is relatable today. Blueberry Toast put me on an unexpected roller coaster of entertainment and I urge to book your tickets to see this show. All you need to know is in the link down below
https://online.computicket.com/web/event/blueberry_toast_by_mary_laws/1272443698/0/90594277