Theatre Myth Collective is presenting the world premiere of Inge(new) – In search of a musical at the Red Sandcastle Theatre. Directed by Evan Tsitsias, this captivating story about an actress’ mid-life crisis is filled with delightful songs and pointed witticisms sure to dazzle audiences. You’ll certainly want to make sure you’re one of these first audiences to experience Inge(new) – In search of a musical!

I must start by giving major kudos to the writing team behind this play: Evan Tsitsias, Alexis Diamond, Rosalind Mills, and Julia Appleton. Not only does this story keep you on your toes from start to finish, it examines the very real problems women face in the entertainment industry. The songs were unique and wonderful while cleverly riffing on recognizable themes. They use every cliche in the book, and yet we all know how too true most of those cliches are. What makes Inge(new) – In search of a musical exceptional is the mystery surrounding how and where the lead character is experiencing everything we witness. It’s not clear if this is a dream, or some kind of No Exit style limbo, but this hyper-reality in which the character exists and is able to process her feelings creates a fascinating environment for the story.

An absolutely stellar cast has been assembled for Inge(new) – In search of a musical. Mairi Babb not only gives an incredible performance as Bridget, she does so with a mere 8 days of rehearsal before opening night! I think she’s fabulous, and I’m so glad that I got to see her in another role where she can showcase her beautiful voice. She’s a delight to watch, and Inge(new) – In search of a musical is no exception. Come from Away alum Astrid Van Wieren plays Gertrude, Bridget’s idol. Van Wieren’s sassiness and charm radiate throughout her performance; her quirky songs and diva characters make her instantly loveable and fun. It was truly a delight to get to see her perform here in Toronto. Elora Joy Sarmiento plays Joy, the young actress vying for the same role as Bridget. Sarmiento’s Joy lives up to her name and perfectly embodies the ingenue stereotype, making it all the more impressive as her character changes and finds herself. Her voice is stellar, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll be appearing in next. Rounding out the cast is Cory O’Brien as Max. O’Brien is hilarious in this piece, as his character represents almost every male stereotype in theatre (particularly musical theatre). His charm and suave nature made Max understandably irresistible, and his performance is worthy of each laugh he receives.

Inge(new) – In search of a musical strikes the perfect balance between discussing the long-standing issues women face in the entertainment industry and making us laugh at the absurdity of it all. It’s a beautiful piece and I truly hope that it goes on to many more amazing productions like this one! You absolutely have to check this out before it closes on June 4th. For more information and tickets, visit: https://redsandcastletheatre.com/tickets/

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Photo by Dahlia Katz