The final production of Factory Theatre’s season of Myth-makers is the world premiere of Colleen Wagner’s brilliant play Armadillos. A meta-theatrical journey into the Greek myth of Thetis and Peleus, Armadillos explores how the stories we tell affect who we are. Directed by the inimitable Jani Lauzon, featuring an incredible cast and stunning design, Armadillos is not to be missed.

The myth of the marriage of Thetis and Peleus has two very different narratives: the more widely known one involves Peleus capturing and forcing Thetis to lie with him, while an earlier version has the Peleus being humbled by the goddess Thetis and the two forming a union of marriage. Armadillos invites us to think about the profound differences between these two myths as the characters themselves analyze the roles they’re playing in telling this story. One of the notions Wagner puts forward in this play really got me thinking: the characters talk about how the opposite of love is chaos, not hate. We see this idea play out in the final scenes of the play, and I was fascinated with how everything turns out. Armadillos is certainly a play that will leave you thinking about the themes and ideas long after you leave the theatre.

Trevor Schwellnus’ design for this production is truly awe-inspiring: the white swirls evoking the mountaintop clouds where Olympus is said to sit, while the lights behind them flashed a myriad of colours depending on which god or goddess entered the scene; Thetis’ entrances and exits are absolutely dynamic. This is complemented by Jawon Kang’s gorgeous costume design: an incredible hybrid of modern and ancient elements, the costumes the performers wear in their play are beyond imagination. I enjoy how elements of their characters wardrobes also carry over into their life outside of the theatre as well; there’s a beauty in the subtlety of it which I greatly appreciate.

I was floored when I first saw the pure talent assembled for Armadillos. Ryan Hollyman’s Zeus/Jay is exactly the kind of man Zeus would be in a modern context: a passive misogynist who clearly doesn’t hear what he’s saying as he’s saying it. Hollyman has a charm about him that radiates through his characters and makes him a joy to watch. Zorana Sadiq gives a touching and powerful performance as Hera/Sofia, women who have experienced a great deal in their lives and despite their desires, understand the reality of their situation. Sadiq pours such passion into this role; you can feel her energy come through in every moment of the production. The goddess Thetis, and the actor Karmyne, are delightfully brought to life by Mirabella Sundar Singh. Singh is such a versatile actress and I feel as though she gets to really showcase that versatility with this play. Paolo Santalucia rounds out this stellar cast as Peleus/Dyrk. I love how Santalucia plays these characters as just a little off-of-centre, quirky in a way you’re hoping ends up being harmless. He is magnetic in Armadillos and has amazing chemistry with all of his cast mates. This ensemble makes this show a must-see event.

Armadillos is a beautiful re-centring of the female in a male-dominated society. By going back to our foundational myths and stories, Armadillos is able to create something new and unique. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.factorytheatre.ca/shows/armadillos/

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