The word “epic” barely begins to describe the powerful nature of King Gilgamesh & the Man of the Wild properly. Created by Seth Bockley, Jesse LaVercombe, and Ahmed Moneka, we are told the story of the Epic of Gilgamesh while exploring the modern-day friendship of Ahmed and Jesse. Directed by Bockley and starring LaVercombe and Moneka, King Gilgamesh & the Man of the Wild is a passionate and delightful tale of the importance of friendship, even for legendary kings.

King Gilgamesh & the Man of the Wild starts with Ahmed and Jesse, two immigrants (one Iraqi and one American) living in Toronto. They bond over their experiences living in a new place and seem to become fast friends. Ahmed tells Jesse of the Epic of Kings Gilgamesh and Enkidu, his friend. As the two performers act out both stories moving fluidly from one to the other, they tell stories of camaraderie and loneliness, victories and losses. This engaging story is accompanied by music throughout the performance, enhancing the vibrancy and passion of the piece.

You know you’re in for a great time when a live band walks out on stage! Comprised of Demetrios Petsalakis, Waleed Abdulhamid, Jessica Deutsch, Max Senitt and Selcuk Suna. Along with Moneka, they are the members of the Moneka Arabic Jazz band. The music in this production is entrancing; I had no idea that Arabic Jazz music existed, but it spoke to every part of my soul. My partner and I found Moneka’s other band, Moskitto Bar online and listened to them the whole way home from the theatre. This unique hybrid music is the perfect accompaniment to this story as worlds and histories fuse together through friendship.

I would be totally remiss not to mention the incredible set and lighting for King Gilgamesh & the Man of the Wild, designed by Lorenzo Savoini. Though the set remains the same throughout the production, with the brilliant lighting design I never felt unsure about what plot line we were witnessing. The simplicity of the table, chairs, rug, and piano allowed the set to be any and everywhere, making these temporal and spacial shifts feel effortless. This is certainly another feather in Savoini’s cap, and he’s certainly become a designer whose work I look out for and admire.

Jesse LaVercombe and Ahmed Moneka give stellar performances; they each embody several characters throughout the piece, at one point switching back and forth very quickly, and yet they didn’t miss a single beat. You can feel their passion for their art radiating from the stage as they sing and tell their stories. Moneka’s voice is beautiful and he practically glows when he sings. LaVercombe has an earnestness and charm that makes both Jesse and Enkidu loveable. Their entire bodies change with each character, allowing the audience to easily follow them on the journey. I was in awe of these incredible performers, how they interacted with the band, and their overall concept for this play.

Honestly, dear reader, if I have time to see this incredible play again before it closes on August 6th, I will. I wanted to watch it again immediately after it was finished. Full of heart, King Gilgamesh & the Man of the Wild is certainly one you won’t want to miss! Make sure you get your tickets ASAP for this limited run! Visit: https://www.soulpepper.ca/performances/king-gilgamesh-the-man-of-the-wild

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Photo of Ahmed Moneka and Jesse LaVercombe by Dahlia Katz