Missing the warmth of the sun or the sweet taste of mango juice? Then you need to get to the Aki Studio Theatre to see Cahoots Theatre’s SWEETER, in association with Roseneath Theatre. Written by Alicia Richardson and directed by Tanisha Taitt, SWEETER is a beautiful piece of theatre for the whole family about loving the land, and one another, and the losses that can come with growing up. Set in the sunny south in 1887, SWEETER lives up to its name and then some.
SWEETER tells the story of Ralph and his daughter Sweet Pea. They’ve journeyed to Florida in search of land to farm. They come across Mr. Zucker, who owns a farm in bad disrepair. Ralph agrees to help Mr. Zucker with his farm in exchange for the opportunity to own a piece of the land for himself one day. Ralph rescues a mango tree from a neighbouring farm, and tasks Sweet Pea with helping it grow. That Mango Tree makes some of the best mangoes around (amongst other special talents). Success makes Mr. Zucker become more and more cruel to his tenants as well as Mango Tree. In the end, Sweet Pea has to learn tough lessons of loss and growth, while she and Ralph both learn about the value of loving and caring for everything around us.
I appreciated that SWEETER did not, for a moment, feel like it was talking down to its audience, rather it deals with the subject matter in a way that allows everyone to understand while also sparking conversation once the play is done. While it stays away from more harsh language, it doesn’t stray away from some of life’s hardest lessons, making it a perfect play for younger and older audiences alike.
The set was whimsical yet firmly cemented us on a farm in Florida. Sim Suzer’s set design along with Shawn Henry’s lighting design give us this warm summer glow that we all so desperately need on these cold gloomy days! A.W. Nadine Grant’s costumes are beautiful; I particularly loved Dee’s costume (her parasol is perfection) and Zucker’s fancy vests. You can tell that the whole design team was united it their visions for this production as it comes together so marvellously.
SWEETER has a stacked cast of incredible talent bringing this story to life. Alicia Plummer stars as Sweet Pea and she is the definition of “though she be but little, she is fierce.” Her vivacity, ferocity, and sweetness give the play its heart. Daren Herbert plays her father, Ralph and there is a charm and kindness that just radiates from him. He gives Ralph a deep and wise countenance which suited the character perfectly. Mr. Zucker is played by the ever charismatic Sébastien Heins. He does a fabulous job of making Mr. Zucker seem so kind at first, and then letting the cruelty unfold as the play goes on. Emerjade Simms gives a beautiful performance as The Mango Tree. Her physicality and grace shine through in this role, and she truly is a joy to watch. Another bright spot in SWEETER is Uche Ama who plays Dee, the Sun (Sunny D? Vitamin D? I love it). They bring such joy, life, and warmth to this role. Honestly, just thinking about this cast again makes me smile, I still can feel the glow of their performance and how bright it makes you feel as an audience member.
SWEETER is the perfect sweet treat this holiday season; bring the whole family out for this delightful and engaging play that’ll leave you feeling like you’ve been basking in the glow of the southern sun. The production runs until December 17th, so make sure you get your tickets ASAP! For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.cahoots.ca/production/sweeter
Cover photo of Alicia Plummer and Daren Herbert by Foreshots Photography.
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