Winnipeg-based dynamic duo We Quit Theatre took over the cabaret space at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre to present an anthology of short plays. Featuring We Quit Theatre’s co-founders Dasha Plett and Gislina Patterson, along with invited guests, this anthology was a deep dive into the breath and depth of queer storytelling.

805-4821

Not only is this the first piece featured in their anthology, it’s also the first play the two co-founders worked on together. Rather than being acted out, Plett was seated next to an overhead projector, which then allows the audience read the story. Along with the text on the projector, there were also gifs displayed throughout the story and certain text which was pre-animated and projected. A unique experience to be sure; you could hear a pin drop in that room, and yet it made our laughter at the comedic sections that much better. The story is simultaneously of Plett and Patterson’s relationship transforming from friendship to more, but then also of the narrator’s own transition, as well as healing from childhood trauma. While it dealt with a great deal of difficult subject matter, the overall feeling I was left with was the hope and brightness of the healing and love which ultimately won the day.

Throughout the play, Shakespeare’s Hamlet is referenced both in conjunction with a production which the two characters had worked on, but also to provide a touchstone for the narrator to help sort out the events of their life. I loved that during the “popcorn break” (which smelled amazing even through my mask), Plett donned the beer-can crown which was mentioned in the story. I thought this was a brilliant idea, as it not only held emotional resonance for them as an artist, but also provided a physical and visual momento of the stories we’re reading. I feel like I always find something new with Hamlet every time I watch it, and the ideas and perspectives given in 805-4821 certainly expanded that further.

Along with 805-4821, there was a short presentation of a new work by Sadie Berlin entitled This Alien Nation. Also using projection to aid in their storytelling, Berlin’s play takes place in a utopia where Blackness, queerness, and Communism rule the day (and honestly, it’s a utopia I hope I live to see). Their mix of live performance and video recordings gave the audience plenty to chew on (though they did the chewing in the one video segment). I think it will be fascinating to see how this piece develops as it becomes a fully staged entity.

I Am Your Spaniel, or, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare by Gislina Patterson*

I remember reading about this play when it was on at Summerworks and I was certainly intrigued. Little did I know that this would be my favourite show of the anthology and just perfectly up my alley! I Am Your Spaniel starts out with an engaging and insightful analysis of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Lead by Gislina Patterson, the beginning of the show was reminiscent of my university days: messy desks, technical issues, enthusiastic professors, it was delightful!

However, they take the whole thing to another level as the play continues, delving deep into their desires for the actions of the characters as well as their own personal desires. The focus of the discussion turns to power, who has it, and how does it affect our storytelling. Through examples old and new they demonstrate how wielding power also means control over how their story, and the stories of those around them, are told.

One of my favourite elements in this performance is how when we’re doing the textual analysis of the play, they focused on punctuation. They assigned each punctuation mark its own sound on a soundboard, so as they read through the text, the punctuation made its own music! It was as beautiful as it was brilliant, and brought together the scholarly work and the art perfectly. I would could have happily talked with both of them for hours about the work just from the beginning of the piece! I throughly enjoyed it.

Passion Play

Prior to this anthology, Passion Play had been textual: a book of erotic revisions of bible stories done in linocut illustrations. To be amongst the first audiences to witness the stories told live was a real treat! While Passion Play certainly had less of a cohesive plot line than the other two productions, what it totally delivered on was the ambiance and subject matter promised in the description. With choral versions of popular songs playing before the piece, and a whole box of candles being lit to burn throughout the performance, the mood was perfectly set.

The improvised stories told by Plett and Patterson were interspersed with musical pieces and bible readings from cassette tapes. The stories were modern and sexy, biblical and, most importantly, irreverent. The whole performance was tongue in cheek from the first moment to the last. The smoke-machine filled pseudo dance party at the end would make a far more interesting sermon conclusion than any Sunday service I’ve attended!

I’m so thankful that I was able to catch this anthology while these incredible performers were here in Toronto; they travelled a long way to be able to share their art with us, and I’m also thankful that safe spaces like Buddies in Bad Times Theatre exist for them to perform in. Keep an eye out for this absolutely fabulous duo who will hopefully be gracing our stages with their exceptional storytelling again soon. For more information about their work, you can check out their website at: https://wequittheatre.ca

*I wanted to note that at the performance I attended of I Am Your Spaniel, there was a small medical issue with an audience member during the performance. The staff at Buddies handled it very well. Most importantly, these incredible performers were able to stop the show immediately, and pick it back up with ease once things had been settled again. The professionalism in the face of surprises like that certainly deserves praise.

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Cover Image – illustration by Mitch Duncan, graphic design by Awake Studio

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