After-parties can get pretty rowdy, but you wouldn’t expect that from two professors and their wives in 1962, would you? Yet that’s exactly what we witness in Edward Albee’s classic work Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? This production, directed by David Agro, uses the intimate venue of the Red Sandcastle Theatre to make this an inescapable and unforgettable experience.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? takes place in the home of George and Martha; George is a History professor at a local college where Martha’s father is the president. They’ve been carousing all night at a faculty social and invited a newly appointed professor and his wife, Nick and Honey, over for a nightcap. What starts out as a simple invitation turns into a stream of confessions and tricks, with the help of copious amounts of alcohol of course. The intensity mounts at a very steady pace throughout the story, making Nick and Honey, as well as the audience, more uncomfortable as it goes on. While the ending is ultimately crushing, you get the sense that Nick and Honey have had an unexpected glimpse into their future, a well-timed warning as to who they could become.

This was my first encounter with this play (wild, I know). I’m glad I saw it in such a close setting for my first time; this is an intimate play, it takes place in a living room and deals with very personal issues. I was shocked at some of the topics Albee dared to broach in this play; from eugenics to abortion, there was a lot going on, heck there was even an Ayn Rand book amongst George’s collection. There’s also this incredible break-down of the nuclear family in this play; both couples want that 1950’s idea of a home with a yard and children, everything they sold Americans on during that time period. Yet there’s no sign that any of that is going to come to pass for either couple, especially not George and Martha. By intermission, I could fully understand how this play has become the paragon of American playwriting which it’s seen as today; from the subject matter to the intricate conversations and talking over one another, this play is a marvel. I’m actively looking forward to being able to revisit it in the future; it’s such a nuanced story that it’s worth several viewings and/or readings.

While the main set itself was quite simple, an element which I truly enjoy is the art which is hung on the walls of George and Martha’s living room. These incredible pieces have been made with covers and pages of books. While I normally don’t condone the destruction of books, these are such interesting and beautiful pieces of art that I couldn’t help but admire them. Added to the fact that there’s books on or under every flat surface in the room, it’s easy to tell the kind of people they are, or maybe want to be, from a quick glance. The costuming for this production was also fantastic; I really like the dichotomy between Martha’s mod/flashy dress and Honey’s simple one. You get the idea that Martha was once that sweet, innocent girl, but experience has made her the loud, brash woman she is today.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? has a strong, talented cast with founder David Agro and Deborah Shaw leading the way. Shaw makes her presence known from the minute Martha enters and keeps that strength throughout the production. Her monologue in the second part of the show brought a tear to my eye; Shaw delivered it with passion and grace. Agro is at once the stereotypical bumbling professor, while also showing a very cruel side to George. When Agro’s character tells a story, the audience is so rapt you could hear a pin drop. Joining them as Nick and Honey are Josh Palmer and Chloe Matamoros, both newcomers to the Toronto theatre scene. Palmer gives a dazzling performance; you could see the constant anger bubbling under Nick’s skin no matter how hard he had to bite his tongue. Matamoros plays Honey with a sweet, put-on innocence perfectly befitting a little housewife of the time. Her bubbly performance makes the times when Honey shows her true self all the more jarring and fabulous. The chemistry between these four actors is superb; truly I don’t think the play could work properly otherwise, and they certainly make this work!

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? has an extremely limited run at the Red Sandcastle Theatre, closing on April 28. Make sure you witness this classic come to life before it’s gone! For more information and tickets, visit: https://zippysaidproductions.com/the-show

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Cover Photo: L-R Deborah Shaw, Josh Palmer, Chloe Matamoros, and David Agro. Photo by Neil Gibb

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