Does life actually suck though? When you really break it down, can we actually say that life sucks? Vanya certainly believes so, especially after the events of the past few days. But author Aaron Posner doesn’t seem to agree, at least not with the ending he gives Chekhov’s classic in his witty adaptation Life Sucks. Directed by Tom McHale, this is the inaugural production for Outliers Theatre Collective, and they’re certainly making their mark in the Toronto theatre scene.

Posner’s text distills Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya down to its most pure ideas and character traits, and then gives them an interactive and modern twist. Nothing in this text feels out of place, rather it feels like this is how these characters should have been speaking the whole way along. Vanya plays into a Jewish stereotype, and it is absolutely perfect; it truly opened up another element of Vanya in my mind and left me feeling like this is how he’s meant to be portrayed. Babs (a combo of Marina and Maria) is a perfect comedic foil to Vanya. Pickles (or Waffles) remains the same agent of delightful chaos, just this time with knit puppets! (Chantal Bible provides these beautifully knit props for the show and this fellow knitter was blown away by them!) Ella (or Yelena) finally gets to tell everyone to just back off and leave her alone in a far more direct manner than the original allows for. The Professor is as pedantic as ever, the doctor is likewise as overworked and stressed. And poor Sonia is still madly in love with the wrong man. We lose nothing of the characters or the story and instead get a fourth act full of growth and gratitude which Chekhov’s text lacks.

Posner’s text is also very meta-theatrical, which is fitting for an adaptation of another play. While the characters do make pointed references to the fact that they are in a play, even speaking aloud when it’s intermission or the end of the show. However, there are other more playful changes which are made to remind us that we’re actively watching a play. One of them is the projection on the back wall of the stage to tell us the titles of the scenes. From quirky to heartfelt, these title cards give the audience an idea of what they’re in for. However the addition of direct address, and the expectation of response from the audience, truly sets Life Sucks. apart from the work its based on, while also providing the performers a chance to exercise their improv skills. The audience becomes a part of the development for these characters, while also adding to the hilarity of the performance.

The cast which Outliers has assembled for Life Sucks. certainly does NOT suck; these talented performers get to show their full range throughout the course of the play. Hayden Finkelshtain plays Vanya, and brings the right amount of chutzpah to this much beloved character. Finkelshtain’s emotional fourth act performance had me in tears the whole way home from the show. Kiana Woo’s Sonia is once again not as homely as the text suggests, and Woo’s performance makes Sonia an even more relatable character than previously written. Hilary Adams is absolutely a sexy ocelot of an Ella, showing us both her sultry and vulnerable sides through her portrayal. Lisa Norton’s comedic timing as Babs is spot on, and the care and compassion her character shows throughout the piece is heartwarming. Scott McColloch is clearly having such fun playing The Professor: using those “$9 words” and stealing the spotlight every time he’s on stage. Sean Jacklin’s Dr. Aster feels like every (accurate) representation of a burnt out millennial you find online, and it suits the good doctor perfectly. Finally, Jada Rifkin is a delightful ball of light in an otherwise gloomy setting as Pickles. From her pigtails to her infectious smile, it’s no wonder the other characters keep Pickles around.

In the final act of the play, there’s a scene entitled “Gratitudes” where Babs tells a story about her Zady and his practice of saying gratitudes before every meal. On our way home, my fiancé and I discussed how this is something we want to work into our everyday lives: a way to make bad days suck a little less, and good days feel even better. So yeah, life doesn’t suck.

Life Sucks. runs at the Small World Centre until May 10. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.outlierstheatrecollective.ca

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Cover Photo: From Left to Right – Jada Rifkin (Pickles), Kiana Woo (Sonia), Scott McCulloch (The Professor), Sean Jacklin (Dr. Aster), Hayden Finkelshtain (Vanya), Hilary Adams (Ella), and Lisa Norton (Babs). Photo by Outliers Theatre Collective.

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