When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Do you see yourself, or do you see little bits of the people who made you: your mother’s hands, your father’s smile…and who’s tush is THAT? The world premiere of Rebecca Northan’s Stick Around, directed by Kevin Kruchkywich, delves into the life of Rachel as she approaches a milestone birthday. As Rachel discovers more of her features which resemble her mother, she also realizes the indelible mark her mother left on her heart. With a perfect mix of comedy and heartbreak, Stick Around will leave you with a smile on your face and tears in your eyes.

Here For Now Theatre is opening up their 2025 season indoors! They’ve got a new space right in the heart of downtown Stratford and the excitement was palpable on opening night. Freddy Van Camp’s set design makes great use of the new space as well, with a cozy kitchen occupying the playing area. A wicker display case, a kitchen table and chairs, along with crocheted accents make the set feel like you’ve absolutely been there before. The highlight of the design is the amethyst glass which gets added piece by piece to the set. The purple dazzles against the natural wood tones, making it a focal point visually and thematically.

Rachel is about to turn 46, literally in a few hours. And so she stands at the mirror, with a martini, taking inventory of her looks. She’s particularly not looking forward to this birthday: by turning 46, she’ll be a year older than her mother, Marge, was when she passed away, and that somehow feels wrong to Rachel. She begins to recount the story of Marge’s diagnosis: from appointments to planning for end-of-life, yet somehow Marge manages to do it all with a smile on her face and chasing the thrill of a good bargain. Interspersed with these memories are ones from Rachel’s childhood, allowing us to see Marge at the height of her ferocity. Venturing into uncharted territory and without Marge’s advice and example, how is Rachel supposed to keep going?

Chantelle Han stars as Rachel and brings a deep vulnerability to this role. Her interaction with the audience immediately puts us at ease, allowing us to fully embrace her and the story we’re about to witness. Daniela Vlaskalic’s Marge is the beating heart of this play; stern yet sentimental, the Marge of Rachel’s memory is one tough cookie. Vlaskalic is able to bring great levity with a straight face, and truly makes Marge feel larger than life. Eric Craig rounds out the cast playing several of the characters the mother/daughter duo interact with through their story. There was never a question as to which character he was playing; his whole physicality would shift with each entrance.

My mom was diagnosed with Stage 3A Triple-Negative Breast Cancer on my 22nd birthday. I was just one year younger than Rachel. However, unlike Rachel, I’m blessed to still have my mother here with me. My Fiancé lost his aunt to cancer when he was still a teen; like Marge she was given just a few months to live once the severity of the situation was finally discovered. Needless to say, Stick Around is certainly going to stick with us. However, what also stuck with us was the laughter throughout the piece; the tender moments, the inside jokes, and the bumbling men that Rachel and Marge encountered. Finding light in the darkness is one of the most important messages we can spread right now.

Stick Around runs at Here For Now Theatre until June 8. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.herefornowtheatre.com/stick-around

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Cover Photo: Eric Craig, Daniela Vlaskalic, and Chantelle Han. Photo by Ann Baggley.

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