The harsh reality of caring for a pet is the knowledge that unless it’s a parrot or a tortoise, you are going to outlive that beautiful being who has brought so much love and joy into your life. But if you loose that beloved pet before its time, the loss can be unimaginable. Ethan Persyko channeled their grief into their new musical, GALLANO.H. Performed in Gallanough Park beneath the setting sun, this exploration of grief through song, dance, and storytelling leaves a paw print on your heart.
GALLANO.H is based on the true story of Persyko’s beloved family dog Bailey’s untimely death, and the grieving process which followed thereafter. While Ethan, the character (deftly portrayed by Anthony Diaz), attempts to process their grief, their Friend (beautifully played by Feden Kidane) is right by their side helping them.
Photo by Rain Chen.
The story itself is moving; there are few of us who have not been touched by the loss of a pet. However, Persyko’s protestations that this play was not about themselves, but a more universal theme is a little off the mark. The main character is clearly an avatar for Persyko, and Persyko has the lead vocals in every song, allowing their powerful voice to shine. This is clearly about their struggles after they suffered this great loss, with a line or two included about the park itself and how the title fits in with the performance space. There’s nothing wrong with this; often it’s from the telling of a very specific story that we find material we can all relate to. Part of me wishes that the singularity of the events detailed in GALLANO.H was more fully embraced rather than an almost apologetic attempt to make it feel more universal.
The songs themselves are simple and elegiac; the plucking of the guitar and four-part harmonies under the lead vocals give a haunting quality to the songs. They punctuate the text at moments of great emotion for Ethan, allowing us further into the depth of their feelings.
Photo by Rain Chen.
Throughout the story, there are discussions of silence and how it can feel during these times of great grief; how they can seem all consuming in their silence and yet that quiet is where Ethan is searching for Bailey’s presence. Yet there were a few too many moments of prolonged, almost anticipatory silence in GALLANO.H. This is likely due to opening night jitters, and hopefully some tightening up will occur in future performances. However, Ethan and Friend’s final journey into the beautiful sounds within the silence were only enhanced by the hum of the cicadas in the trees.
One of the highlights of the production is the four spirit dogs who accompany Ethan on their journey. Played by Camila Leon, Emilia Carpineta-Gaul (who’s also the music director), Jayden Tinianov, and Sumer Seth, these four dance, sing, and play cute little dogs throughout the performance. They are impressive and expressive performers, using their whole bodies to embody the painful emotions expressed through the piece.
Photo by Rain Chen.
GALLANO.H is a beautiful tribute to Bailey; you can feel the pain Persyko had endowed into the text, and I couldn’t blame them for wanting to cuddle something soft as this deep wound is reopened in front of them. Though it’s only running for a few performances, this is certainly a remarkable second mainstage show for this relatively new company in Vaughan.
GALLANO.H runs at the Gallanough Amphitheatre until July 30. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/gallanoh-the-musical-premiering-july-28-30-tickets-1471487170739?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&keep_tld=1
Cover Photo: The cast of GALLANO.H. Photo by Rain Chen.
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