Dear Lev,

You don’t know me, but I’m lucky to get to see your Uncle Andrew’s work here in Toronto. He’s written a play about your great-grandfather, your pradid in Ukrainian, and he’s written it to you. To help you, and frankly all of us, understand a little bit more about the world as it is and as it has been. And, most importantly, The Division talks about your uncle’s hopes for your future, for our future.

After the passing of Andrew Kushnir’s grandfather, he writes an obituary for him in the Globe and Mail. His grandfather had been a watchmaker for CN Rail, amongst other things, and Kushnir gets to celebrate all of this in his beautiful memorial to his dido (Ukrainian for grandfather). However, a single comment left on the obit sends Kushnir on an international journey to find out more about his grandfather’s past and what it meant for him to be a part of the First Ukrainian Division. His quest for more knowledge about this army division, how or if it was linked to the Nazis, and how his grandfather then made it to Canada takes Kushnir to Ukraine, Poland, Italy, and England, all with his dido’s pocket watch and travel papers held close to his chest.

Sim Suzer and Niloufar Ziaee have created the epitome of a grandparent’s basement for The Division: with wood panelling covering the entire wall of the Studio Theatre, green carpet and hand-made blankets, it immediately feels cozy and familiar. The unique element lies in the craftsman’s table which dominates the space, covered in clocks and tools of the trade. The table is later transformed into a car (with table lamps for headlights), various stools or pedestals for exhibits, always making the most of the intimate space. I particularly loved the use of the slide projector to not only show some of the real images which Kushnir took on his trip, but also to help tell us know where and when the different parts of the story are taking place.

The Division made me cry; Kushnir talks in the play about how he began to take recordings of his dido when he would tell him stories, especially in the later years of his life. At one point, late in the play, we get to hear one of these recordings and I couldn’t help myself but to cry a little. Firstly, to hear his grandfather’s strong accent and the grand nature of his speech is amazing – it’s exactly as he’s described and portrayed in the play. But I also felt a deep sadness: my grandfathers passed when I was 4 and 14. I don’t have any recordings of my gramps, and have long since forgotten what his voice sounded like. The personal nature of The Division, and yet the larger experience which it speaks to, allows us to feel an instant connection to these people and the emotional exploration Kushnir is embarking on with his pilgrimage.

The cast of The Division delivers some of the most impressive performances I’ve seen thus far this year. Daniel Maslany stars as Andrew Kushnir; he gives a vulnerable and heartfelt performance, while also having impeccable comedic timing. Karl Ang, Ivy Charles, Mariya Khomutova, and Alon Nashman play a variety of people encountered by Kushnir along the way. Ang has an undeniable stage presence which translates into every character he plays. Charles brings a lightness to all of her parts, even the ones which are a tad more serious. Khomutova’s tenacity shines in this play; I particularly enjoy her role as the Ukrainian journalist as it gives her a little sharpness which is so different from her other characters. Nashman is enchanting, always making you want to hear more of what he has to say. Also, his impersonation of Putin had the audience roaring with laughter.

Dear Andrew,

As another child-free by choice Aunt of a bevy of nephews, I too look around our condo and wonder what’s going to happen to the mountain of books, folders full of playbills, and the various decorative plates which we’ve accumulated. From the opening lines of The Division, I was already on the same wavelength. Thank you for sharing this journey with us, for allowing us in to such a profoundly moving time in your life, and for the honesty with which you tell the story of yourself and of your people. The Division takes us through loss, discovery, and reckoning, to the birth of new life: a whole life cycle in 100 minutes. I feel honoured to have witnessed this work, and happily would give my time to see it again.

The Division runs in the Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest until May 17. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.crowstheatre.com/shows-events/the-division

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Cover Photo: Karl Ang, Ivy Charles, Daniel Maslany, Mariya Khomutova and Alon Nashman in The Division. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

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