On Thursday, February 9, The Belfry Theatre unveiled the heartwarming and resonant production of The Unplugging, written by Yvette Nolan and directed by Reneltta Arluk.
The play details the story of Elena, an Indigenous woman played by Marsha Knight, and Bern, a white woman portrayed by Lois Anderson, surviving in the cold Canadian winter after the eponymous event “the unplugging” and their subsequent exile from their village due to no longer being of childbearing age. Throughout the story we see Indigenous knowledge, heartfelt emotion, and a theme of returning from the brink woven into a truly wonderful experience that’s sure to enthrall and delight.
What’s most immediately apparent is the wonderful and deep stagecraft on display. Creative use of space, motion, lighting, and especially shadows make the relatively small stage truly come alive and draw the audience in. But sight and space are not the only ways in which The Unplugging immerses the audience in its bleak world.
Of particular note is the sound design, crafted beautifully by Krystle Pederson. From the rustling leaves and the chilling winds across the snow, the harsh environment becomes a character in itself. Beyond this, however, Pederson’s musical performances, which begin and end the production, are an utter joy and resonate well with the play’s themes. Those themes—knowledge, connection, generosity, trust, survival—are resonant in these digital times. Interspersed throughout the performance as an ever-present detail giving life and texture to the story is the Indigenous knowledge of survival and the land. Alongside this is the reminder of how much we stand to lose if we let such knowledge fade away into all-too-easily lost technology.
What makes these themes truly come alive are, of course, the performances. Played with heart, sincerity, and a good deal of comedy, the performances lend well to the characters they’re portraying. A few lines here or there might feel overacted, but it’s hard to complain about an over-expressed syllable when the whole of the play comes together so well.
Overall, this production of The Unplugging is well worth the price of admission, and will stick with you for hours after.
The Unplugging
Until Sunday, March 5
Various prices, The Belfry
belfry.bc.ca