Waiting Room
Reviewed by Betsy Dee
The vibe of this play? Never Say Die.
After 10 years in the making, this play from Mylo Doyle takes us on an intense journey through the inevitability of dealing with potential—and, ultimately, real—loss. Set in a hospital waiting room (the universal locus for grief and irrational hope) Waiting Room brings to life the all-too-familiar feelings that come with being at the mercy of imperfect systems: Fear, frustration, anger—and community. That literal concept is layered deftly with the spiritual: One woman's wavering religious convictions, and one daughter's realization that a dysfunctional family will never see the relief of redemption.
Dana Leaman brings the religious conviction without being sanctimonious—and Rebecca
Casalino delivers as boyishly pessimistic but always in search of hope. Nathan Lise punctuates the beats of the play, ably capturing the essence of an overextended nurse. Every time the ringing phone jangles our nerves, or we hear the opening of the door to...we never really know where...we share the characters' helplessness and incredulity at the cruelty of being denied.
As in real life, Waiting Room leaves some mysteries unsolved and the ending is messy—but here, it's dressed in precision delivery as the two characters make the same phone call. The show is intimate and quiet, so be sure to sit up front to catch all of it. Including some of the TimBits.
Performance Details
Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)
Warnings: Coarse Language, Other Warnings
Other: Themes of Death and Religion, Mentions of Suicide, Mental Illness, Abuse, and Substance Abuse
Playwright / Director
Mylo Doyle
Actor
Dana Leaman, Rebecca "Johnny" Casalino, Nathan Lise
Stage Manager
Rowan Giesbrecht
