Heroes
by Gérald Sibleyras, translated by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Robert Ashton
Albion Theatre
September 25, 2022
David Wassilak, Will Shaw, Isaiah Di Lorenzo
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre
There’s a new theatre company in town, and its first play is an intriguing one. Albion Theatre is focused on works from the British Isles, and occasionally Ireland. Their inaugural production, Heroes, is actually French in origin, but this English translation by one of the UK’s most celebrated playwrights, Tom Stoppard, debuted in a critically-acclaimed run in London’s West End. As Albion’s first entry in its repertoire, it makes a quiet but strong impression, featuring excellent performances and thoughtful but somewhat slower pacing.
Heroes is classed as a comedy, but it’s not a laugh-a-minute type of show. It’s a more gentle, thoughtful piece, focused more on developing the characters than just getting laughs. It’s also deliberately paced to the point that it forces the audience to pay attention, and can drag in places if not well-paced. For the most part, this production is paced just right. The story follows a trio of French World War I veterans who are living in a retirement home for vets in 1959. They have each been there for a different length of time–Henri (David Wassilak), who lost part of his leg in the war and walks with a can, has been there 25 years; Phillipe, who suffers from period fainting spells due to shrapnel lodged in his head, has been there 10 years; and the semi-reclusive Gustave (Will Shaw), has been there six months, although he seems to see himself as something of the ringleader of the group. The three spend their days on a terrace of the home, passing the time sharing their opinions of the various residents of the home and the nuns who work there, reminiscing and bragging about past romantic exploits, as well as family difficulties, and imagining elaborate trips abroad, even going so far as to plan an escape to see a grove of poplar trees in which Gustave is fascinated. They also share an odd connection to a stone dog sculpture that sits on the terrace, often acting as if it is a real animal. There isn’t much in the way of plot–it’s more of a character study and a meditation on aging. loneliness, and the need for companionship, as well as the changes in society over time and attitudes toward the aging and veterans in particular. It’s clearly a comedy, with a humor that is sometimes subtle, sometimes mildly risqué, and sometimes with hints of darkness, as these three men know their time is limited and are struggling to maintain meaning in their lives.
The characters are well-drawn and the dialogue is well-constructed. The slower tone of this play requires engaging actors to keep the pace, and this production has found excellent performers. All three work together well, and the interplay between the characters is what makes the story here, with all three inhabiting their characters fully and portraying their quirks, annoyances, and endearing qualities with clarity and intelligence. Shaw as the somewhat bossy but insecure Gustave has memorable presence, and Wassilak as the more practical-minded Henri is also excellent, as is Di Lorenzo as the physically fragile but emotionally energetic Phillipe. All three lend a compelling air to the proceedings, as do their interactions with the one silent cast member, the stone dog statue, credited in the program as “Gérald Le Chien”.
The dog also contributes to the interest of the play in a different way, as he is frequently being moved around between scenes by assistant director/stage manager Gwynneth Rausch with a hand truck–I wonder how much he weighs. Trying to guess where the dog will end up next contributes to the comic tone of the show. The other technical qualities are also strong, including Brad Slavik’s simple but realistic unit set, Marjorie Williamson’s expert set painting, Nathan Schroeder’s excellent lighting, Tracey Newcombe’s character-appropriate costumes, and Robin Weatherall’s proficient sound design. The overall atmosphere of time and place is well-maintained, working well with the mood and style of the play.
Overall, while I think Heroes is something of a subdued choice for a debut production from a new theatre company, Albion Theatre has made a strong impression, especially considering the strength of the cast. It’s a thought-provoking show with some truly funny moments, as well as moments of poignancy. I’m looking forward to seeing more productions from this promising new company.
David Wassilak, Will Shaw, Isaiah Di Lorenzo
Photo by John Lamb
Albion Theatre
Albion Theatre is presenting Heroes at the Kranzberg Black Box Theatre until October 9, 2022
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