White Wedding was such an uncommonly cool theatrical experience. Playing in the upstairs hallway of the Artscape Youngplace, this Toronto Fringe show is a site specific piece that used its space to its advantage. The show explores unrequited love, the ways in which nostalgia can affect our choices and memories, and whether or not love actually conquers all.
As the audience trickled in, actor Dave Martin eased us into the wedding mood by playing an acoustic version of YMCA, which I thought was a hilariously apt choice. This calm didn’t last for long though, and soon all the drama that accompanies a wedding descended upon us.
The show used the space spectacularly and incorporated a well-conceived explanation for why the wedding was happening here into the script. With the actors constantly flowing in and out of stairwells and music playing faintly in the background, it really felt like you were on the outskirts of a wedding reception.
The cast were all quite strong, and together created a wonderful ensemble show. I especially enjoyed the performances of Cass Van Wyck as Heather and Lauren Wolanski as Michelle. The dynamic between these two was so mystifying, and it made me want a prequel to this play starring just the two of them. Van Wyck was heartbreakingly vulnerable in all of her scenes, and Wolanski made strong character choices that really worked.
The difficulty I had with the show was that the seating was arranged in such a way that it was hard for anyone other than the front row to see what was happening on the ground. Unfortunately, this was where most of the action was blocked, so I missed out on seeing a few key moments.
Despite this minor issue, I had a wonderful experience watching White Wedding. If you’re looking for a unique, lively evening, please come check out this show — its sure to get a wonderful reception.
Details
- White Wedding plays at Artscape Youngplace Upstairs Hall. (180 Shaw St.)
- Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
- Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
- Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
- Content Warnings: Sexual Content, Smoking, Mature Language.
- The Fringe Festival considers this venue to be wheelchair-accessible.
Performances
- Friday July 7th, 09:00 pm
- Saturday July 8th, 02:00 pm
- Saturday July 8th, 06:00 pm
- Saturday July 8th, 09:00 pm
- Sunday July 9th, 02:00 pm
- Sunday July 9th, 06:00 pm
- Sunday July 9th, 09:00 pm
- Thursday July 13th, 09:00 pm
- Friday July 14th, 09:00 pm
- Saturday July 15th, 02:00 pm
- Saturday July 15th, 06:00 pm
- Saturday July 15th, 09:00 pm
Photo of Daniel Cristofori, Kayla Whelan, and Ermina Pérez by Gerald Gilmore