Morro and Jasp: Save the Date is being presented by U.N.I.T Productions as part of the 2020 Next Stage Theatre Festival. The show was originally performed as part of the 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival. It’s the latest installment in the on-going adventures of two clown sisters. I had never seen any of their previous shows, and I was glad to finally be able to catch one. I found it gentle and charming – a perfect antidote to all the bad news out there.
This time around, Jasp (Amy Lee) is getting married! She and Morro (Heather Marie Annis) need to figure out what that will mean for their relationship. And they’ve got a wedding to plan. Jasp is bossy and has big dreams for her big day. Morro is confused. She wants to help but is bereft thinking about a future without “the only forever she has ever known.”
Both characters are delightful, and Lee and Annis clearly have great rapport and chemistry. My favourite bits featured Morro. Her physical comedy was top notch, particularly when she modelled the various veils she creates for Jasp. I also loved her in the dress shopping scene. I don’t want to give away the gag, but I thought it was genius even though I could see it coming a mile away.
The show hits all the highlights of the engagement period including finding a dress, a cake tasting, and the bachelorette party. Anyone who has ever planned a wedding or watched a friend plan one will relate to the emotional ups and downs as well as the inherent ridiculousness of many rituals and traditions.
This resonance was evident in the enthusiastic response of the audience throughout, as well as everyone’s willingness to participate in the show. Morro and Jasp had us all up and dancing for the bachelorette party, and a few audience members really got into the spirit on stage. It was a blast and very funny throughout.
Watching the show brought back memories of my own wedding. Though I had a great time then, I now know it would have been even more fun with red noses.
Details:
- Next Stage Theatre Festival performances are being held at Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst St.)
- Single tickets are $18 (tickets purchased online or by phone are subject to a $3 fee). Money-saving passes are also available. See website for ticketing information.
- Showtimes listed at Morro and Jasp: Save the Date
Photo of Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee by Samuel Engelking