REVIEW
Origin of the Species
Northern Light Theatre
Runs until Saturday, Oct. 27
ATB Financial Arts Barns
10330 – 84 Ave.
Tickets: Start at $20. Call 780-471-1586 or online at www.northernlighttheatre.com
Some of the most thought-provoking and interesting plays I’ve attended have involved a certain amount of confusion – the kind that leads to lively discussion during the car ride home.
Such a play is Northern Light Theatre’s season opener, Origin of the Species, now playing at the ATB Financial Arts Building until Saturday, Oct. 27.
Under the brilliant direction of Trevor Schmidt, the 75-minute production puts a fresh spin on history, especially that of women, in this well-paced, beautifully acted journey.
Time is a major theme in British feminist Bryony Lavery’s play. Through magical realism, Molly goes on an archeological expedition to the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania and smuggles home a bewildered four-million-year-old woman.
Molly affectionately names the ancient woman Victoria, after her grandmother. The comedy is not lost on the audience as the regally named Victoria first crawls around on all fours and slurps milk while hiding underneath a table.
Slightly bent at the waist, with fists instead of fingers clumsily grabbing tools, Victoria tentatively pokes at Molly’s treasures and clothes. As Molly teaches her words and the importance of critical thinking and imagination, Victoria gradually transforms from an ignorant creature to a proper and distinguished woman.
This two-hander is very demanding. However, Holly Turner as Molly completely charms as the older archeologist. As narrator, she initially breaks the fourth wall with a tremendous story.
She draws us into her universe, which according to our laws of physics is impossible, yet she creates a mesmerizing, hypnotic world. From the moment Turner reads the book of time, you hang on to every syllable as she recreates the beginning of the universe. In a way, she reminds me of a loving grandmother telling a child a bedtime story.
And Kristin Johnston as Victoria gives a performance worthy of a Sterling Award. From the moment she steps on stage, all eyes hang on every movement and sound she makes.
Dependent largely on making her thoughts and emotions known through physical and broad facial expression, Johnston creates a humorous yet compelling and touching cave woman that has the brain capacity to grow and absorb modern practices.
Much of the play rests on Johnston’s ability to create a sincere character who makes moments of discovery credible. What we see is a genuine character trajectory that goes from the inarticulate and unfamiliar to the eloquent and confident.
The play’s setting takes place in Molly’s drawing room and Trevor Schmidt, who also wears a second hat as set designer, has created a work of art.
The back wall facing the audience is a stunning façade, a massive floor-to-ceiling bookshelf studded with more than a half-dozen clocks, statuettes, platters and assorted knick-knacks collected from various travels to exotic locations.
The artifacts reflect Molly's cherished memories and one of Origin of the Species major statements: there is still a great deal of knowledge to absorb, and women need to continue defining their place in history.
