An old-time soundtrack including “Cheek to Cheek” and “Anything Goes” sets the tone for a humourous and touching play by renowned Canadian playwright Norm Foster. Foster uses the follies and foibles of aging to lead the audience towards a heartfelt message of not letting life pass you by.
Jonas and Barry in the Home sees Barry (Kent Allen) struggling to find purpose in his life now that he has moved into a care home at the age of 67. His daughter (Abbey Thiessen) works at the home and is trying to help her father find some energy in life when a new resident, Jonas (Blaine Hart), arrives with energy to spare. The two old men clash and bond, and are hurled into a search for meaning with plenty of banter and silliness.
As Dancing Sky Theatre’s first performance on their indoor home stage following the COVID-19 pandemic, this play has a perfect blend of heart and humour.
To help the audience along the emotional road, clever banter and jokes had the theatre roaring with laughter. The matinee performance on May 1 held a generous crowd of older patrons, and they were howling through the entirety of the play.
From gleeful jokes about sex and genitalia to maudlin quips about death that are as contemplative as they are funny, the content is engaging and funny for a younger audience as well — but it is built for a crowd that can more readily relate to aging.
A few of the jokes are cheap laughs or rely on the political incorrectness of senior citizens, but the vast majority of the humour is layered, rapid, and witty. Jonas and Barry threaten to “unleash a senior apocalypse” on another man — but it was the audience that was truly on the receiving end, evidenced by the inevitable fits of laughter.
The humour aids and blends with the emotional parts of the story, but poignancy of the characters hits home through the comedy. In a rare quiet moment while reminiscing about the past, Jonas remarks to Barry that “it’s lovely back there, and sometimes I worry I won’t return.” The relationships among the characters feel real and layered — and invite the audience to connect with the message that it is important to live before you die.
The script is another work of art from Norm Foster, a Canadian writer known for writing relatable, layered, and grounded characters — and this show is no exception. Their lives and relationships are not perfect, but there is something to draw in all audience members.
The performances of Allen, Theissen, and Hart brought a fabulous script to life. Their comedic timing, grounded presence, and natural gravitas drew the audience in and balanced the comedy with the drama.
Allen, a legend of Saskatchewan theatre, has a Jeff Goldblum-like persona that makes him captivating to watch. His delivery of a monologue about sheltering from a storm with his father was particularly impressive and beautiful. Thiessen’s balance of wit and emotion created a nuanced and subtle performance that gelled incredibly well with Allen. Last but certainly not least, Hart brought a dramatic and overemphasized flair that fit perfectly for the flamboyant role of Jonas, and made his more serious moments all the more memorable. The trio makes a perfect cast for a fantastic play.
Dancing Sky Theatre in Meacham is a cute country theatre, and its friendliness and charm is a fabulous fit for a play laden with charm of its own. It is unquestionably worth the springtime drive to go see this show.
Dancing Sky Theatre’s production of Jonas and Barry in the Home runs on select days from April 29th to May 15th, 2022. You can purchase tickets online at dancingskytheatre.com.
