Is it a Movie? Is it a Play?
Reviewed by Kim Kaitell
Glitzy, glamorous, edgy, sexy.
The only thing missing from Heist now playing at The Grand Theatre was a high speed car chase!
The moment I entered the theatre I was gob-smacked by the edifice of movie screens towering to the rafters and surrounding a black, minimalist stage floor. The excitement set in.
I am a huge fan of heist/crime/spy thrillers, and had been anticipating the opening of this very new and modern play for some time. (Heist ran only once before nearly one year ago in Calgary at Vertigo Theatre with very positive reviews.) I was curious, I’ve seen many movies and television series in this genre, but never a play.
How would it be staged?
About 3 years ago playwright Arun Lakra was given a challenge: take the sizzle of a Hollywood heist movie and turn it into a play for the stage. At first, he refused. How could one even approach what seemed an insurmountable task? And then one day he had an inkling of an idea and it began to grow. And then the writing began. And then he delivered.
I admit I was worried that the massive Imax-type screen bracketed by a stack of multiple box screens would overshadow the presence of the actors, however once petty thief and mastermind Marvin (Devin MacKinnon) began the story telling in his lilting Irish brogue, the screens somehow magically and appropriately faded from being the main character into being a quiet backdrop. And so, the planning for the caper began.
All the main characters one expects in this genre were introduced one by one, each of course with their own roles to play to succeed in the challenging robbery of a highly expensive and highly protected ruby. (I won’t give anything else away). Along with MacKinnon, there is pretty boy Ryan (Callan McKenna Potter) who knows how to play the long con, hot-headed muscle and comic relief Kroger (Emilio Viera) and of course an evil nemesis with a thick European accent known only as The Spider (Belinda Cornish).
Also, in the carefully crafted line-up a computer geek and an acrobat. Notable in these two latter roles are Priya Narine who plays Fiona the geek and Gillian Moon who inhabits Angie the pretzel bending aerialist. It was really fun to watch Narine play a loveable, awkward, brainy nerd who held the team together with her computer and her ability to hack into anything with a code. In most heist films this part is reserved for the male persuasion, and she expertly navigated her role. Gillian Moon is a real-life aerialist, acrobat, dancer and actor. I was completely mesmerized by her onstage feats and congratulate director Haysam Kadri for incorporating her mad skills into the storyline. There were some very daring moves. No technology involved!
There were so many twists and turns and surprises in this scheme that I actually lost track of a few important clues. I did my best to guess (and I sort of came close) but wasn’t expecting what happened in the reveal and of course it made so much sense! And really, that’s the best kind of story. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and excited until the very end.
So, did Lakra accomplish what he set out to do? Bring an action-packed heist to the stage? The glitzy, glamorous, edgy, sexy element of this spectacle could not have happened without digital technology and I’m okay with that. It was a visually intoxicating extravaganza that I was very happy to have witnessed.
Of course, using digital tech is nothing new to theatre. I however, have never personally seen the scale to which it creates an all-encompassing, immersive experience for the actors. It does pose a question about the future of stagecraft and theatre. Are we to expect more and more reliance on technology instead of thespians conveying a story with the strength of their acting abilities?
But that is just an aside. If you are looking for a really fun night out and something to talk about over a couple of whiskey sours post show, please, make sure you see this production. You won’t be sorry.
Heist in Co-production with The Citadel Theatre continues at the Grand Theatre until February 1, 2025. Tickets are available by calling (519) 672-8800 or visit https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/heist
Photo: Cast members of Heist: Priya Narine, Emilio Viara, Gillian Moon, Devin MacKinnon, Callan McKenna Potter. Photo by Dalia Katz.
Heist
By Arun Lakra
Directed by Haysam Kadri
Set Designer Beyata Hackborn
Costume Designer Jessica Oostergo
Lighting Designer Siobhan Sleath
Composer/sound designer Richard Feren
Projection/Video Designer Corwin Ferguson
Performed by Belinda Cornish, Devin MacKinnon, Callan McKenna Potter, Gillian Moon, Priya Narine, Emilio Viera
Grand Theatre, 471 Richmond St., London, Ontario
Spriet Stage, January 14 to February 1, 2025
Reviewed by Kim Kaitell