The Progressive Polygamists: A must-see show!

It’s ok to love them both!

Writer/Performers Emmelia Gordon and Pippa Mackie have crafted a winning confection that could have real legs developing and growing into something longer and greater than its already wonderful self.

 Taking the inspiration from real events in Bountiful BC, we are presented with Eden Grace Parker (Gordon) and Mercy Eve Parker (Mackie), two sister-wives (or Wivez as the button says) from Plentiful out touring BC to defend their faith, their commune/compound…er community from recent attacks. It would be criminal for me to spoil much more of the story/content of this hysterical piece, so I won’t.

Gordon/Mackie are not content with simple satire though, or simply satirizing Polygamists – walking a careful tightrope they dance wildly from savvy to daringly silly, preposterous to terrifyingly poignant, obvious to deftly ominous, carefully crafting what could have been a funny but trite or forgettable bit into something rare, a piece that dares to look just a bit deeper and challenge the audience.
There is lots of laughter here, but also some real pain, Gordon’s Eden especially hides something never fully revealed (and better so) that threatens to consume her, and Mackie’s sweet dizzy child bride Mercy bubbles with the possibly terrifying image of insanity, each performance one of comic genius that none-the-less speaks at hidden costs.
 
Gordon/Mackie wisely don’t ever judge their characters, they allow us to instead (I dare you not to), and then gleefully hoist us up to spin gently all the while feeling slightly awful (again I dare you not to) - unable to stop laughing, but perhaps no longer laughing at them but maybe in spite of our own flawed selves.

Music, cookies, and audience participation/coercion by two masters of the lightning ad lib all await those who wish to take the trip to Plentiful. Every person in the opening night audience seemed loudly appreciative of the trip. Certainly one of this year’s must see shows. (Pray to see it again in Pick of the Fringe… for the second time!)