ReLapse - Worth Finding

“When she finds someone in the tide, her universe is forever changed…”

I was very excited to go and see this show as it is in a new venue on Granville Island Alder Bay Bridge. This is the bridge behind the False Creek Community centre on the far side of the children’s playground, I am telling you this so you know where to go when you get your ticket from the box office, there are no signs or indication it is there until you find it, in my case a few minutes after the show had started (and a couple also arrived after me). This aside the setting is amazing as the show opens you are witness to a stunning sunset behind the bridge. This is an outside site-specific show and as such you will also have all kinds of daily island noises to accompany this show, I found they were very complementary, a tot’s bike bell ringing as he peddled furiously across the bridge only added to the action and intensity of this piece. Bring a blanket.

This play opens with a very childlike character sifting through a small shoulder bag bringing to life a variety of children’s items and then handing them out to audience members, this is not the end of audience participation – one of my favourite things -. This physical monologue continues for around 5 minutes and the audience is enthralled by this, as was I. Then the handover happens the second character steps in as a chained and disturbed adult with various issues she is working through. This back and forward continues throughout the piece and makes a really nice contrast. The second character has the majority of the dialogue, most of which gives you snippets of where the story is going. With the longer dialogue, it did feel like I was being lectured, I am sure this is the desired feeling.

As a two-hander this is a strong piece that will strengthen as its run continues. Characteristically this is a good piece and has some very nice twists and turns. I can’t honestly say that the through line of the piece was clear and that I knew what was happening for the entire piece but I hope that this wasn’t the point of this production. It was a cohesive piece that was startling in places, funny touching and fiercely uncomfortable. I really would’ve liked the program to feature a short description of how the company got to the point they were at, the issues they were exploring or a talk-back session afterwards. I had many questions that this production had sparked and nowhere to ask them.  
Overall I would very much recommend this play it is a complex piece with many layers and levels. It is a tale with twists, turns and a very interesting creative team behind it. I always enjoy the challenge of new work and physical theatre and this doesn’t disappoint. Seats are limited so book ahead to avoid missing this great new piece.