Toronto Online Review: Daniel MacIvor's 'House' at Factory Theatre
Joe Szekeres, Chief Toronto Critic
Well, I wasn’t too sure what to expect in reviewing a streamed production of what Factory’s Artistic Director, Nina Lee Aquino, called a classic of Canadian theatre. Tonight’s one night only staged presentation of ‘House’ by Daniel MacIvor would have been the actual opening to close out Factory’s 50the season celebration. Ms. Aquino reminded us at the top of the production to be aware we have entered a different realm of presentation given the pandemic restraints under which we find ourselves currently (and probably for some time).
And it’s true. We can’t expect a professionally produced play under these current world circumstances. Instead, what I gleaned from Ms. Aquino’s opening: we should focus first and foremost on the story itself. If there were any glitches technically and/or virtually through the Zoom conference for whatever reason, viewers were to try logging in once again.
I’ve always been curious about Daniel MacIvor’s plays as a good number of them contain really odd characters. In ‘House’ Victor (the solo character) is not odd in his own words. Instead, he calls himself “fucked up” and that certainly is the stronger revelation. A strong symbiotic chemistry of collaboration between Director Ms. Aquino and Kevin Hanchard created a very real portrayal of a hurting and visceral man who was doing his best to keep it all together even though he is on the “precipice of a nervous breakdown”, according to the online press release/email invitation I received.
Further information about the press release reveals that ‘House’ is classified as a “stand-up-sit-down-comedy nightmare about Victor, the saddest man in the world. His sister is in love with the dog. The one Victor loves does not love him, and Victor has no where to live.” Although I was enjoying tonight’s production in real time, I couldn’t shake the reality I felt as if I was watching television from my computer.
In thinking about this now, this worked marvellously for this one night only presentation which was tweaked by playwright MacIvor for this purpose. My computer became a house for Victor where he does open the door to me and spoke to me quite openly and raw a few times about his desires and dream. Those moments where Mr. Hanchard spoke directly into the camera where all I could see were his lips, teeth and slight goatee made me a tad uncomfortable at times, but I saw a veritable performer tonight who found the peaks and valleys of emotional intensity and depth.
I did learn Mr. MacIvor first played Victor years ago. MacIvor was present at tonight’s reading. I did listen to the post show conversation after the production. One of the questions asked was whether Mr. Hanchard felt any pressure in knowing that the playwright was present. Part of that question also asked how Mr. MacIvor felt in watching Mr. Hanchard playing the role.
What impressed me was the professionalism exhibited between these two dynamite figures within Canadian theatre today. Mr. Hanchard spoke about his utmost respect for Mr. MacIvor, but Hanchard did not want to play Victor in the same way. Hanchard did not see MacIvor play the role so he had nothing to draw from. Mr. MacIvor spoke teasingly how he never took his dog out for a walk as he was watching so that was good. He then went on to praise Mr. Hanchard for finding Victor.
This ‘House’ was a haunting production from a creative team who faced the current pandemic challenges head on.
Nevertheless, I do look forward to returning to the actual theatre again where we, as humans, gather together in sharing the same space, in experiencing the range of emotions and in discussing the influence of the story on each of us individually.