About the show
Urban Stages presents the U.S. premiere of Daniel MacIvor's play about what is needed to repair a familial bond under the pressures of religion, recovery, and a ticking clock.
In 'Communion,' Leda’s born-again daughter shouts a painful truth: "People don’t have mothers like you." The gap between Leda and her daughter is filled with silence and anger. Upon the advice of a therapist dealing with her own host of troubles, Leda tries to bridge that distance and prepare her child for the calamity just ahead. But are some bonds too damaged to mend?
"Obie Award-winning Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor doesn’t disappoint in 'Communion.' In this compelling and moving drama we are witnesses to the lives of three women, each in a various stage of both exposed and metaphysical discomfort. Enough cannot be said about all three cast members who are absolutely outstanding in their flawless performances...Credit for this theatrical phenomenon of course goes also to MacIvor’s unwavering script and thoughtful direction." Full Review
“There’s surely a better (and funnier) play here than what comes across in this production. The interesting issues at stake (the values of psychotherapy, the conflict between atheism and evangelism, abortion politics, sexuality, etc.) all come off as little more than background color to a not very moving mother-daughter conflict. Let’s hope the upcoming stage adaptation of ‘Terms of Endearment’ provides the mother-daughter emotional heft that’s missing in ‘Communion’.” Full Review
"A puzzling play about three women...MacIvor lets the characters' stories evolve over 90 minutes of unsettling silences and verbal outbreaks...A questionable third scene comes months later...Both women are showing different sides of themselves and it is unclear what caused these transformations. MacIvor directs with an often sluggish pace, ending the scenes abruptly and leaving questions about these three lonely people who resist help from each other." Full Review
"There is so much wrong with this production it is hard to know where to start. First the direction: pregnant pauses last for what seems an endless amount of time. You want to scream, ‘Talk already!’ and then they do. Blah, blah, blah, endless words that mean nothing…This show is boring and endless…None of the scenes have any reality base…It is hard to comment on the acting as the play just left me cold." Full Review
See it if you enjoy intelligent dramas about mothers and daughters, and the different roads they take through life. Excellent ensemble acting.
Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with many Pinteresque pauses and silences.
See it if You enjot serious subject matter, clever writing, excellent acting.
Don't see it if You desire funny light-hearted material. Elaborate staging, movement.
See it if you are interested in what makes people tick. If you ponder about life and love. If you like plays that are thought provoking and dramatic
Don't see it if You do not like slow moving plays. If you want a whole lot of action.If introspective stuff is not your cup of tea.
See it if You'll be touched at the poignancy and the hurt that's revealed in the therapist's office. Takes place in "real time".
Don't see it if You don't want to hear the tales of hurt. But what a powerful play. 90 minutes.
See it if you like theatre that doesn't fill in all the blanks for you. Great writing and an excellent cast produce that magic shared theatre moment.
Don't see it if you have no experience or interest or empathy for understanding parents with addiction and their children.
See it if You want to be a fly on the wall during therapy session. The tense relationships between familial strangers drives this narrative.
Don't see it if It reminds you too much of your own therapy sessions.
See it if You look good drama and to be moved emotionally.
Don't see it if You like musicals and comedies.
See it if If you like plays that are deep & explore the depths of dyfunctional families... Love psychological observations. Embroiled entanglement...
Don't see it if You don't like serious drama that is quite intense!
See it if If you like well-acted shows about family relationships.
Don't see it if If you don't like shows dealing with religion, death or alcoholism, or you prefer shows with a lot of action.
See it if examination of mother/daughter and client/therapist relationships and a women's own clashing self-images intrigue you.
Don't see it if you are impatient with intense, slow client development and evolution and plays about women and relationships, not action or complex sets
See it if you've any therapy experience (provider, consumer), I think you'll enjoy the depth, delicacy & humor of the 3 actresses. They're great!
Don't see it if you don't mind reading between the (human-behavior) lines , which doesn't take much effort, you won't be confused or bored.
See it if You want to learn the way "Client Centered" (Rogerian) psychotherapy works.
Don't see it if You are impatient. The first act is very slow.
See it if you value the therapeutic dynamic with its necessary pauses for self-reflection and active listening, excellently mirrored by great cast
Don't see it if you want resolution / gratification for the characters, or seeking "proper" set design or continuous dialogue, or easily impatient/irritable
See it if You are interested in mother daughter conflicts and how it is trying to be resolved through therapy.
Don't see it if Mother and daughter issues don't concern you. You don't like the idea of someone getting therapy.
See it if you enjoy a good story and love theatre.
Don't see it if you're not interested in people's drama.
See it if you want to see a deeply human, touching and well crafted piece of art. An interesting format and a pure scenic design.
Don't see it if you cannot stand in your seat for 90 minutes watching a play that contains little to no physical action.
Also The play starts off slowly, It took a good 15-20 minutes for me to sta... Read more Read less
See it if You like heavy family conflict.
Don't see it if You like light and fluffy.
See it if well-acted play, with characters somewhat clear, and a scrip partially coherent and cohesive, perhaps done on purpose by author/director
Don't see it if If you do not believe in psychotherapy.
See it if You know Rogerian psychology and want to see its possible consequences, and if you like mother-daughter relationship dramas.
Don't see it if You are annoyed, bored, or impatient with people recovering from various extreme behaviors.
See it if you want to see some great performances
Don't see it if you don't like heavy-handed stories.
See it if Trio of actors do the best they can with the material; must trust the piece by seeing it through to the end
Don't see it if unimaginative direction; none of the characters are initially compelling; off-page backstory described in text seems more compelling
See it if you don't have anything to do
Don't see it if you don't have time to waste
See it if You like plays that are so slow you feel as if you could drive a train through the pauses between lines. Fly on the wall at therapy sessions
Don't see it if You want to see a well directed play that is original and holds your interest. Dysfunctional family plots are not your thing.
See it if you like slow, no moving action, actors working so hard to elevate material
Don't see it if like good writing and direction.
See it if you want to see 3 characters deal with extreme family dysfunction. An estranged mother, her therapist, and a born-again evangelical daughte
Don't see it if you're bothered by poor directorial choices which sabotage the play
Cast & Creatives (9)
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