Live Play Review: The Valley by Joan MacLeod; Directed by Roy Surete

I get to very few plays, but I am so very glad to have been able to get to this one. The title gave me no idea of the story and I had read no reviews.

The Valley spoke volumes to me about the lives that many of my clients, their families and the police encounter in the uncertain and chaotic worlds of mental ill-health and addictions. These four amazing actors took on incredibly emotional roles in this powerful presentation.

Each actor stepped forward and spoke of their encounters with police. Matt Reznek, a Vancouver-based actor debuted at the Belfry as Connor. Connor, a young man beginning university and a writer, descended into a deep depression. His demeanor and erratic mood swings were real and raw. Colleen Wheeler, a talented and experienced actor, played the role of Sharon, Connor’s mother. A great annoyance to Connor, Sharon was a concerned mother sending her son away for the first time. When he returned home, depressed and possibly suicidal, she became angry at the police and the systems that she believed neglected and ignored him. Luc Roderique, originally from Ottawa, also an experienced actor, played the role of a young man and new father. Dan, married to a young woman whom he met through his work, was the police officer that had to arrest Connor in his psychotic break and who had to endure the wrath of Sharon. Rebecca Auerbach, a graduate of Studio 58 with many theatre credits, played the role of Janie, Dan's wife. Janie, a new mom, had recovered from addiction several years earlier and struggled with her own depression. The dynamics between these four played out passionately this most distressing part of the lives of too many. The feeling of powerlessness of each of them was palpable.

The Valley has played at the Belfry Theatre from February 2 and continues through February 28, 2016.

“All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let 

the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.”

~ John Wooden