The Chemainus Theatre’s new show is a quietly heartfelt play about moving through grief, however this is anything but a dour evening out.
It is also something of a love letter to music and its power to heal.
With The Piano Teacher, the Chemainus Theatre proves what can be done with a powerful script and a small cast of top-notch actors tackling a universally understood experience: loss.
In the immediate, it’s a slice of life about Erin, played by Rebecca De Boer, going to piano teacher Elaine, played by Erin Ormond, to help her get back to playing as a professional musician following the deaths of her husband and son. As she begins to heal through their sessions Erin navigates a new relationship with her contractor-turned-friend/love interest Tom, played by Victor Hunter.
Erin’s loss is the most heartbreakingly obvious — she’s lost the two most important people in her life, and along with them her ability to do what she loves, play music. De Boer is beautiful in the role, taking Erin from the brittle, shattered woman who can’t even touch the piano, to a woman ready to embrace life again. Her performance is masterful through the myriad emotions that make up her story.
Elaine’s loss becomes evident more gradually as the audience learns she has given up a potential career as a performer due to arthritis, and she lives constantly with the regret and uncertainty of whether she could have pushed through and succeeded despite her condition. It leads to some very human moments where her own emotions boil over and she missteps with Erin.
Ormond is wonderful as Elaine, bringing to life this complex, multi-faceted person who is both confident and not, successful in her own right, and yet unsure of her worth.
Hunter is completely charming as Tom, the slightly offbeat contractor who both literally and figuratively brings a lot more light into Erin’s life.
It’s an introspective look at inner landscapes and a developing friendship, but there are also times where the audience will laugh out loud, smile, and want to take up the piano. The show is a series of complex chords, a mix of different emotions, not just one note.
Music is perhaps the fourth character in the show. Its power to touch, create and express the gamut of human emotions is explored in the script, with the characters’ and the author’s love for it oozing from every pore.
The play’s author Dorothy Dittrich, who won the Governor General’s Award for this show, was in the audience opening night, and got to see the audience get to their feet as the show concluded.
Director Sarah Rodgers did an excellent job with the all-important pacing of the show. She knew just when to let it breath and take a beat and how to move it along so as not to get bogged down in the intense emotions. Lighting by Nicole Lamb played an important role in making this work, as did some very subtle costume design by Hannah Case. It’s notable how Erin’s clothing starts to include brighter colours and more fitted sillhouettes as she begins to come back to life.
Those who enjoy a really good play will not want to miss this one at the Chemainus Theatre. It’s on until Oct. 20. Go to chemainustheatre.ca for tickets.
Also in the audience for opening night was former NHL star Richard Brodeur, whose art is currently on display at the theatre.
