Saint John theatregoers have been itching to see another play since the Theatre New Brunswick (TNB) production of A Christmas Carol back in December. Yesterday, the waiting came to an end with Lungs, written by Duncan MacMillan and produced by the Murmuration Theatre Collective at the BMO Studio Theatre. This show was totally worth the wait!
The scene was set with wood chips encircling the stage and the seating all around it. The audience was asked to not enter the circle as they crossed to their seats.
Murmuration was formed in 2017 by director Lindsay Bell and the play’s cast, Emily Bartlett and Alex Goldrich. The three had worked together previously in the Saint John Theatre Company (SJTC) production of Pride and Prejudice in 2014. While on set, Bell saw strong casting potential for Bartlett and Goldrich and the three banded together to produce Lungs as the debut performance of their new theatre collective.
Emily Bartlett was raised in Saint John but born in Fredericton. In addition to Pride and Prejudice, she has also performed in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (SJTC) and Miracle on 34th Street (TNB). Bartlett completed the Acting Conservatory program at York University in Toronto and is now a professional actress with the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. Her television and film work includes The Listener, Reign, The Tenth Circle and countless commercials.
Alex Goldrich was born in Ottawa but raised in the greater Saint John region. Goldrich was a member of SJTC for many years before moving to Montreal in 2007 to work professionally as an actor and director. Goldrich’s theatrical credits include the starring role in Macbeth (Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company), Horatio in Hamlet (Persephone Productions) and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. It is not hard to imagine what Bell saw in these two; their onstage chemistry and intimacy was captivating.
Lungs is such an emotional show where the audience gets a firsthand look at a modern 21st century relationship. Right from the moment it begins with W and M—denoting “woman” and “man” when referring to the otherwise nameless characters—starting their heated conversation in Ikea about having a baby together, the audience is completely enthralled in this contemporary love story.
Amidst a world of such political and environmental uncertainty, W found herself completely taken aback when M brought up the idea of having a baby together. She was completing her PhD. He was a musician. They weren’t married. But after some thought she knew she wanted a child with M. This decision changed the course of their relationship forever. With M taking up a corporate job to provide for the family while W completed her doctorate, the couple are simultaneously dealing with challenges that really takes the audience on an emotional roller coaster.
The circular seating arrangement really allowed the audience into the couple’s intimacy. Bartlett and Goldrich are phenomenal at portraying what are, without a doubt, physically, mentally and intellectually challenging roles.
I cannot recommend Lungs enough. To anyone who enjoys love stories but feels today’s romcom flicks are a little too fictional or predictable, come see this! It’s a lot more intense than 50 First Dates, and a lot more serious. It’s a moving piece.
Anyone who’s been in any long-term relationships will relate to some of the moments shared by W and M in the play, and anyone who’s ever pondered having kids will enjoy this work. People tired of classical theatre will also appreciate something a little more relevant.
Lungs still has two more shows at Saint John Theatre Company’s BMO Studio Theatre this week: February 23rd, 2018 and February 24th, 2018. For more information click here.