Toronto Review: "The Jungle" at Tarragon Theatre
Photo credit: Cylla von Tiedemann. L-R: Shannon Currie and Matthew Gin
Dave Rabjohn, Associate Toronto Critic
The world premiere of The Jungle by Anthony MacMahon and Thomas McKechnie opened October 10 at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. The play layers a number of social elements, concentrating on the themes of economics and the privations of the working class. Based on Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel of the same name, it underscores the plight of workers seen through the lens of the critique of capitalism. Sinclair’s novel famously missed the mark as his audience became more obsessed with the horrors of unregulated meat packing rather than digesting his critical views of capitalism. This play, too, missed some marks.
The story revolves around Veronyka, a recent immigrant from the former soviet state of Moldovia, and Jack, whose parents emigrated from communist China. Both struggle with poor paying jobs that require long hours and little fulfillment. Complicating matters are the responsibilities both have regarding dependent parents who make unrealistic demands. The backbone of the production is the versatility of the two actors, Matthew Gin (Jack) and Shannon Currie (Veronyka.) Impressively, each actor basically plays three interconnected roles: the actual two characters, the two characters commenting on each other to the audience, and two characters who come out of their roles to offer seminars on the pitfalls of capitalism. Clearly the fourth wall was nuked from the very beginning.
Shannon Currie’s work as the manipulated illegal worker is stirring. An impeccable Russian accent defines her character as an outsider. The aforementioned versatility is observed in her range of emotions that simmer through her struggles. Matthew Gin, as Jack, offers an equal range and displays his acting dexterity when slipping into a ruse on a French waiter or mocking his father’s accent. At times, the mocking shifts into true affection for his parents’ sacrifices. His face displaying the horror of political cynicism while listening to an ambitious political junkie is remarkable.
As mentioned, the actors also pull partly out of their roles to comment on their partners or the surrounding situations. This relies heavily on the timing and flexibility of each actor. A highlight is the drunken raucous dinner with the two families descending into the recognition of swirling lies. Both Veronyka and Jack alternate between trying to rescue the evening and commenting to the audience about their failing efforts. The actors also offered nuanced comic relief even in the worst of their trials. Their third role as economists evoking the corruption of capitalism slashes through the narrative pinning the story to the ugliness of economic manipulation. The acting is persuasive as they portray cynical middle managers coercing their audience with white boards and colourful dry erase markers.
The conflicts in the play overlap commentary on economics with the complexities of generational gaps and racial overtones. This may sound overly ambitious and, at times, it was. The intricacies of political and economic critique were lost in some of the overreaching of themes. The ending offers a glimmer of hope as Jack and Veronyka barely dip their toes into the possibilities of middle class. Their former cynicism twists somehow into something more pathetic.
Having said that, this play is elevated by two very special and effective performances. As well, the set and costume design of Shannon Lea Doyle drives us into the heart of the story with sparse utilitarian furniture complimented by Michelle Ramsay’s harsh florescent washes. Although the politics are sometimes muddled (are we cheering for the left or the right?), there are some remarkable moments from the communist influenced generation. One parent takes a napkin from a restaurant as a precious souvenir of her Canadian visit. Another cuts through the political haze by lamenting “there is so much food here it’s falling off the shelves.”
The Jungle by Anthony MacMahon and Thomas McKechnie – Tarragon Theatre, Toronto
Cast: Shannon Currie, Matthew Gin
Director: Guillermo Luis Verdecchia
Set and costume design: Shannon Lea Doyle
Runs at Tarragon Theatre, Toronto through November 3, 2019.
Tickets at tarragontheatre.com