Review: 'The Tracks' World Premiere as part of Stratford Ontario's HERE FOR NOW NEW WORKS FESTIVAL

This is my first visit with Stratford’s HERE FOR NOW NEW WORKS FESTIVAL. What was exciting was the fact these plays are world premieres written and/or directed by many of the Stratford Festival’s artists. Stratford’s Bruce Hotel hosts this festival once again only this time, from what I was told, a canopy was provided to help shelter the elements and possibly cancelling of a show on account of rain.

Togetherness and connection are two important themes that run through this slate of new productions - plus I also sensed that this time of Covid slightly permeated the text itself, but I would not call the first two plays on the slate ‘Covid themed’ plays. When I return again to see the other productions, I’ll see if the theme of Covid isolation exists in them.

To open the festival was the new musical ‘The Tracks’. The playing space in the canopy tent is a three-quarter stage with audience viewing from three sides. The pre-show opens with a ripped jeans, red checkered denim shirt busker, Kale (Kale Penny) who plays his guitar. What drew me in was the fact he played to all sides of the house before the show opened, and I thought I saw periodically he made eye contact with audience members and played to them for a few moments.

Later, we learn that the busker daily plays out front of a large corporate bank tower on a supposedly busy street corner in a downtown urban centre somewhere. He sits on a white tall circular carton that has black paint on it. There is another carton with black paint on it as well which becomes another seat. The time is present day pandemic as there is mention of the office personnel working from home.

As the busker plays outside, smartly dressed and perfectly coiffed Lauren (Lauren Bowler) happens on the busker as she tries to enter the corporate building for an extremely important interview. This chance meeting between these two opposing individuals made for an endearing and heartfelt production.

This production was delightful for the fact both Mr. Penny and Ms. Bowler (who are real life spouses) have created charming, amiable and very real characters who are intelligent, sharp, and witty. I completely bought Mark Weatherley’s cleverly written fictional Book because Penny and Bowler deliver authentic natural performances of character depth thanks to Monique Lund’s clearly envisioned direction. Every inch of playing space on the stage was utilized to its maximum for sight lines.

Kale Penny’s music and lyrics offer razor sharp commentary on Lauren’s conflicting emotions as she debates whether a steady job in a corporate bank will heal her lonely heart of retiring from being a classical violinist. Penny and Bowler are strong singers, and I was able to enjoy hearing each song lyric word which sometimes made me smile, made me laugh, and made me think. Kale offers a word of advice to Penny that I thought was very appropriate for anyone who believes that music (or the arts for that matter) has no real life work value: “Music is a bridge. Don’t jump off. Cross it.”

Final Thoughts: ‘The Tracks’ becomes that new play we all need to see to help us emerge from the forced isolation we’ve all had to endure for the last 17 months.

What an appropriately fitting choice to open this year’s festival.

Running time: Approximately 60 minutes.

‘The Tracks’ World  Premiere

Book by Mark Weatherley with Music and Lyrics by Kale Penny.

Directed by Monique Lund.

Technical Director Wendy Ewert.

Cast: Lauren Bowler and Kale Penny.

Visit www.herefornowtheatre.com to purchase tickets as performances run to July 25., 2021.

Photo courtesy of Here for Now website.