A look inside the non-denominational nativity play that’s taking over the Brick Works.
“Silent night, holy night” might be the traditional setting for a certain holiday tale, but The Story, Theatre Columbus’ outdoor play based on the Nativity, promises very little of either. The imaginative walk-about—which weaves its way throughout Toronto’s historic Evergreen Brick Works using the kilns, pavilions and quarry garden as backdrops for the holiday spectacular—updates the ancient tale of Jesus’ birth with an all-inclusive secular spin. Audience members—we recommend travelling with hot cocoa in hand—follow the usual suspects (Mary, Joseph and the three wise men are still the stars of this non-denominational revamp) on an hour-long, one-kilometre journey that recasts the Nativity as a comedic morality play. Director Jennifer Brewin gave us the lowdown on the winter spectacle that runs Dec. 13–30 and is sure to delight the whole family—and startle more than a few unsuspecting passers-by.
1. (pictured above) “When you’re going into public spaces and telling stories there, a linear narrative is important—especially when you’re in a rambling, chaotic outdoor space like the Brick Works,” says Brewin. “Playwright Martha Ross comes at this as a parable, as a story for our time. She took from the Bible and brings the characters to life in a secular context. A baby is born basically in a garbage dump and we decide he’s going to be a leader. So there’s a democratic appeal; your faith can come into it but it doesn’t have to.”
2. Actors adorned in every shade of burlap-beige portray a cast of familiar characters from “shepherds and weird wise men to bad guy King Herod and the angel Gabriel” in this heroic holiday tale.
3. “Mary is this young woman who’s very confused and outcast from society. She has a boyfriend who’s not the father of her child but who wants to become her husband and is fighting to convince her that he wants to be part of that family.”
4. “All the scenes are about two minutes long because we want to keep everyone moving so they don’t get cold. When the audience sees the actors run from scene to scene, there’s a game in that, like everyone’s in on the same joke,” says Brewin. “We wanted to keep it alive while we’re walking between scenes so we have a choir singing classic Christmas hymns for those transitions. The spirit of the Brick Works inspired me to have more community involvement, which is why we asked various community choirs to join in. Some said, ‘It’s too crazy.’ And some said, ‘It’s so crazy we want to be there.’”
5. “This time of year there can be a lot of stress but The Story helps to remind us what the holidays are really about: to be together and have a good giggle.”
6. “There are so many distractions performing in a public space and nature is incredibly spontaneous so we’re going to run into dog walkers and people who are accidently part of the play. We’ll have to put a sheepskin on them and they’ll get herded out!”
The Story is playing at Evergreen Brick Works from Dec. 13–30. Showtimes and ticket information at theatrecolumbus.ca.
