Good morning, theatre friends!

Last week, I went to opening night of Theatre by the Bay’s new play, Icemen, by Vern Thiessen. This was my second time making the trip to Barrie to see a TBTB show, and I’m really grateful to have been given this opportunity. Thank you, Theatre by the Bay friends!

Theatre by the Bay is a professional theatre company that aims to tell stories “that showcase the diverse peoples of Barrie and Simcoe County.” They produce new works written by local writers, telling the stories of their communities. I absolutely love this. To quote my friend Richard Gelb, this is a “remarkably valid purpose.” I’m always happy to support companies that uplift local artists and promote the creation of new plays.

Icemen is a thriller set in depression-era Barrie, Ontario. In an attempt to save their livelihoods and take back what they believe to be theirs, brothers Joe and Rennie (Isaiah Kolundzic and Tom Keat, respectively) kidnap their boss, F.F. (Nathan Howe), and hold him hostage in an old barn. Joe and Rennie are ice harvesters, and they have just found out that their company is shutting down for good. This 3-man show is 90-minutes long without an intermission, and there are many suspenseful moments culminating in a gripping final scene.

My favourite character of the show is the “gentle giant” Rennie, played beautifully by Tom Keat. Rennie is complicated – he seems like a kind person at heart, and had he been dealt a different hand in life (and had he not been devoted to his brother Joe), perhaps he would’ve pursued a more noble career path. Though Rennie has anger management issues and isn’t afraid to hurt people if need be, he refuses to harm women and children, and he even remains open-minded to accepting help from his captive boss, J.J. Tom Keat makes Rennie feel multi-dimensional – his dialogue feels fluid and almost melodic, and he plays the emotional arc of his character really wonderfully. I noticed that Tom is the only non-union actor in the show, so I hope that this is just the start of what will surely be a bright career.

There are many technical components of this show that I think are worth highlighting. The set, designed by Joe Pagnan, is a stylized barn filled with intricate details – a coal heater, a work-station with tools, etc. I also really liked Logan Raju Cracknell‘s lighting design. Lighting isn’t something I often notice (mostly because I am less familiar with the technical-side of theatre design), but there is beauty in its simplicity. The play takes place in one location, with only a few scene changes. The lighting cues are subtle but purposeful, and they feel seamless. One moment that stands out is the gentle light fade-in at the top of the show, starting with a dim light from the overhead fixture leading in to fully illuminating the set. It sets the moody, mysterious tone well.

I appreciate a one-act thriller. At times, the pacing got a teensy bit slow for me, and I would have liked to see a bit more urgency injected into the play. Overall, the dialogue is well-written and the plot is interesting. Plus, I learned a little bit about how ice was harvested in the early 1900s. Educational and fun!

Thanks again, TBTB team, for the invite to this show! Icemen is playing at the Five Points Theatre in Barrie until Nov. 12, 2023. You can purchase tickets here.

Featured image: theatrebythebay.com