Theatre review: Seasoned actors bring raw honesty to their roles as teenagers in Seventeen
Senior artists teamed up with youth advisors for Western Gold Theatre’s impactful new piece
Seventeen. Photo by Javier Sotres
Western Gold Theatre presents Seventeen until November 20 at PAL Studio Theatre
SEVENTEEN IS A tender age: it marks the ending of childhood and crossing the threshold into the newfound independence of adulthood. It’s a time that brings many changes, from first loves to goodbyes. Playwright Matthew Whittet subverts the coming-of-age narrative by placing senior actors in the roles of Gen Z youth in Seventeen, revealing teenage longings and regrets that live on within us all.
Loaded with humour and vulnerability and directed by Michael Fera, Seventeen follows a group of teens on the night of their high-school graduation. In creating the bold cross-generational production, Western Gold Theatre brought together veteran actors aged 55+ with youth advisors who provided input on everything from body language to music to costumes. The result is a production that transcends time and generational differences and that feels authentic to the experiences of teenagers in the post-COVID era.
Enacting an evening of drinking at their local playground, cast members maximize the creativity of Alaia Hamer’s set design, making dramatic entrances from the wings with arms full of cheap beer and swinging from a set of monkey bars. John Webber’s lighting has the dappled effect of a streetlight shining through trees, heightening a sense of realism and nostalgia. The actors play songs by modern pop icons such as Doja Cat and Olivia Rodrigo from a Bluetooth speaker, drunkenly singing and dancing along. As the night wears on, chaos eventually ensues, the characters spilling so many deep secrets.
Maki Yi nails the particularly challenging role of Jess, a girl caught up in a messy love triangle. Yi brings a heartfelt vulnerability and rawness to the role, her emotional investment yielding real tears during the play’s closing scene. Stephen Aberle plays Tom, who at one point recounts a dream about his old age, playing with audiences’ perspectives of youth and aging. As the other seasoned artists do in their respective roles, Aberle brings such an honesty to his character (complete with Tom’s teenage awkwardness) that the show has a profoundly moving impact that lingers long after it’s over.
Bashful yet brave, Seventeen is a timeless story that has the ability to charm audiences of any age. A production that reaches an understanding of youth, love, and moving forward across generations, it reinforces the importance of Western Gold’s mandate as one of Canada’s only theatre companies for senior artists.
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