Don’t wait, leap to New Westminster as the Anvil Theatre presents the Search Party production of Bunny by Hannah Moscovitch until February 18th
Emma Slipp embodies ‘Sorrel’, who tells us her tale in a biographical look at her life and loves. Raised in a family of intellectual Bohemians, with only Victorian literature to guide her formative years, book-smart Sorrel is the ‘odd-kid’ at school until puberty blesses her with a sexual awakening, bordering on addiction. Nicknamed Bunny in College by her only friend, Maggie (Lucy McNulty), the title could be interpreted in varying ways depending on what parts of her life she allows acquaintances to see.
Growing up with only the romantic notions of Jane Austen, The Bronte Sisters, and George Elliot to guide her, Sorrel finds that life doesn’t always imitate art but some aspects of love, lust and social structure are timeless. Onstage for the entire 90 minute play, the audience literally and figuratively can’t take their eyes off of the wonderful Emma Slipp as she engages and leads us into the loves and laughs of each new chapter of Sorrel’s life.
Amir Ofek’s simple and effective set design and Itai Erdal’s lighting allow the pages to be quickly turned as we eagerly await the next of Sorrel’s pent-up vignettes to burst forth. Moving through her life, we meet many of Sorrel’s paramours, Dylan Floyde as Justin the high school jock, Jay Hindle as a college professor, Kyle Jespersen as Maggie’s brother, Carol. Teo Saefkow as Angel and Pamela Carolina Martinez as Lola, Maggie’s daughter round out the people in Sorrel’s life.
Playwright Hanna Moscovitch and the superb cast, have created the supporting characters as Sorrel sees and remembers them but they are also brought to life with enough personality and charisma for the audience to care about them too. Like the literature that she reads over and over, Bunny leaves the audience wanting to find out what happens next for Sorrel, eagerly turning the page to see if she will find her happy ending or does she even want one?
You will want to find out for yourself, as Bunny continues at the Anvil Theatre, 777 Columbia Street, New Westminster until February 18. Tickets and show information available online at anviltheatre.ca/event/bunny