Crow’s Theatre / Big Stuff, written and performed by Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus, co-created and directed by Kat Sandler, Studio Theatre, Streetcar Crowsnest, closes Dec. 8. Tickets here.
There is always something satisfying about watching master craftsman at their work, and such is the play Big Stuff, created and performed by Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus.
The married couple are comedians, improvisors, actors, writers and storytellers, who, not surprisingly, met at Second City where they honed their craft. So clever are these two, that it is impossible to know what is scripted and what is improvised in the show.
Director and co-creator Kat Sandler is riding high these days, just coming off directing the hit show Interior Design at the Tarragon. She can now add another feather in her cap with the hilarious and touching Big Stuff.
The big stuff of the title is what happens after the loss of a loved one. First, there’s the grief we carry in our hearts. Then there are the belongings of that person to be disposed of. A third factor deals with our own clutter — those keepsakes we hang on to for intense personal reasons.
The play Big Stuff is built around all these themes.
The Play
During the show we learn about the couple’s parents. We also find out about the ups and downs of their marriage. There is also the running joke of what to keep and what to throw away.
They have a dump box, which the unsentimental Baram wants to fill, while Snieckus wants to hang on to an array of items, from the bizarre (old toasters) to the obvious (paintings). Clearly one man’s junk is another woman’s treasure.
Which brings us to Michelle Tracey’s marvellous set, made up of banks of various sized boxes with windows filled with Snieckus’ keepsakes and hiding places for other trinkets. You never know where she is going to pull something from.
Tim Lindsay has provided the amusing sound design via some clever choices of music, while Emilie Trimbee has cleverly lit the stage to be both intimate and all-embracing.
The show swings back and forth between scenes from the past and the present. In the past, both their mothers and fathers are each given loving portrayals, warts and all. For example, Baram’s mother never made left hand turns. In the present, are the couple’s disputes about what goes in the dump box.
A Surprise Ingredient
The surprise ingredient that makes Big Stuff such a special show is the interaction with the audience.
When you come into the theatre, you fill out a card listing one item that has a special significance for you, and at various times, Baram or Snieckus pulls out one of these cards and dialogues with the owner. They also ask the audience questions stemming out of the scenes they have just enacted, often with very amusing results.
While the scripted (or maybe not) portion of the show is very funny, these audience interchanges make for an immersive performance that draws artists and audience together in a very unique dynamic. The theatre seems filled with the warm glow of good heartedness for all.
There are the laughs a minute, particularly when the couple point out each other’s peccadillos.
But, more to the point, Big Stuff has heart, because there are also many poignant moments. This is a show that runs deep, and by the end, the audience is also thinking of the parents, in particular, whom we have lost. The beautiful ending encapsulates those memories.
At Big Stuff, you’ll laugh, and you’ll cry as you undergo an engaging theatre experience created by masters.
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