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'Interior Design' by Rosa Laborde (World Premiere)

Now on stage in Tarragon Theatre's Extra Space, 30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto.

Credit: Jae Yang Pictured L-R: Anita Majumdar, Rong Fu, Meghan Swaby, Sara Farb.

Joe Szekeres

“Confident direction by Kat Sandler with definitive performances delivered by an ensemble of actors who care about each other and the work. Is ‘Interior Design’ a story for we men, though?”

Rosa Laborde’s world-premiere comedy Interior Design focuses on four women and an attempted intervention with one of them. Ultimately, this plan backfires, and the relationships between the four of them become altered.

The title ironically looks at something that is supposed to be part of interior design—the positive elements of change and refreshment. Along with this ironic take, Labrorde quotes Oscar Wilde in her Playwright’s Programme note: ‘True friends stab each other in the front.’ ‘Interior Design’ is a play about messy renovations and even messier truths, according to a recent interview by theatre reviewer Janine Marley with Laborde.

That seems a tad harsh. Aren’t ladies supposed to value their female friends? Isn’t there a difference in how women and men look at their relationships with friends? There is most certainly a difference in how we men focus on our relationships with other male friends.

‘Interior Design’ is set in life coach Sophie’s (Sara Farb) newly purchased condominium. Her friends Olivia (Rong Fu), Cecilia (Anita Majumdar) and Maya (Meghan Swaby) arrive with the decision at first not to confront the person for whom this intervention is intended. Instead, the four will talk, drink wine, gossip, eat, and purchase skin care products from Cecilia.

Kat Sandler's confident direction is highly effective. Although Laborde's script occasionally resembles a sitcom, moments of humour and poignancy resonate well without leaning too heavily on laughter or sadness. Fortunately, these emotions are not overly emphasized, a refreshing change from many television sitcoms that often bombard the audience with them.

Shannon Lea Doyle utilizes a minimalist approach to set design, decoration, and props, effectively demonstrated in Tarragon’s Extra Space Theatre. Initially, the stage features a monochromatic colour scheme, but this changes as the story progresses. This minimalist style allows the audience to concentrate on the actors and the narrative. Furthermore, Doyle’s colourful costume choices for the female characters subtly highlight aspects of their personalities.

Imogen Wilson's lighting design effectively emphasizes key moments, enhancing the audience's understanding of the characters. The use of spotlights, where each character delivers her "soliloquy" and breaks the fourth wall, is particularly effective. I was especially impressed by some of the pre-show music selected by sound designer Maddie Bautista, as it reflects the shared experiences of women in their relationship with each other.

Laborde's script contains some amusing and insightful bits that made me laugh out loud. Highlighting a couple here without providing the context of the moment does a disservice, and I don’t want to spoil the humour and insight. There are a couple of ‘woke’ moments regarding how the ladies see things. These reminded me of the element of a sitcom. I cringed a bit, wondering how far this would have been taken. Thankfully, it doesn’t become an issue.

I raised my eyebrows just a tad about the genuine element of truth in the script about the way the women converse with each other:

Fact – women talk about men in their conversations just as men talk about women in their discussions.
Fact - men’s conversations can sometimes get a little racy, especially about women. Even men in committed relationships with women will still speak their minds (usually). The same occurs when women talk about men. It can perhaps even become a tad ‘dirty.’

Sophie, Olivia, Cecilia, and Maya talk about men, but I wonder why there is a pullback when some of the context could have allowed their conversations to go a bit further.

Nevertheless, the four ladies consistently deliver strong ensemble performances, making for a wonderful afternoon or evening at the theatre. They command the stage, knowing exactly when to pause for laughs and when to let the significance of the words resonate emotionally.

As life coach Sophie, Sara Farb is direct. The other three put Sara to the test. They want to see if Sara practices what she preaches regarding the advice given to others.

Rong Fu’s Olivia does just that. Her Olivia boldly captures an intensity at the top of the show. It’s clear that something has happened to Olivia before the girls meet, and Fu beautifully reveals the sense that something is not correct. Her facial expressions and the piercing potency of her stares at the other women speak volumes. When Sophie invites Olivia to become the interior designer of her newly purchased condominium, that’s when the delicious humour begins. Will Sophie like everything Olivia has planned?

Meghan Swab is commanding as Maya. There are moments when it appears she is entirely in control of how the intervention will proceed. Anita Majumdar’s Cecilia is the quieter of the group of friends. Majumdar reveals an intensely concentrated brooding within Cecilia that has been hovering for quite some time. The other ladies, who supposedly are Cecilia’s friends, do not notice this change.

Final Thoughts:

Once again, in her programme note, Laborde writes that the play is for all friends everywhere, the new and the old, the short-lived and the life-long.

Does this play appeal to the male persuasion? Do we men respond in the same way as women regarding personal relationships?

Well…

When men establish friendship bonds (over any sport or beer), it’s never examined or talked about as women usually do. For we men, it’s inherent. It’s there. There’s no need to question it at all.

Moreover, men do feel an absence or loss, but usually not in the same way as women do.

I agree that men will also do some ‘interior design’ when it comes to their relationships with other males, but we don’t see it as interior design. It’s something else.

Bottom line:

Go and see ‘Interior Design.’

These are terrific actors who know how to tell an entertaining story in the theatre. That’s the most important thing.

Running time: approximately 90 minutes with no interval/intermission.

‘Interior Design’ runs until November 17 in the Extra Space at Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto. For tickets: tarragontheatre.com or call (416) 531-1827.

INTERIOR DESIGN (World Premiere) by Rosa Laborde
Directed by Kat Sandler
Set and costume design by Shannon Lea Doyle
Lighting design by Imogen Wilson
Sound design by Maddie Bautista
Stage management by Nazarah Carlisle
Apprentice stage management by Annasofie 诗慧 Jakobsen

Performers: Sara Farb, Rong Fu, Anita Majumdar, and Meghan Swaby.

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