An incredibly well-written, impeccably directed, wonderfully acted production, The Goodbye Rounds delivered raw, relatable humour. The play told the story of a young man making amends with five friends, and coming to terms with his past.
On his last night in the city, before embarking on a religious quest in Israel, Marty Hirsch (played by Toronto actor and storyteller, Omar Hady) contacts four of his high school friends to say goodbye.
Through monologues and interactive scenes, the play guides the audience through present day events, and flashbacks of the friends' memories of Hirsch in high school and in university.
It opens with Hirsch's friends, Lainie Herbert (played by Eleanor Hewlings), Kevin Reid (Andy Cockburn), and Jeff Russel (Marc Richler), reminiscing individually about Hirsch’s antics.
The scenes that follow introduce Hirsch's closest friend, Seth Spigelman (played by Ted Neal), and so begins a night of truth, anger, sadness, love, and laughter.
Hirsch, portrayed as the previously ever-changing, party-animal with a lack of direction, focus or ambition, had the entire theatre laughing and understanding his need for something secure and stable in the Torah and its teachings.
A heated scene between Hirsch, Seth, and Jeff left a quiet audience. Jeff expressed disappointment, distrust, and anger towards Hirsch, candidly revealing how much he had believed in him years ago and pushed Hirsch, but to no avail.
In the monologue that follows, Jeff paints a picture of Hirsch's lack of direction, he explains Hirsh is bloated with potential, but unused "potential rots, it festers..."
This line, and the emotion it was delivered with, struck a chord in me. We all know people with endless amounts of potential, but no drive or direction – people who are capable of doing great things, doing nothing. I know I’ve been guilty of this in the past, and I may even have hints of potential still rotting in my stomach, but hope I’ll use my potential to accomplish meaningful things.
The writers, Joshua Saltzman and my dear friend Robert Shapiro, developed the play in such a way that every argument had some on the verge of tears but lightened every emotional moment with an anecdote or joke that caused an eruption of laughter.
The cast, writers, Stage Manager (Katarzyna Misztal), Executive Producer (Jeremy Shell), and Director (Michael Bien) ensured the entire production was flawless.
The story, loosely based on true-life events, is indicative of the trials, tribulations, frustrations, and happy memories only true friendship can provide.
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