Room at The Grand Theatre in London – You should go! #LdnOnt

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The irony is not lost on us. We had bought our tickets to see the North American premiere of Room at The Grand Theatre in 2020. Then the pandemic hit and we were all placed in our own warped ‘Room’ experience, weren’t we? Room – the play – was adapted by a local London playwright and author, Emma Donoghue. The Irish-Canadian author has lived in the Forest City since 1998 and has adapted her award-winning novel to the stage.

Originally staged in 2017 across the pond at the Theater Royal Stratford East, Donoghue adapted the screenplay for a North American audience prior to the pandemic. She has since tweaked the play to reflect subtle experiences that would be familiar to us all. Being held in captivity for seven years does not equate a pandemic lockdown but there were times throughout the play when the audience empathized with isolation and wearing masks. This week’s debut of Room at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario has opened to rave reviews and I couldn’t agree more – you should go!

Room at The Grand Theatre in London

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As the play opens, Ma (Alexis Gordon) and her son Jack (Lucien Duncan-Ried) launch their day, greeting objects around them: “Good morning lamp … good morning plant … good morning chair.” Alongside Ma and Jack is SuperJack (Brandon Michael Arrington), dressed exactly as Jack and animated with child-like gestures and a sense of adventure. He personifies (in adult form) the 5-year old’s thoughts and feelings.

Superjack was not in the novel but in the stage production supplies added depth (and credibility) to the child’s actions and feelings. It was a brilliant addition by Donoghue to help us understand the inner child and in using songs Superjack separates anxious inner thoughts from the regular conversation between him and Ma. When I understood this was to be a musical, I was somewhat skeptical but the songs add rather than distract from the story. They are peppered throughout the production sparingly.

What seems familiar to some of us is a mother keeping her child entertained when they are not permitted to go outside. We are impressed how this mom keeps her child distracted and moving with regular routines and games to keep him happy and healthy. The routine is familiar and makes the time fly by – it is after all Jack’s 5th birthday so we know it’s been a while that they’ve been together.

We soon learn that they are being held in this one-room shed by Old Nick (Ashley Wright). Their relationship is stressful and Ma keeps Jack away from Old Nick by having him sleep in a wardrobe whenever he comes for a ‘visit’. Ma keeps Jack occupied by playing games, drawing and enveloping him with love. Slowly it becomes clear some of the games (standing on the table and making lots of noise) are ways that Ma is seeking to draw attention to the shed. Although Jack is content in living in this bubble, Ma has decided they need to escape.

A plan is hatched and a bold escape ensues. I have to admit, this was my favourite part of the novel and movie because it was so risky. In the play, it is much more subtle. The second half of the play is all about life outside of isolation: adjusting, accepting, moving on. All very emotional and you will be mesmerized by the story.

The set design is exceptional and with the use of projected images and music, it is easily transformed from the room to the hospital to the parent’s home. The latter is very simple so you focus on the characters and their overwhelming pain.

The ending had many of us in tears. For me, this is a sign of a great play, when you are so vested in the characters and their fate that you cannot help but be moved by the story. The performance by young Duncan-Reid (a fourth grader) is excellent. Because these are young child actors, you may see Isaac Chan in the role of Jack. I would highly recommend you see Room regardless if you have read the novel or seen the movie. It is just another great interpretation of a tragic story.

Room at The Grand Theatre in London runs from March 8th – March 19, 2022.

A little bit about Room

Emma Donoghue, who came to London, Ontario from Ireland in 1998, wrote the book and the script for both the movie and the play. In 2010 the novel Room (2010) was shortlisted for the Man Booker and Orange Prizes and has sold over two million copies. In 2015, Brie Larson won an Academy Award for her brilliant portrayal of Ma in the film adaptation. Donoghue’s screenplay adaptation was also nominated for Academy Award along with Best Director and Best Film nods.

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