Review: ROCHDALE Captivates at Timms Centre for the Arts

Rochdale College, a hippie commune/co-operative living space on the University of Toronto's outskirts, operated from 1968 to 1975. Housing up to 840 residents, it was infamous for its alternative education system and residents' collective radical idealism. This nefarious campus comes to life in Timms Centre for the Arts' Rochdale, a poignant, darkly comedic glimpse beyond the veil of hippie counterculture. Written by playwright and Governor General's Award laureate David Yee, the production is directed by Sandra M. Nicholls and features an eclectic cast of University of Alberta's Drama students.

We meet Rochdale's leader, Whitman (Dean Stockdale), who returns to the complex after an unexpected 2-month absence. This sudden reappearance shocks her fellow residents, who assumed she was dead and even held a funeral for her. Whitman is not only perplexed by this unnerving news but shocked upon seeing the building's rapid deterioration, learning of the heightened power struggles among her peers, and discovering that her boyfriend, Dennis (Ben Kuchera) has moved on. As tensions rise among Rochdale's decrepit halls, the political turmoil of the outside world seeps in, forcing the residents to re-examine their collective worldview and the future of their compound.

As protagonist Whitman, Stockdale exhibits a strong stage presence as they portray their character's conflicting emotions. They provide a level-headed contrast to the rest of Rochdale's eccentric characters as Whitman struggles to come to terms with the shifting ideals among her peers. Other notable performances include Dayna Hoffmann as Rochdale's frazzled new leader and Dennis's newer girlfriend, Suzy, Abby McDougall as the rollerblading and accident-prone Kitten, and Kijo Gatama as Athena, an ardent civil rights activist who joins in preparations for an upcoming protest.

Among Rochdale's most memorable moments are the students eagerly watching the televised 1969 moon landing and the scene in which American Vietnam war deserter, Friar (Moses Kouyate), begs Whitman to let him take refuge in the compound. Rochdale's wry humour also shines throughout the show, the performers receiving big laughs as some of them sing Unchained Melody while summoning the finicky elevator and expressing surprise upon learning that the asbestos on the sixth floor might be dangerous.

A complex production like Rochdale demands a meticulous setting, which the entire creative team delivered. Guido Tondino's set design embodies the college's insurgent worldviews- the stage is littered with crumpled papers, stacked cardboard boxes, and beer bottles, with Whitman's cluttered office off to one side. Kai Yakichuk's lighting design complements the tumultuous emotions onstage while Tondino's projected backdrops shift from displaying graffiti-spattered brick walls plastered with Che Guevara posters and atmospheric nighttime skies. The creative effects and visuals perfectly accompany the cast's performances, resulting in an unconventional and enjoyable show.

Rochdale plays at The University of Alberta's Timms Centre for the Arts on March 28 and 31 and April 1 and 2. Masks are strongly recommended for all audience members.

To post a comment, you must register and login.