Review: THE CRACKWALKER is Heavy and Emotionally-Rooted

"Naked means freedom, naked means afraid, but working through that fear to a revelation."

- Judith Thompson

Canadian playwright and director Judith Thompson reimagines THE CRACKWALKER as the final piece of Factory Theatre's Naked Season - which might be its most ambitious yet. Starring Claire Armstrong, Yolanda Bonnell, Waawaate Fobister, Greg Gale and Stephen Joffe, the drama brings to life the haunting and fragile reality of mental illness and domestic violence. Set against a backdrop of hopelessness and despair, THE CRACKWALKER is a heavy and emotionally-rooted tale that is just as relevant as it was decades ago.

Set in small-town Kingston, the story begins with Theresa (Bonnell), a young, mildly challenged woman accused by her friend Sandy (Armstrong) of sleeping with her husband Joe. When the accusation develops, Theresa reveals that Joe (Greg Gale) forced himself upon her without consent - and eerie parallel to recent events surrounding the Jian Ghomeshi and Bill Cosby cases. Until this point, the audience was unsure of where the plot was going or what tone the play would have. This set the pace for the dark and haunting performance to follow.

Sandy and Joe's relationship was less than perfect; stricken with domestic violence, Claire Armstrong gives a powerful and memorable performance. Her on-stage disputes with Greg Gale were so commanding and full of emotion. This complex drama unfolds with encounters between Thersea and her boyfriend Alan (Joffe) and their struggles to overcome their ill-fated and hopeless life. While starting with an alleged rape, the foregoing story delves into even darker emotional places. It's real. It's eerie. It's tragic.

Yolanda Bonnell gives one of the most memorable performances of Factory's entire season. Her innocence translated by her symbolic and colourful tutu, to her heartbreaking revelations and mature journey throughout the two act play is so full of raw emotion, it's simply heartbreaking. The audience was captured by her portrayal of a mentally challenged woman going through so much grief and despair - while still not a saint herself. This complex role and grey area between right and wrong and good and bad is unlike anything before.

Judith Thompson reimagined her original text by bringing to life The Crackwalker (Fobsiter), a mysterious creature who reflects and parallels the emotions of characters through traditional Ojibway dancing and tongue. This very poetic element brings a new depth of meaning to the text, beautifully complimenting Theresa and her native roots. Though I do applaud her reimagining and her use of abstract artistry to portray emotions through a unique medium, it was at times was distracting and didn't match the tone of scenes Waawaate Fobsiter intertwined with. Trying to follow the already difficult plot and series of emotions, with this metaphorical and symbolic element was hard to translate.

THE CRACKWALKER provides a beautiful (and very dark) conclusion to Factory's Naked Season. If you've been following my thoughts on their artistically ambitious season, I was hesitant at first. The last few entries have all been strikingly poised, imperfectly perfect in their own right - bringing to life the meaning of what it means to be naked. Wright's ambitious direction of her already ambitious tale deserves to be seen.

Presented as part of Factory Theatre's Naked Season, THE CRACKWALKER is on stage until April 10, 2016. More information at factorytheatre.ca.

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