REVIEW: “THE TIME CAPSULE” IS A LOVE LETTER TO THE CITY AND PEOPLE WITHIN IT

Oct 4

What comes to your mind when you think about the city of Hamilton, Ontario? Tim Hortons. The Escarpment. Waterfalls. Battlefield Park. Dundurn Castle. Roma pizza. Grandad’s Donuts. What if you could add something to a time capsule that would, in theory, be unearthed after 100 years? Would you even care? These are the questions discussed in equal parts hilarious and heart-felt fashion in playwright Matt Murray’s The Time Capsule.

Originally written about Murray’s hometown of Sarnia, Ontario (cleverly titled The Chronicles of Sarnia), The Time Capsule now allows the show to travel to any city and change the references for theatre audiences to recognize the numerous places and people within it. Set in a familiar feeling Hamilton church basement (designed with excellent attention to detail by Robin Fisher), this comedy brings together a memorable and relatable cast of characters: a menopausal teacher desperate to stay relevant (Deborah Drakeford as Erin Fraser), a rough-around-the-edges church caretaker (Mary Long as Louise), a Gen Z bartender with a criminal record (Stephanie Sy as Jess), a heartbroken Winners sales clerk and former couples therapist (Richard Young as Marcus), and a hockey-obsessed husband quietly wondering where his life went (Richard Alan Campbell as Rick). Together, helmed by Erin’s crumbling perfectionist nature, they try to decide what should be included in a time capsule for the city. The first act introduces the characters effectively and sets their purpose at this meeting in motion while the snow builds up outside and soon, historical artifact debates take a backseat and the small group must hunker down and wait out a snowstorm.

The entire cast has their moment to shine and reveal who they are beyond their pleasant surface-level interactions as this poorly attended meeting goes from awkward to authentic. Deborah Drakeford as Erin Fraser is the epitome of a control freak who is deeply insecure about everything. Watching her expectations shatter is so believable and relatable, especially if you’ve ever tried to host an event that didn’t go as planned. Mary Long as Louise only pops in and out during the first half but every line she delivers is delightfully no nonsense and challenges Drakeford’s high strung nature. In the second act, she becomes a voice of reason with the play’s heart on her sleeve. Richard Alan Campbell as Rick is seemingly chill, almost to a fault, and audiences will quickly understand he’s forced to be at the meeting and would much rather be watching the hockey game. In the second half, Campbell reveals himself to be a man who feels lost and heartbroken by secrets he’s held on to for far too long. Excellent character work here.

The two characters that really stand out here are Richard Young as Marcus, who delivers an insightful and biting monologue in the second half that had the opening night audience applaud and cheer afterwards. He portrays an agreeable but equally nervous and untrusting young man who learns how to find connection with others again. Young is cleverly countered by Stephanie Sy as Jess who is an absolute antagonizing force of nature throughout. Her challenging, almost nihilistic attitude in the first act pits her brilliantly against Erin and her reveals in the second act fuel the fires between many of the characters. She is relentless, hilariously observant and has some of the best lines in the show. Bravo.

While the play is a first and foremost a comedy, it’s also a story that surprises as it unfolds with secrets revealed, forcing the characters to address their personal relationships, judgements, struggles and the legacies that they all have the opportunity to leave behind. On a deeper level, audiences will enjoy exploring the flaws of each character, how each embodies the city of Hamilton, and how the city has shaped them. Murray’s writing may be full of hilarious quips and innuendos, but reveals a profound commentary on who we are as human beings and why, as Louise accurately states, people are what matter, not things. We are the history we choose to remember.

A love letter to the city we live in, The Time Capsule is an impressive start to Aquarius’ 52nd season. Don’t miss it!

TIME CAPSULE TICKETS