Necessary Angel Theatre Company’s production of Sarah Ruhl’s Letters From Max, a ritual opened at The Theatre Centre on Wednesday night.  It’s based on the correspondence and relationship between Sara Ruhl; a middle aged academic, mother of three, and Max Ritvo; her student and aspiring poet/playwright, 20s with a persistent and very nasty cancer.  For almost two hours the characters exchange poems, thoughts, philosophy and more while Max tries to fulfil those dreams we all have when we are young against the backdrop of knowing he probably won’t live to, while Sara gets on with being a middle class mom.

There’s little to support the two actors playing Sara (Maev Beaty) and Max (Jesse LaVercombe) so it all depends on their ability to make this, perhaps unlikely, relationship meaningful and credible.  They succeed brilliantly, with help from director Alan Dilworth and the creative/technical team.  It’s a compelling roller coaster of humorous poems, chemotherapy, Tibetan Buddhism, Harry Potter, vomit, soup, metastases and a whole lot of discussion of what Death actually is; especially as that of Max is clearly coming closer.  Sometimes it’s very funny, sometimes disturbing but it’s thought provoking all the time.  I’m not sure one can ask more of theatre than that.

It’s really not easy to say much more about the play.  It has to be experienced and, short as this review is, it’s already longer than the Director’s Note in the programme!  In closing, I’m struck by just how economical a dramatic medium legitimate theatre can be.  Two actors, some lighting, a few props can create an experience as deep, or deeper, than a multi-million dollar grand opera production with a hundred plus people involved.  That’s a bit thought provoking especially in straitened times.

Letters From Max, a ritual continues at The Theatre Centre until December 3rd.

Photo credits: Dahlia Katz