The Curtain Call: Blood mixed with tears
Where the Blood Mixes
I felt like I’d received the emotional equivalent of a kick in the gut after watching the Belfry Theatre’s Where the Blood Mixes. And it was wonderfully refreshing.
In a time when much of what we see is sanitized of anything that might offend the oversensitive masses, Kevin Loring’s Where the Blood Mixes presents a frank and unapologetic look at a subject rife with political and social landmines.
Loring navigates the terrain beautifully, with his story of a community struggling with the memory of Canada’s residential school system, the horrors of which continue to haunt them.
The residential schools are a black mark on Canada’s history—prison-like institutions in which aboriginal children were torn from their parents, brainwashed and abused, all in the name of assimilation.
Director Glynis Leyshon and Loring strike a tremendous balance between comedy and drama, bringing the audience to outright laughter one moment and then silencing the room with a single line the next.
When I first sat down, the stage was empty, save for one man, Juno-nominated artist Jason Burnstick. Burnstick has several guitars, which he alternately tunes and entertains the audience with, thanks to his excellent musical talent. He remains there for the entire show, providing all the musical accompaniment; it’s an unorthodox touch that complements the mood wonderfully.
The cast is uniformly excellent, from Floyd (Billy Merasty), the moody and haunted lead, to his estranged daughter, Christine (Kim Harvey), who brings a wide range of emotion and a disarming smile whenever she’s onstage.
Particular standouts are the supporting couple—Mooch (Ben Cardinal), who’s a seemingly carefree buddy to Floyd. Cardinal reveals unexpected depths, and I’m sure he left few dry eyes by the end.
Definitely one of the most powerful shows I’ve seen, Where the Blood Mixes is a cathartic reminder of something many would rather forget.
Where the Blood Mixes
Until Feb. 21
Belfry Theatre, $33
belfry.bc.ca
CCSS Nexus promo