After sitting empty for over a year, the Phoenix Theatre’s chairs were finally overflowing with an eager crowd excited to see the first live show of the season.
On Thursday night, I attended the opening night of Dead Man’s Cell Phone, a play written by American playwright Sarah Ruhl and directed by Fran Gebhard. Not only was the show fantastic—the story, the talented cast, the beautiful set design—but it was an extremely relevant and timely performance.
Dead Man’s Cell Phone tells the story of Jean, played by Jane Rees, a woman minding her own business in a cafe when a cell phone starts ringing and doesn’t stop. Feeling annoyed, Jean stands up to confront the man at the table next to her, only to realize he is dead. Before the ambulance can arrive, Jean slips out and takes his ringing cell phone with her.
From there, a story of loneliness and love unfolds on the stage. It’s also a story that analyzes the idea that technology both unites and isolates us, something we’re all aware of after the events of 2020.
It starts as a simple yet odd concept that immediately makes the audience ask, “What will happen next?” However, Ruhl takes it to a whole other level. One moment, Jean is sitting in a cafe, and the next moment she’s showing off her karate skills, for example. Ruhl is a master at taking very mundane characters and throwing them into extraordinary circumstances. This is interesting and hilarious to watch.
If you like a play that will make you laugh, this is the one for you. With consistently witty dialogue, you’ll be chuckling and then belly-laughing at the characters’ awkwardness and the over-the-top dramatics of Mrs. Gottlieb, played by Maddy el Baroudi. She is hands-down my favourite character.
Costume designer Parker Feenstra knocked it out of the park with these costumes, too. Each character’s outfit gave the audience a bit more insight into them. For example, Jean always wears conservative clothing, and Gordon (also known as Dead Man), played by Ryan Kniel, is always in a professional and stiff suit.
This show was an excellent premiere for the rest of the season—as the lady next to me said as the bright theatre lights came back on, “They have a hit on their hands.”
Dead Man’s Cell Phone
Various times, until Saturday, November 27
Various prices, live-streamed and in person
finearts.uvic.ca/theatre/mainstage