In Rattled, Lena’s having a baby shower. Her best friend Paige, childless by choice, is considering a move across the country but struggles to share the news with Lena whose newly-minted mommy status has left her preoccupied. Co-host of the party, Michelle, single and situationally infertile at forty, is doing her best to put on a brave face but finds herself at a crossroads. As games are played and presents are opened, friendships are tested and identities are challenged, making for an awkward afternoon.
Lena: A warm and easygoing woman in her mid-thirties who has just had her first child
Paige: A self-assured woman in her mid-thirties who does not want children—Lena’s best friend from high school
Michelle: An empathetic, artistic woman in her early forties who is struggling with the possibility of not having children—Lena’s colleague and close friend
Donna: A warm and grounded woman in her mid-fifties who was unable to have children—Lena’s favourite aunt, well known to Lena’s close friends
Grace: A sensible and thoughtful woman in her late thirties with three young children—new friend of Lena’s
Julia: A friendly, somewhat naïve woman in her early thirties with one child—new friend of Lena’s
Aundrea: A grounded, frank woman in her forties with two children—new friend of Lena’s
Rattled is available through the Canadian Play Outlet.
Rattled is a piece of research informed theatre based on a series of interviews with a group of 10 women from the Toronto area of varying ages and cultural backgrounds who do not have children. Rattled premiered at the Tarragon Theatre Extraspace in Toronto on July 20, 2016 with the following cast and creative team:
Lena: Ximena Huizi
Paige: Nessya Dayan
Donna: Stacey Iseman
Michelle: Regan Brown
Julia: Kaya Bucholc
Aundrea: Fleur Jacobs
Grace: Carina Cojeen
Playwright/Director/Producer/Set and Costume Designer: Claire Holland
Stage Manager/Lighting Design: Lin-Mei Lay
Script Consultants: Amy Rosenthal and Taylor Hammond
Mention of miscarriage.
