Theatre review: Sinners' fast-flying farce is full of naughty fun
At Metro Theatre, Norm Foster’s dark comedy features juicy twists and guilty pleasures
Jasmine Eadie and Josh Zumstien in Metro Theatre’s Sinners.
Sinners runs at Metro Theatre to February 15
SOMETIMES IT FEELS SO good to be bad. That’s why Metro Theatre’s production of Sinners hits in all the right ways.
For the duration of Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s two-act play, audiences get to enjoy politically incorrect jokes and plot points without feeling guilty. Under the direction of Angie McLeod, Sinners is a dark comedy full of juicy twists and so much suspense you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat.
At the top of the show, we meet Monica Lloyd (Jasmine Eadie), the wife of the town reverend, welcoming Peter Kramer (Josh Zumstien) for a visit. The pair are having an affair, and with the minister scheduled to be out of town for a few days, Monica is sure that she and Peter are in the clear to have fun together. However, Peter has an uneasy feeling and his instincts will prove to be correct, with a number of surprising turns set to shake up the pair’s night. And despite the dark nature of some of these surprises, it’s all such riotous fun.
Nervous and rational, Zumstien’s Peter is a perfect foil to Eadie’s charismatic yet impulsive and reckless Monica. Both have sharp timing and ample physical-comedy skills. Equally engaging is the innocence of Colleen Brow as local townswoman Diane Gillis, who has some news to deliver that will, unbeknownst to her, have a major impact on the situation.
There’s a huge plot shift in the second act, and Foster’s script keeps you glued to the action as the details are gradually revealed. The addition of nosy Carolyn Cavanaugh (Deborah Tom) and her husband, police chief Roy Cavanaugh (Liam Reitsma), thickens the plot. Tom is fun to watch as she rifles through things, digging for dirt. And with his deadpan, matter-of-fact demeanour, Reitsma delivers some hilarious one-liners: “I’m the chief of police, I don’t have time for community involvement,” he says at one point, later explaining that running for mayor is “the next best thing to retirement”.
McLeod keeps the farce’s rhythm quick-paced, never letting the proverbial ball drop. The cast keeps that momentum up, volleying a nonstop onslaught of jokes. All of this is played within Kathleen Hilton’s gorgeous and functional set, which uses a clever layout that keeps the house’s bedroom and living room in sight at all times. Some elements are intentionally tacky (the eyesore of a couch plays a big part of the show’s humour) or cheeky (a giant cross on the livingroom wall). However, the overall aesthetic is pleasing, including a glowing moon outside the home. Kelsey John Torok’s subtle lighting effects add an effective touch, helping to shift the action from one room to another.
Sinners is a wild and silly ride—a definite guilty pleasure. So, go ahead and indulge. This is your “hall pass” to revel in some naughty, mischievous fun. 
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