Previewed by J. Bruce Parker
In a recent conversation I had with London playwright, Jason Rip, he stated that he writes plays for “the precious few who prefer their theatre to be hard-hitting social commentary instead of song and dance.”
Actor/director Dave Semple mentioned to me in an interview last year that he likes “stories that are dark and have a good depth of substance to them.”
So, what is theatre to a viewing audience?
Should its goal be to enlighten or enrich? Do you prefer leaving a theatrical performance with a smile and a sense of contentment rather than feeling troubled by what you just saw on stage? What are the limits of theatrical performances? What should be performed and spoken on stage?
Dave Semple is directing Patrick Marber’s Closer, which will be performed on the Procunier Hall stage at the Palace Theatre from February 5 to 15. Marber’s play offers a lens into the rawness of the human psyche as it defines love, trust, and betrayal.
Getting a whiff of the oncoming production, The London Free Press warned the viewing audience that the play, “may feature nude actors and scenes depicting sexuality, spurring the addition of an intimacy coach to the crew.” Is press like this a help or a hindrance?
I recently had the opportunity to view a rehearsal and talk with the cast and crew.
Dave Semple, with over forty years of experience as a drama teacher, actor, and director, explained why he wanted to undertake such a project.
“I don’t think there are always happy endings in lives and relationships, and I wanted to direct a play which was representative of something real, not the usual perfect relationships and happy endings that we usually see in theatre.”
He adds, ‘Despite the characters’ flaws and how they treat each other, what we want you to discover is that there are moments of redemption for all of them. We tried to build that into the story. The play is about the mistakes we make in relationships. Everyone says that they are looking for love, but ‘love’ for everyone is different.”
(Pictured: Sarah Taylor and Dave Semple. Photo Credit: J. Bruce Parker.)
Semple is assisted by Sarah Taylor, a teacher and actress who was brought in as an “Intimacy Director” for the production.
I must admit, this role in a theatre production is new to me, so a quick Google search helped define it. Better yet, I asked Sarah to interpret her role.
“The role of Intimacy Director has been around for some time, but certainly more prominent than it used to be. It is someone who handles sensitive stage moments; things that may need finesse or support. The director sees the big picture, but the Intimacy Director partners with the director to be the bridge between them and the actors,” she says. “We have to look at the actor’s comfort and what the director wants the actor to do in terms of intimacy, understanding the actors’ boundaries and finding a way to honour both. I can be the voice of the actor and still have a relationship with the director to make sure that their vision is maintained.”
I asked Sarah what she wants the audience to walk away with at the play’s end.
“I want the audience to experience vulnerability,” says Sarah. “There is a vulnerability in this play that sees humanity in a 360-degree view. I really believe this is something important for the audience to engage with.”
(Pictured: Set of Closer. Photo Credit: Palace Theatre.)
The production is laid out on a sparse set. Just a black curtain as a backdrop and a few chairs centre stage. With only four actors performing, dialogue has to propel the story deeply and compellingly.
Semple has carefully assembled his cast with the likes of Alex Pinter (Larry), Meghan Brown (Anna), Noah Englmann (Dan), and Scarlett Allen (Alice).
(Pictured: Cast of Closer – Alex Pinter, Noah Englmann, Scarlett Allen, and Meghan Brown. Photo Credit:J. Bruce Parker.)
I asked each actor to define their character:
Alex (Larry) – “My character is generally an honest person, but I think he is driven. Larry wants to have good, constant sex, but he mistakes sex for love.”
Meghan (Anna) – “Anna is someone who thinks she has her life together and thinks she knows what she want but she tends to self-sabotage. She is not comfortable with being comfortable, especially with love, and this is where desire takes over.”
Noah (Dan) – “His incessant need for the truth gets in the way of love. At the end of the play, I don’t think Dan believes in love. In my presentation of Dan, he doesn’t question his belief in love at the end of the play. He keeps seeing the pattern happening over and over, and he is starting to waver in his belief in love.”
Scarlett (Alice) – “I am empathic towards Alice. The story is about people looking for connections, and this is all she wants, and in searching for it, she is always pushing people away. She tries to make herself into something people want, so she totally makes herself up. She likes to create a persona, and that is probably why she becomes a stripper.”
Closer brings together four people whose lives collide, intertwine and subsequently collapse. The mood is edgy, with dialogue that is muscular, tough, and brutal. There is a blurred line between love and lust, and sex is used as currency as well as a form of deception and vengeance.
Larry tells us, “What’s so great about the truth? Try lying for a change. It’s the currency of the world.”
Alice reiterates by saying, “Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off.”
There is humour in this story, but it’s brief and fragmented and never diffuses the ongoing tension between the characters.
Closer holds up a mirror to the audience in portraying the bold, honest and unsavoury aspects of relationships. It is the right fit for Procunier Hall and the right fit for those who appreciate a more visceral form of theatre.
IF YOU GO:
What: Patrick Marber’s Closer, directed by Dave Semple.
Where: Procunier Hall at the Palace Theatre, 710 Dundas St., London, ON.
When: February 5-15, 2026.
Tickets: Adults: $33, Students/Seniors (55+): $30, Preview: $22 (fees included). https://mytickets.palacetheatre.ca/eventperformances.asp?evt=525
Note: Contains explicit sexual content, strong language, and mature themes. THIS SHOW IS RECOMMENDED FOR 18+ ONLY.
(Closer Cast. Photo Credit: Palace Theatre.)
Previewed by J. Bruce Parker
The Beat Magazine 2025 