The claustrophobia is palpable in the tiny Little Mountain Studios space off Main Street. One gets the sense that at the inevitably sold-out performances later in the run, the audience itself will experience panic attacks. But this is all part of the show with “Heptademic Redux,” a remount/reworking of one of last year’s Risky Nights showcases from a talented bunch of Studio 58 graduates.

In another “end-of-the-world-epidemic-lock-down” kind of piece, seven people from different walks of life find themselves locked in a nondescript room containing enough sustenance for twelve days, and a tiny bathroom. There is a sense of urgency in all of them, and their layered, interwoven text is beautifully frantic. To help indicate the passage of time, director Anthony E. Ingram (and previous director Rachel Peake) offer some of the most amazingly executed movement sequences you’ll find on a Vancouver stage.

The production is full of surprise gifts. In ensemble work of this nature, the structure can get predictable as we slowly get a glimpse into each character’s fantasy life. And though not all of their internal lives are as curious and intriguing as some, the ensemble itself is expertly used to fully inhabit these alternate worlds: Sean Oliver delivers an endearingly innocent dog, Andrea Yu is a knockout as a bird. Aaron Adams and Gui Fontanezzi also deliver strong work.

As the intensity of their surroundings increases, allegiances start to form among characters, and for this audience member, the stakes were palpable. The performers themselves are so committed (Raes Calvert in particular) and the action is occurring in such proximity to the audience, that there is no choice but to believe wholeheartedly in the danger of the piece. What a gift to an audience.

The writing is not without its expository scenes – mostly surrounding Lisa Goebel’s dog, and the distribution of material could be better balanced – we know that the character Mary has a grandfather somewhere, and that she works as a nurse, but Emily Rowed’s radiant performance makes us crave more story.

But these new writers are still finding their legs. So don’t let the premise fool you, this play sweats out originality and risk, and for anyone considering three years at Studio 58, there is no better showcase for the kind of talent you’ll find there.

Heptademic Redux
Part of the Vancouver International Fringe Festival
Little Mountain Studios
Remaining performances:
Friday Sept 17, 6:00 pm
Friday Sept 17, 8:00 pm
Saturday Sept 18, 6:00 pm
Saturday Sept 18, 8:00 pm
Sunday Sept 19, 6:00 pm
Sunday Sept 19, 8:00 pm