I was able to experience Webs We Weave in the perfect context – with a crew of high school students on a school outing. To sit among these high schoolers, as they watched their peers create and perform their own stories, was nothing short of fascinating and somewhat deeply meta. This show was written by teens, acted by teens and then rightfully consumed by teens. A full circle of youth engagement in the arts! Teen issues are fundamentally universal and there is no doubt that the show inspired many of the teens in the audience to create something of their own. Webs We Weave is not only a wonderful creative outlet for the kids in the show but also provides inspiration to the kids in the audience.
A collaboration between Roundhouse Youth Theatre Action Group Project (RHYTAG) and Some Assembly Theatre Company, Webs We Weave takes you back to your own tumultuous high school years. Director Valerie Methot recreates the chaos of adolescence accurately with a troupe of fresh-faced youth actors. This cast of youth actors auditioned for the play with a prepared monologue about their own experiences. Methot then wove these monologues together into one seamless story and Webs We Weave was born.
The show opens with Elise and Sage, who are waiting for their friends at the merry-go-round, as it is Elise’s birthday. Among Elise’s awaited friends are Robin and Travis, a half-brother-sister pair who bicker constantly. There is also Tessa, a recently estranged friend of Elise’s who tries to throw a spanner into the festivities. Lizzie and Darius are poets and writers who spy on the birthday party to come up with new writing material. Three clowns hired by Elise’s mother follow these friends around and provide an omniscient commentary on the characters’ inner turmoil. As the evening progresses each character identifies and deals with their personal demon. Grief, loss, relationships, alienation, family, friendships, anger and sexuality are all addressed from the volatile adolescent perspective. The set is decorated with streamers and the actors move freely across the large stage. There is dancing and music. A particularly beautiful song sung by Sophie Elder-Labrie who plays Sage, occurs about halfway through the show. Sophie’s voice brings to mind the very early Alanis Morissette years and give you chills. These young actors have done a fantastic job and you can tell that they are extremely proud and happy to be a part of the play. They thrive on the expertise received from their adult theatre crew.
Webs We Weave is a sweet and well-meaning endeavour. It genuinely conveys the devastating difficulty of adolescence, when changes are rapid and teens have to constantly grapple with the idea of identity. Adolescence is a highly relatable theme. The actors are inexperienced but it is their unpolished acting qualities that make the play appear sincere. The issues in the play are the actors’ real problems that they have chosen to bravely address. The actors range from 15 to 20 and display great potential. They will go on to become key figures in the Vancouver theatre scene as they grow and hone their crafts. Seeing these teenagers not only act out their stories but also write them, is incredibly touching. With so many stories on the go, it becomes hard to keep the narrative balanced but Methot does her best. The result is a slight degree of haziness. As I watched the play however, its very scatteredness reminded me of what my own teenage years were like. Everything was confusing. I was always searching for meaning, which seemed just an inch beyond my reach at any given point. Everything was about me but I felt excluded and disconnected at the same time. I didn’t have the cognitive tools yet to assess the bigger picture. These attributes are all mirrored in the unstructured free-fall of the play. By staying true to the stories of the actors and allowing them the freedom to tell their stories the way they want, Webs We Weave creates a very believable and heartfelt portrait of adolescence.
Webs We Weave is a wonderful project that promotes the merits of theatre to youth communities. The show plays at the Roundhouse Theatre till the 2nd of May and is absolutely free. Bring your children, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Let them get bitten by the magical bug of theatre. You would be evil not to.
Some Assembly will be holding auditions for their next play in September so make sure you let the youths in your vicinity know about this wonderful opportunity. Visit Some Assembly at www.someassembly.ca.
-Prachi Kamble