An Unsafe Space: when triggers are comedy
12 Jan 2019

by Drew Rowsome - Photos by Paul Alexander

Just why is the phrase "taking it up the ass" or "getting fucked up the ass" most frequently used as a negative metaphor? Words matter and when, in An Unsafe Place, a lawyer attempts to use the aforementioned phrases as positive descriptors, the comedy and ideas spin deliciously out of control. Playwright and director Richard Klagsburn sincerely hopes that at least part of the audience will be offended, but mostly they are too busy laughing. Even us snowflakes, libtards, woke folk, and social justice activists.

Well-meaning liberals are an easy if dangerous target. Klagsburn jumps on triggers and deliberately provokes with gleeful abandon. Politics and hot button topics are debated in considerable depth, but it is all contained in an effervescent frothy farce, satire that bites. An Unsafe Space could not be more timely - especially when presented on the fringes of U of T's campus - as debates about free speech, race, colonialism, LGBTQ rights and the coddling of students, are part of our daily conversations. If only those conversations were as hilarious.

A small group of left-leaning academics gather to discuss how to battle a 40 million dollar endowment for a think tank sponsored by right-leaning academics. The lines are clearly drawn and the righteousness is palpable. Precious Chong (Superhero!) is Joanna the host and organizer, but she has also invited her new "beau" Oliver (Craig Lauzon, Orlando), the aforementioned lawyer who is also aboriginal. And more sexually charged than politically left. He is charming in that oily suit-style manner and it is frequently disturbing when Lauzon's appeal makes potentially distasteful arguments palatable.

But of course his comic foils are appalled for reasons beyond the political. Both Patrick (John Jarvis, Orlando) and Lindy (Jane Spidell, The Wedding Party) have a history with Joanna. Patrick gets the best line, "The good thing about a pity fuck is that the orgasm is the same as any other fuck," while Spidell creates an easily outraged, sexually predatory, delusionally persecuted lesbian who commands attention and laughter every time she opens her mouth or absently strokes a nipple. Less invested but equally entertaining are Chanakya Mukherjee as the student representative and "exotic" gay Muslim, and his girlfriend Jenny Weisz who proves pivotal in the second act. And there is a late entrance by Peter Millard as the smooth right wing voice of reason. 

Each of the characters are artfully etched and poised to richochet off each others' personalities, proclivities and ideologies. There is just a slight disconnect between the individually stellar performances, leading to some great lines being lost and some stutters in timing that break the rapid-fire madcap dialogue. However I did attend the preview and it is hard to imagine that these pros won't adjust quickly and make the text zing with the nasty precision teamwork it requires.

Alas, the venue also sabotages the production. Noise from the surrounding bars leaks in and the inadequate lighting grid lets down an otherwise clever conceptual/realistic set - kudos to Ken Deally for taking a metaphor and making it concrete (pun intended) - and leaves characters stranded in a limbo between being background and being static. Much alcohol is swilled and it is impossible not to consider An Unsafe Space as a riff or update on Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with the addition of considerable ambition and some choice one-liners.

Depending on their leanings, audience members are given permission to choose their own victors and villains. All are as pompous and preposterous as they are utterly realistic and contemporary. Is a feminist betraying the cause when she uses her attractiveness and sexuality to get ahead? Can we really stop "pigeonholing people into genders?" Just who controls free speech? Why are "taking it up the ass" and "not my cup of tea" so similar? There are talkbacks with guests following each performance and I sincerely regret missing the one with Sky Gilbert who is right in the middle of a very similar farcical mess. And who has vivid opinions about it all. I'll also be curious to read his review of An Unsafe Space should he be offended or amused enough to write one.

An Unsafe Space gets extra points for finally acknowledging the awkwardness of theatrical acknowledgements.