By Keren Banza
Falling into the rhythms of domestic life doesn’t mean shoving dreams into a closet. Spanish Steps zeroes in on the dissatisfaction of a middle-aged man after spending the ‘best years’ of his life bound to domesticity.
The production, written by Gavin Werner, takes audiences on a thought-provoking exploration of the timeline of life. Under the skilled direction of Caroline Midgley, we are invited to question the effects of our decisions and whether we are forever held to them.
Barry (Werner), and Maureen (Dianne Simpson), lead us through a journey of self-discovery and redemption – all while stuck in a basement. Barry is a divorced middle-aged man who has worked as a software developer, in the same company, for 25 years. Maureen, a morally objective woman, is the head of Human Relations. The improbable duo find themselves stuck in the company’s basement together.
Werner and Simpson deliver strong performances. Their witty banter is a shield for the past regrets that hold them back. Maureen unravels her resentment of abandonment brought on by her father following his infidelity that broke her family apart. The downfalldown fall of Barry’s marriage coincided with the estranged relationshiprealtionship with his daughter – a central event we come to learn about later. The two mirror each other’s longing to set things right.
The Spanish Steps found in Rome represent Barry’s dream to draw and travel. He spends a good portion of the production grumbling. In his eyes, taking responsibility as the sole provider for his family killed his dream. Thus, he is unable to properly acknowledge his role in how his life unravelled. Dreams may be fulfilled when you have a family, even years after their conception. Life doesn’t have to hinge on one dissatisfactory note.
On a different note, Spanish Steps attempts to start a conversation; we are not forever bound to our decisions. There is always room for amendment and time to remedy how our decisions have impacted others.
