Room (play)

Room is a play with songs based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue, which was also adapted into a 2015 film of the same name.[1] It tells the story of Ma, who was kidnapped as a teenager and locked inside a room for seven years by her captor. Longing to find a way out and escape, Ma is trapped with her five-year-old son, Jack, who has no concept of the world outside.

Room
Written by
Date premiered10 May 2017 (2017-05-10)
Place premieredTheatre Royal Stratford East, London
Original languageEnglish
GenreDrama

Production history

On May 10, 2017, the play made its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in Stratford, London.[2] It was directed by Cora Bissett, and starred Witney Wright as Ma. The role of Jack was shared by Darmani Eboji, Taye Kassim Junaid-Evans, and Harrison Wilding.[3] The production ran until June 3, 2022, before it transferred to the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland.

Room was scheduled to make its North American premiere at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario on March 13, 2020,[4] before travelling to the CAA Theatre in Toronto on April 4, 2020.[5] However, the planned production was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The play eventually made its North American premiere in London, Ontario at the Grand Theatre's Spriet Stage, playing between March 8 - 19, 2022.[7][8] Room then transferred to the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Ontario.[9] It opened on April 5, 2022, and closed on May 8, 2022.[10] The Toronto cast starred Alexis Gordon as Ma, Brandon Michael Arrington as SuperJack, with Lucien Duncan-Reid and Levi Dombokah sharing the role of Jack.[11]

On January 23, 2023, it was announced that the play would premiere on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre for a limited engagement.[12] The cast would include Adrienne Warren, Ephraim Sykes, and Kate Burton.[13] Previews would begin on April 3, 2023, ahead of an official opening night on April 17, and would close on September 17, 2023. On March 16, 2023, it was announced that the production has been postponed indefinitely due to the departure of a lead producer.[14]

Cast and characters
Role Theatre Royal Stratford East / Ireland[3] Grand Theatre / London, ON[15] Toronto[11]
2017 2022 2022
Ma Witney White Alexis Gordon
Young Jack Darmani Eboji
Taye Kassim Junaid-Evans
Harrison Wilding		 Lucien Duncan-Reid
Isaac Chan		 Lucien Duncan-Reid
Levi Dombokah
SuperJack Fela Lufadeju Brandon Michael Arrington
Old Nick Liam McKenna Ashley Wright
Grandma Lucy Tregear Tracey Ferencz
Grandpa / Doctor Stephen Casey Stewart Arnott
Police / Interviewer / Popcorn Server Janet Kumah Shannon Taylor

Reception

Reviewing the world premiere production, Michael Billington of The Guardian gave the show four out of five stars. Describing the show as "deeply touching", he praised the staging of the show, and how it gives the audience a deeper insight into the relationship between Ma and Jack.[1]

In his review of the Toronto production, Joshua Chong for the Toronto Star praised the stage direction, the visuals, and Gordon's "tour-de-force" performance as Ma, though he felt the songs were mostly unmemorable.[16] J. Kelly Nestruck of The Globe and Mail similarly praised Gordon's performance and the intensity of the show, but felt the second act lacked focus.[17]

Awards and nominations

Toronto production
Year Award Category Nominee Result
2022 Dora Mavor Moore Awards[18][19] Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role Alexis Gordon Won
Outstanding Lighting Design Bonnie Beecher Nominated

References
  1. Billington, Michael (11 May 2017). "Room review – Emma Donoghue's story of survival is ingeniously staged". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  2. La Rose, Lauren (3 May 2017). "Emma Donoghue's Room takes the stage". Toronto Star. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  3. "Room". PlayographyIreland. Irish Theatre Institute.
  4. Hazlewood, Julianne (February 6, 2019). "London, Ont. Grand Theatre to host North American stage premiere of Room". CBC London. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  5. Ahsan, Sadaf (23 September 2019). "Hamilton, Hello Dolly and a Bob Dylan musical are just some of the highlights this season at Mirvish". National Post. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  6. Gans, Andrew; McPhee, Ryan (4 April 2020). "Mirvish Extends Suspension of Performances in All Toronto Theatre, Affecting Hamilton, Come From Away, More". Playbill.
  7. Paparella, Nick (8 March 2022). "Third time's the charm for 'Room' at the Grand Theatre". CTV News London. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  8. "REVIEW: Room's revised stage version embodies richness of Emma Donoghue's novel". lfpress. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  9. "Mirvish theatres to reopen in April with production of Room". CBC News. 2022-02-22. Archived from the original on 2022-10-03.
  10. Fricker, Karen (28 March 2022). "'Every author should be so lucky' to have enduring story, says 'Room' author Emma Donoghue in advance of the play with music adaptation opening in Toronto". Toronto Star. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  11. Rabinovitz, Chloe (28 February 2022). "North American Premiere of ROOM by Emma Donoghue Announced". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  12. Evans, Greg (23 January 2023). "'Room' Broadway Adaptation To Star Adrienne Warren, Announces Spring Opening". Deadline. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  13. Evans, Greg (15 February 2023). "Broadway's 'Room' Completes Casting". Deadline. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  14. Putnam, Leah (17 March 2023). "Broadway's 'Room' Postpones Indefinitely Citing the Withdrawal of a Lead Producer". Playbill. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  15. "'Every author should be so lucky' to have enduring story, says 'Room' author Emma Donoghue in advance of the play with music adaptation opening in Toronto". thestar.com. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  16. Chong, Joshua (9 April 2022). "Visually arresting and emotionally rich, Emma Donoghue's 'Room' is boldly realized for the stage". Toronto Star. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  17. Nestruck, J. Kelly (10 April 2022). "Theatrical adaptation of Room at Princess of Wales Theatre is the most intense, uncompromising version yet". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  18. Murphy, Aisling (29 August 2022). "Nomination Announcements: 42nd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards". Intermission. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  19. Chong, Joshua (19 September 2022). "'Sweeney Todd,' 'Italian Mime Suicide' and 'Wildfire' win big at 2022 Dora Awards". Toronto Star. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
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