Stage Door News

Toronto: Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of “The Jungle” October 1-November 3

Monday, September 30, 2019

Tarragon Theatre is thrilled to kick off the Extraspace 2019/2020 season by announcing the world premiere of The Jungle. The play by Anthony MacMahon & Thomas McKechnie and with direction from Governor General’s Award-winner Guillermo Verdecchia, runs in Tarragon’s Extraspace October 1 - November 3, 2019 (opening October 10).

She’s from Moldova, he’s the son of Chinese immigrants. She’s a factory worker by day and a waitress by night. He’s a cab driver. One night he picks her up running from job to job and their whirlwind relationship begins. A typical Toronto love story, stolen in the moments between shifts. But can their love survive a city in late capitalism?

Embarking on a life together, Veronyka and Jack navigate their relationship in tandem with financial strain, political allegiance and ideology and varied cultural backgrounds. This is a story about the relentless pursuit of making it - whatever that means - in Toronto, where full time work can be sparsely found and ideological beliefs are perhaps sometimes compromised for success.

With a fantastic intersection of heart, real life and economics lessons, snapshots of the pair’s day-to-day lives are broken up by eerily relatable diatribes of personal finance, briefings on budgeting one’s life and reflections on a gig economy that seems almost entirely structured to hold down those working within it. As the pair stand on the precipice of making it, will they even stop to wonder if the compromises are worth it? And are their compromises the only way to get there?

The Jungle was inspired by Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel of the same name. The original novel relayed - among other things - an account of Chicago’s meatpacking industry, for which the public’s rattled response resulted in the first American food inspection agency. But the novel wasn’t really about the meat and this play may not really be just about the typical Toronto love story, stolen in the moments between shifts.  

"We’re so excited to launch Tarragon’s Extraspace season for 2019/20 with the world premiere of The Jungle,” notes Tarragon’s Artistic Director Richard Rose. "This is a timely story likely to resonate with many Torontonians.”
 
The Jungle features Tarragon newcomers Shannon Currie (Theatre Aquarius’ Steel City Gangster, Why Not Theatre’s Iceland, CBC’s “Murdoch Mysters”) and Matthew Gin (Blyth Festival The New Canadian Curling Club, Dora-nominated Banana Boys). The Jungle is written by Anthony MacMahon (The Voyager Golden Records) and Thomas McKechnie (Rarely Pure Theatre’s Valkyrie, Bad Hats Theatre’s The Bike Show), with direction from Soulpepper resident artist Guillermo Verdecchia (Governor-General’s Award for Drama, four-time recipient of Chalmers Canadian Play Award).

The Jungle runs in Tarragon Theatre’s Extraspace from October 1 - November 3, opening officially Thursday, October 10.  

The Jungle (World Premiere)
Extraspace
written by Anthony MacMahon & Thomas McKechnie
directed by Guillermo Verdecchia
starring Shannon Currie & Matthew Gin
October 1 - November 3, 2019 (opening October 10)


“I worked ‘til I was ready to die. I made it. I belong here. I have carved myself into this country.”

She’s from Moldova, he’s the son of Chinese immigrants. She’s a factory worker by day and a waitress by night. He’s a cab driver.
 
One night he picks her up running from job to job and their whirlwind relationship begins.
 
A typical Toronto love story, stolen in the moments between shifts. But can their love survive a city in late capitalism?

CAST + CREW
directed by Guillermo Verdecchia
written by Anthony MacMahon & Thomas McKechnie
starring Shannon Currie (“Veronyka“) & Matthew Gin (“Jack“)
set and costume designer Shannon Lea Doylelighting designer Michelle Ramsay
stage manager Kathleen Jones

Showtimes are Tuesday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm, and select Saturdays at 2:30pm.

Tickets range from $22 - $60 and can be purchased online at www.tarragontheatre.com, or by phone at 416-531-1827. Discounts are available for seniors, students and groups and arts workers. Patrons under 35 & arts workers visit www.tarragontheatre.com/tarragon22.

Tarragon offers the most flexible subscription packages in the city with savings of up to 40%, allowing patrons to choose their productions, change their dates free of charge, and offering many different price points to suit all schedules and budgets. Visit the website or call Patron Services today for more information.
 
Rush tickets are sold for $20 cash only, in person at the theatre two hours before showtime. This year Tarragon will also be offering online rush tickets at varying discounts, 24h prior to the show. Both Rush ticket options are subject to availability.
 
For more information on Tarragon’s events and activities, visit www.tarragontheatre.com.

Photo: Matthew Gin. © 2019 Jim Ryce.