Toronto’s newest theatrical collective, The King Black Box, presents The Glory of Living by Rebecca Gilman.

The Glory of Living delves into the depths of human nature against the backdrop of true events, telling the story of Lisa, a 15-year-old girl, and her marriage to Clint, an ex-con twice her age. Systematically abused by her husband, Lisa is coerced into helping him commit crimes of varying magnitude, including murder.

Gilman's storytelling invites audiences to bear witness to Lisa's struggle for survival amidst the oppressive forces of abuse and exploitation. Through poignant scenes between Lisa and her attorney, as well as her husband Clint, the play reveals the complexities of human relationships and the profound impact of societal neglect. The Glory of Living has been hailed as both intelligent and provoking by critics, who commend Gilman for crafting a couple whose degeneracy serves as a vehicle for a searing analysis of moral codes, sexual abuse, fear, love, poverty and the value of life. 

For this production, director Sophie Ann Rooney has designed an immersive experience that places the audience in pivotal roles including the judge, forepersons, jurors and members of the victim's gallery. By empowering the audience to witness and ultimately make decisions, The Glory of Living becomes a catalyst for dialogue and action.

The play is deeply personal for our director, Sophie, who took on the role of Lisa when the show premiered in France in the early 2000s. Her research into the case that inspired the play and The Lisa Law, connected her to real-life individuals like Judith Ann Neelley and her daughter April, as well as attorney Robert French Jr, whose groundbreaking work on Battered Woman Syndrome informed our understanding of intimate partner violence.

The Glory of Living is led by Madison Caan (The Slow Room, NYC) making her Canadian stage debut as Lisa. Luis Fernandes (The Boys, Amazon Prime) will take on the role of Clint and Mark Kreder (Sleeping Beauty, Globus Theatre) plays Carl, Lisa’s attorney. The cast is rounded out by Dianne Aguilar, Bridget Ori, Sean Rey, Julia Docherty, Stephanie Figueira and Mirko Miljevic. Understudies: Grisha Pasternak and Sean Irvine.

Please note that viewer discretion is strongly advised; content is discouraged for anyone under the age of 19.

Dates: May 16-31 | Doors at 7:30 pm, Show at 8:00 pm (run time is approximately 2.5 hrs)

Location: The King Black Box, 1224 King St. W, 3rd floor (no elevator), Toronto

Charity Preview May 15th - Full proceeds of this show will be donated to: The Assaulted Women's Helpline

For tickets visit www.thekingblackbox.com.