Tell Me Before The Sun Explodes Review

“You don’t spend your life hating the sun because you know it will explode one day.”

Written by Jacob Parker and directed by Hayden Tonazzi, Tell Me Before The Sun Explodes is a witty, gay, and at times uncomfortably truthful piece of theatre. With themes of death, love, and the Queer struggle to find intimacy in a straight world regardless of age or generation.

The play follows a recently separated couple of a younger and older man. The older man Andrew has been diagnosed with cancer and is soon to pass away. Set inside Andrew’s apartment, the story cuts between the past and present. The past shows a time when the couple were warmer and closer to each other, while in the present their interactions feel strained and resentful. The show focuses on this dynamic and how their relationship morphs and changes, eventually ending in a kinder yet somewhat melancholy state of understanding and sympathy.

Throughout this journey, you get to experience the wonderful chemistry between Tim McGarry and Joshua Shediak and the impressive stamina they bring to the stage. With believable performances I never once found myself losing interest in them. Something striking to me was their ability to switch between scenes naturally and with delightful ease. While I don’t think I can say I was ever rooting for their relationship, it was interesting to see a couple with such a large age gap be taken seriously and it was clear the two characters cared for each other deeply. It would have been easy to depict the relationship as unsavoury or even unpleasant, but it never was.

Jacob Parker created characters who felt real, tangible, and authentic. While Hayden Tonazzi took care to treat these people with sympathy and the humility they so much deserved. And something that made the production even more impressive was the distinctly intelligent lighting and sound design. Ryan Mcdonald and Chrysoulla Markoulli created a world that immersed you in its atmosphere and foreshadowed some of the most heartbreaking plot twists.

Astra, 16 [she/her]

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Tell Me Before The Sun Explodes (Jacob Parker) is an exceptional piece of theatre that deserves to be seen.

The story follows Andrew and Chris; two ex-lovers who, while no longer together, still seem to have a significant impact on one another. It’s an exploration of their relationship and a depiction of the beginning vs. what now seems to be the end. The sun exploding is one of those things that we have no control over, yet we can’t come back from – an allegory for death in a sense. Those last 8 minutes of life.

The set design was brilliant, depicting an apartment that is seemingly falling apart; an effective reflection of the ruins of Andrew and Chris’ relationship. The lighting and sound design only aided in creating these quick time jumps and shifts in mood; with the happy beginning scenes reflecting warm tones and the not so happy ending scenes using cooler blue lighting. The writing is brilliant with scenes that overlap in dialogue to show how time has passed and meaning has changed.

Tonazzi’s direction should be applauded and the actors should be commended for this. Transitioning from the high stakes emotional conversations at the end of the relationship to the cutsie getting to know each other scenes at the start. Although only a two-hander performance, both actors hold themselves brilliantly. Joshua Shediak was definitely a stand out for me. His presence, vulnerability and charming wit made the ending hit even harder.

4.5 Stars