“It’s hard, isn’t it? Taking care of yourself in a world that isn’t built for you.”
Part poem, part social commentary, part existential exploration, Northern Light Theatre’s Enough defies categorization. This 60-minute one act follows Toni (Kristin Johnston) and Jane (Linda Grass), two seasoned flight attendants who have formed a close friendship over 20 years of working together. These characters will feel strikingly familiar to anyone who has set foot on a plane, from their pleasant and unwavering smiles during boarding to their eerily synchronized safety demonstrations.
Thanks to sharp choreography by Ainsley Hillyard and top-notch directing and design by Trevor Schmidt, Grass and Johnston perfectly embody these iconic figures. In the air, they are symbols of safety and of sex, with perfectly pressed uniforms and not one hair out of place. But, as the show progresses, audiences will come to realize that nothing is truly as perfect as it might seem. On the ground, Toni enters an abusive relationship, withdraws from Jane, and channels all her energy into a potential promotion. On the ground, Jane paints and endlessly re-paints her bathroom, convinced she’ll find the perfect shade of blue. On the ground, Toni and Jane feel the earth rumble beneath them and worry they are being left behind.
Written by Scottish playwright Stef Smith, Enough’s script is fast-moving and incisive. Scenes shift from conversations between characters, first-person monologues, and third-person narration. A pace like this is hard to pull off, but Enough’s artistic team passes with flying colours. And, just like the flight attendants they are playing, Johnston and Grass act as capable stewards through the turbulence of Smith’s script.
Jam-packed with contemporary hauntings and held together by an essential depiction of female friendship, Northern Light Theatre’s Enough is a tour de force. Make no mistake, this is a production that will have audiences talking.
Enough is on until February 4 at the Studio Theatre inside Fringe Theatre Adventures. Buy your tickets here.
