Thank you to the amazing Doug Gallant for the review of this great piece of theatre at The Guild.

“Unless you’ve worked in the theatre at some point in your life chances are you don’t know what really happens backstage in the dressing room.

The dressing room is a world unto itself.

On the surface it’s a sanctuary of sorts where actors, frequently elbow to elbow, apply their make-up, get into costume and often review their scripts before going out there to make the magic happen.

But it’s much more than that.

In Robin Craig’s absolutely delightful new comedy The Two Horsewomen, which had its world premiere at The Guild Friday night, you find out how much more.

Craig’s brilliantly crafted and insightful script, inspired in part by her own 50 +year career in theatre and television, reveals the secondary role of the dressing room as a place for actors to vent.

With co-star Judy Marshak, whose decades long friendship with Craig has seen them share the stage more than once, Craig reflects on the ups and downs of the actors life.

They talk about the roles they got that helped define their careers, the roles they didn’t get but should have and the roles they want.

But they also reflect on a situation many women in theatre and film find themselves in when they reach a certain age, the good roles become increasingly harder to find and competition for those roles is stiff.

They often find themselves cast in roles they believe are beneath them but the harsh economic reality of the theatre dictates they can’t really say no.

In The Two Horsewomen the accomplished actors played by Craig and Marshak find themselves cast as either end of a dancing horse.

It’s a crushing blow to an actor’s ego but work is work and money is money.

It’s humiliating for an actor and almost drives Marshak’s character to pack it in but they ultimately stick it out make the best of it.

The script is hilarious and Craig and Marshak will have you chucking, snorting and guffawing for the duration.

Loved Lori Hickling’s set and costume design and Kate Lynch’s direction.

And I must add a nod to Nathaniel Ing and Jennifer Arsenault who turned the set changes into their own little bit of clever business.

The Two Horsewomen is a first class effort showcasing two women at the top of their craft.

If you get the chance to see it you really should.”

Doug Gallant

Theatre PEI