Order of Canada recipient Richard Rose is returning to his hometown of Sudbury to direct YES Theatre’s production of Lungs, a two-character play by British playwright Duncan Macmillan. The production runs four times weekly from Aug. 4 to Aug. 29 at The Refettorio, 131 Durham St.
Lungs follows a couple, designated as M and W, as they debate whether to have a baby. The 80-minute uninterrupted drama explores eco-anxiety, relationship evolution, and moral responsibility against a backdrop of global uncertainty.
The narrative begins when M casually asks W if she wants a child, triggering an intense, multi-year mental spiral about the ethics of bringing new life into an overpopulated, warming planet. The characters weigh their carbon footprints against the urge to create a family, questioning if procreating is selfish or hopeful.
Spanning decades, the script tracks their conflicts, a miscarriage, a breakup, reconciliation, and the deep vulnerability of long-term commitment. Karly Friesen and Adrian Marchesano star; Marchesano makes his YES Theatre debut.
Rose served as artistic director of Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre from 2002 to 2020 and has worked across Canada, including at the Stratford Festival. For more information, visit yestheatre.com.
Source: saultstar.com
