Code Grey - The Code - Play Review

The Code - Green Thumb Theatre in the Studio at Young People's Theatre - Toronto, ON - **** (out of 5 stars) 
Written by Rachel Aberle, Directed by Patrick McDonald
Runs until Dec. 14th 2018, continues on tour. 

               

The Code starts off with three friends in high school, 2 guys and 1 girl, as they react to a new school dress code policy. Through insinuations spreading through social media, Moira, is somehow blamed by the student body. In an attempt to clear her name, Moira, with the help of her best friends Simon and Connor, help start a protest, which unfortunately has unintended consequences which fracture the trio of friends. When Simon also learns his crush on Moira is not reciprocated, his reaction and actions causes a chain reaction that questions his loyalty and what true friendship ever is.

In the short span of the 55 minute play, Aberle manages to lay out some complicated issues in a very logical, plausible and realistic way, in a plot that twists and turns in its brief and efficient running time. Without clear answers, this issues driven play meant for teens, doesn't feel like a lesson plan but brings up interesting issues of loyalty, friendship, and more importantly, an ethics code especially in a world further complicated by social media and the internet.

In a particularly interesting, and often unexplored in a truly honest way in any play or show, Aberle delves into the "good guy" and the way men are often excused in their entitlement and terrible expectations just because they had acted as the "good guy" friend. When Simon finds out things are not going the way he had hoped, he does some terrible things. He isn't painted as an automatic villain, and still clings onto a good guy image, but Aberle lets things play out in a grey zone before we truly see what kind of man Simon really is, all while Moira learns of the reality of her friendship. The hidden misogyny and sexism, as well as male entitlement comes to light in this sharply written play as both Moira and Connor realize the broken trust as well as figuring out the next reactionary steps.

               

The cast from Vancouver, consisting of Elizabeth Barrett as Moira, Nathan Kay as Simon, and Mason Temple as Connor, are all terrific, and I hope to see more of these young actors on this side of Canada. With only a cast of three, we still feel the haunting wrath of this unseen student body, with McDonald efficiently directing the play in front of a simple brick wall and benches and some terrific lighting design (by Martin Conboy) that easily convey a school yard setting.




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