The House of Sin

The boys are back in town, and they’re ready to play.  Until recently, Kamloops’ resident “bad boys”, 3 Men of Sin Theatre Productions have been scattered across the country; working, going to school, and living their “other” lives.  But it’s summertime and the boys are back, and that means some more great theatre for Kamloops.

This summer’s offering is another dark and brilliant comedy by Canadian playwright Daniel McIvor, produced in conjunction with Mad Jack McMad Productions.  The show, entitled House, is a one-act, one-man voyage of discovery.  It follows the story of a man ironically named Victor, who life is filled with an endless parade of disappointments.  Victor is a septic tank salesman on a journey of discovery – heading north on a bus and trying for a new beginning.

According to Graham Kosakoski, who plays Victor, his character is “a man who’s been dealt a few unlucky, unfortunate blows.” As we discuss the closing of the play, where Victor asks a sympathetic waitress what he should do, Graham adds, “He’s not facetious, he believes everything he says – he’s so involved with his own pathos.”

Before you turn away thinking, “Here we go, another depressing piece of theatre”, remember this – Daniel McIvor is a playwright renowned for turning characters into human beings – that’s the genius of his plays.  As Graham says, “the play deals with common issues, but the way that it’s done is so different.  It’s hard to describe… It’s the McIvor-esque way that he does it…”

Trent Scherer, who is at the helm of this project, leaps in with “Keep in mind, the name is House.”  He goes on to explain that not only does the title refer to the fact that Victor is in the process of re-working his home; it also refers to where the audience sits, the house.  “It’s metatheatrical,” Trent says, “He comes out into the audience – it’s very theatrical and very obviously not life.”  He points out that because there is no fourth wall, there is a strong sense of communion with the audience.  Also, because of the odd style of the play, the audience can never be quite sure who is telling the story – is it the character, the actor, or the person being the actor playing the character?

To some actors, this role might seem daunting.  Not to Graham.  “It’s just so well done,” he says, “so well written.”  Although just 20 years old, Kosakoski already has a very impressive CV to his credit; in fact, in May 2000, he was offered a national entrance award to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy – a position he turned down to pursue pre-law at Queen’s University.  Pre-law or not, the acting bug has him in its grip, and Graham continues to participate in theatre productions at Queen’s, and has also founded an improv league there [Queen's International Study Center].

Scherer is also no stranger to the stage; he’s been involved in the theatre scene in Kamloops and in Ontario for years, and just finished his Masters in Drama at the University of Toronto.  He’s back in town “to pay off my student loan for a while,” and to do some more work with 3 Men of Sin.  He hints that there are changes in the wind for the company, and while he won’t say anything just now, promises the full scoop for the August issue.

Trying to sum up the play, Trent explains that it is the disillusioned Victor’s chance to “spill everything to a captive audience.”  “He’s very hectic,” Trent explains.  “He’s in group (which I don’t think he likes) and he never really talks.”  He adds, “I don’t want to give too much away, but it ends in a spectacular way.”

The 3 Men of Sin/Mad Jack McMad production of Daniel McIvor’s House runs August 8 – 10, 2002 at the Pavilion Theatre.  Show time is 8pm.  Tickets are available at Kamloops Live! Box Office, 374-5483.

-S. MacDonald