This haunting story combines some of the darkest features of our province and melds it all into a chilling tale that highlights religious abuse, governmental power imbalance, toxic economics and good old ecocide. Alas, Alberta is a sick place. And we’re all in trouble.

One statistic shared in the show is that there are about 170,000 abandoned wells in our province, which represents a staggering 37% of all wells. Many of them are leaking, risk explosions and are a general blight on our once beautiful landscape. The dangerous toxicity of these wells offers a clear parallel to the corruption and decay imposed by those who wield positions of power here. Given the opportunity, those in control would topple us like Humpty Dumpty and then gaslight us into thinking that it can all be reassembled. (Perhaps there is opportunity for a gas lighting pun somewhere…)

Orphan Well stands on an interesting concept but admittedly feels a little undercooked. It might benefit from an expansion and further workshopping. The story is non-linear, and the staging suggests a non-real void where the characters can seamlessly traverse time and space. With some scenes acting as a distant memory and others possibly acting as a hallucination, the audience is often left guessing until the pieces can all be put together. Deepening character, imagination and intention may help us follow along in the absence of an easily identifiable setting.

(Access note: the preshow sound was too loud for me and my guest to communicate comfortably. So, if you enjoy chatting before showtime, consider holding longer in the lobby before claiming your seats.)