From CBC’s In Town and Out host Amanda Putz:
So thought-provoking, intentional, and real. BUYSEXUAL marks the stunning debut of a new Canadian-playwright tour de force.
From Intermissions Magazine
Riddles impeccably weaves comedy with feeling. The result is laughter, and a desire to break out of society-imposed conformities.
“Thirty-four years into marriage, what more could someone want outside of grocery lists and annual puffin-visiting trips? That question — when is it too late to want something more in life? — is the crux of BUYSEXUAL.
Poignantly written by Andrew Riddles with Elle Attson’s smooth direction, Brian and Leslie’s dynamic as a sixty-something married couple shifts when Brian expresses his desire to sleep with a sex worker.
Harold Swaffield and Kim Blanche as Brian and Leslie expertly demonstrate domestic quirks, and brewing inclinations to branch out of familiarity.
There’s an endearing whimsy to character idiosyncrasies, elevating their charm: Swaffield as Brian joyfully pours his tea into his saucer before returning it to his cup, insisting that doing so cools the drink by increasing its surface area.
Blanche is both hilarious and strong-willed as Leslie, whether brutally chopping vegetables or chatting about her husband to her sister
But there’s also an aching amount of social thoughtfulness, striking a sentimental balance to the humour. At one point, the perceptive sex worker, Cordelia, played by an assertive Heather Trent, says to Brian: “We don’t need safer jobs, we need safer men.”
Leslie realizing that she can also crave something bigger than her quiet life is just as entertaining as Brian’s acquired wisdom. Blanche is both hilarious and strong-willed as Leslie, whether brutally chopping vegetables or chatting about her husband to her sister, Amanda (played by a spunky Heather Evens).
BUYSEXUAL’s uniquely sincere characterizations highlight its impactful story. Riddles impeccably weaves comedy with feeling. The result is laughter, and a desire to break out of society-imposed conformities.”
You can read the review on the Intermissions Magazine website
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