Paul van Dyck’s Siberian Summer is a hilarious romp following three women “of a certain age” and a “failure to launch son” on their monsoon of a journey of self-discovery as they travel aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway from St. Petersburg to Beijing. Inspired by an actual trip the playwright took with his mother and her friends, this whimsical and exuberant play reminds audiences that life is an adventure worth living to the fullest, no matter your age.
Set largely within the confined space of a train carriage, the play blends humour, memory and reflection as the women confront their pasts, their friendship, and the realities of aging. Through their conversations and encounters along the way, the play explores themes of independence, nostalgia, regret, and the enduring need for adventure even late in life.
While this seems like a serious subject, the play is anything but. While doing cold reads at the auditions, actors were literally laughing out loud as they read the various parts. Much of the play’s humour arises from the contrast between the women’s personalities.
Deborah, played by Heddy Sorour, has a sharp tongue and a quick wit and is a little bit mean. That said, she is a devoted friend and mother. Anita Plunkett plays Louise, the brains of the group. She also has an unabashed wild side. Beatrice, played by Janet Rice, is full of wide-eyed wonder. She is often muddled and confused by the world around her, but her nature is to face that world with love and optimism.
Deborah’s son, Peter (played by Doch Dendy) is lost. Though he aspires to greatness, he suffers from Peter Pan Syndrome. And finally, Sonya (played by Pia Bibi) is very serious and practical. While she is the obvious outsider and youngest member of the group, there is no question that she is able to be a leader.
As the journey progresses, the women begin to see the trip not simply as a vacation but as an opportunity for personal renewal. The changing scenery — forests, rivers, and distant towns — mirrors the gradual emotional shifts taking place among them. Old resentments soften, and the friends rediscover the bond that originally brought them together.
By the end of the play, the journey across Siberia has become symbolic of the later stage of life itself: long, sometimes uncertain, but still capable of surprise and beauty. All this reflection occurs with quick-witted dialogue and a laugh a minute!
Siberian Summer plays for four performances at the Merrickville Community Centre on April 30, May 1 and 2 at 7pm, and on May 3 at 2pm.Tickets are $20 and available at merrickvilletheatre.org or at the door.