Empty the House is an intimate story about family members in trauma, disclosing secrets and regrets.
- Steve Cohen, Broad Street Review, 2016
Empty the House
Composed by Rene Orth
Libretto by Mark Campbell
October 6-13, 2023
CSpace Marda Loop Theatre
Calgary, AB
Houston, 1995. Following a self-imposed estrangement of ten years, Faith returns to the small suburban house in which she grew up, to help her mother, Brenda, move out. Over the course of three days, mother and daughter pack up articles of the house into boxes, argue with each other, and share silent dinners, as time alternates between childhood and adulthood to reveal current and past recriminations and regrets. Faith accuses her mother of abuse for leaving her alone in the basement of their home while she was away and for abandoning her brother Paul when he was mortally ill with AIDS, while Brenda seeks forgiveness from her daughter for her inadequacy as a mother after her husband left her. As Faith leaves in the final scene, Paul returns as a presence to offer his mother solace and reassurance.
Meet the Cast and Creatives
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Lauren Woods
Soprano (Brenda)
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Simran Claire
Mezzo Soprano (Faith)
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Marcel Sokalski
Baritone (Paul)
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Mari Coetzee
Cello
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Jaques Forest
Double Bass
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Anastasiia Lykhosherstova
Violin
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Ernest Flancia
Percussion
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Emily Phernambucq
Flute
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Natalia Peric
Clarinet
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Henry Wu
Percussion
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Bronwyn Schuman
Pianist / Répétiteur
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Maria Fuller
Conductor
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Tayte Mitchell
Stage Director
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Graeme Janzen
Lighting Designer
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Alison Yanota
Set and Costume Designer
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Rene Orth
Composer
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Mark Campbell
Librettist