Jennifer Pittorino
‘When you wore braces’ is Rachel Edmonds’ taut, thrilling debut play coming to the Bluestone Church Arts Space at the end of July.
Writer and performer, Edmonds, will be joined on stage by long-time friend, Indie performer and disability activist Sonia Marcon, who Edmonds wrote the play for.
“Sonia was there from the start, I said to her I want this character to have MS, I’m writing her for you.”
Marcon was diagnosed with MS in 2002 but is currently doing very well allowing her to do the work she loves.
“The way the play has been put together is very inclusive, Rachel wants me to make it my own,” she said.
Given both Edmonds and Marcon have a disability, this play resonates on a deeply personal level with them both.
“My character happens to have a disability but it’s not centred around the fact she is disabled which is important for normalising it,” Marcon said.
The play follows sisters exploring the raw intimacy of sibling relationships and the ways they expose a person’s capacity for intense love and cruelty.
Edmonds has been working on the script since 2017 , only now after a few COVID push backs and script redevelopments , is it finally ready to be seen.
“I’m relieved and excited to be finally preparing to perform, it feels surreal and scary,” she said.
While the piece is not autobiographical, Edmonds said there are elements in the character monologues and experiences that do refer to her and to Marcon.
“I had a friendship breakup with a friend which led to me to thinking about sibling vs friendship dynamics,” she said.
The play will preview on Tuesday, July 25, with shows also running from July 27-29.
Details: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1049454
