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WITHOUT RULE OF LAW : Light In the Dark Theatre

Updated: Aug 22, 2024

Read the Reviews! We will be updating this post as we get more reviews over the week so keep checking it out! Or go snag a ticket yourself to watch it here!


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Photo Credit : Light In The Dark Theatre Instagram Page



By Astrid Weimer

Alberta Youth Theatre Reviewer


A compelling tale of mystery, trust, and unconditional sisterhood unfolded onstage through Light in the Dark Theatre’s production of W.R.O.L (Without Rule Of Law) by Michaela Jeffery. Directed by Emily Marisabel, it follows four Girl Guides and their friend into a run-down lair as they search for answers about a large missing-persons case that has fallen, or maybe been swept, under the rug. As they do, they must face the way authority constantly ignores what they, and so many other teen girls have to say. 


From the moment they appeared, each character felt distinct and real. Maureen (Jordan Empson) had scorching glares and sarcasm to spare, and Vic (Astrid Deibert) was sweet, conveying emotions that swayed from excitement to anxiety with all the hues in between. Jo (Robyn Clark) was full of spirit, and during her video recording monologues, she showed awkwardness and struggled in a realistically silly way. Sarah (Emily Thorne) spoke in a soft yet firm way, demonstrating her hopeful attitude. Finally, Robbie (Baran Demir) aced his delivery of lines from incredibly comedic to perfectly fitting of a sheltered lawyer’s son, and his body language only enhanced them. The connection between characters, especially the four Guides, was so strong. They bickered but held each other up all the same, truly encapsulating the sisterhood of Guiding. When Vic started singing a camp song to comfort Jo, and the other Guides joined in one by one, audience members (re: the author) teared up.


The set designed by Amanda Bertrand had so many small details, drawing the eye over every nook and cranny. From the removable window, to patchwork cloth curtains that served as projection screens, to tea lights flickering among knocked-over crates and cans, the dingy atmosphere came to life. Sarah's research project slideshow had fun visual gags, and it sounded just like a high school presentation. Wind sound cues that played at various parts of the show always faded in so smoothly and naturally. Costumes by Annika Schultz fit each character’s personality like a glove, notably Jo’s jacket and headband. The Guides’ backpacks also made a lot of sense for each character, with their differing sizes and contents strapped both inside and outside.


Whether you’re in Guiding or not, this show will surely resonate with you on some level with its humour, story, and characters, making it a must-see at the 43rd Edmonton Fringe Festival!




By Lindelwe Moyo

Alberta Youth Theatre Reviewer


Could You Survive?


What if one day, the world went W.R.O.L. (Without Rule of Law)? In such a scenario, it would be ideal to be prepared, right? You want to be a part of the 10% that will survive. This topic constantly plagues the minds of three eighth grade students. Join them and two others as they embark on their adventure to find out what truly happened to the ostracized Shelton Commune, and if they survived. Without Rule of Law is currently being performed at the Edmonton Fringe Festival on the Westbury stage, and is produced by the Light in The Dark Theatre. This nostalgic, dark comedic, mystery masterpiece written by Michaela Jeffery, explores the perspective of youth, and the impact of complicity within our society. 


The exceptional skills shown by all members of the cast brought the story to life. The small cast of five, beautifully fill the stage with their movements, voices and exemplary stage presence. All actors display child-like demeanors, perfectly portraying the emotions and thoughts of their characters. Specific moments that caught my eyes were the freeze scenes, these were done excellently. In relation to those, the switch from the abandoned place to their school and Jo’s home, were enhanced by the emotional switch done by the actors. The mannerisms they had, in addition to any set changes set the scene. An aspect which made the watching experience very enjoyable was the amazing comedic timing displayed by all members of the cast. 


The set designed by Amanda Bertrand is exceptional, as it is able to accommodate projections, and areas within the story, that are not the abandoned home, whilst still being a detailed depiction of the abandoned area. An aspect of the set which I found particularly interesting was the breakable window, this type of detail is unique. The lighting designed by Chelsea Payne Evason significantly impacted the story. During Sarah’s presentation, the light brightened when she began to speak about the local mystery of the Shelton Commune. This detail implies that Sarah is passionate about the topic, therefore, that it is important to the overall story. Through the expertise of Evason, this was shown through lighting.  


Overall, all aspects of the production were exceptional, and I encourage you to go on a journey of exploration and learning with Jo, Sarah, Vic, Robbie and Maureen!



By Chelsea Bell

Alberta Youth Theatre Collective Reviewer


Light in the Dark Theatre's production of W.R.O.L (Without Rule of Law) was full of raw pact emotion. W.R.O.L (Without Rule of Law) is a play by Michaela Jeffery, which tells the story of three eighth-grade 'doomers' committed to preparing for the end of the world. In a rogue Girl Guide troupe who have little confidence in the future of their world, they investigate an ominous lair belonging to a mysteriously missing local cult. Searching for signs of life, what they discover changes everything. The show inspires us with the transformative power of determination, friendship and standing up for what you believe in. This darkly comedic story embraces the impossibility of being 'seen and not heard.'


The three leading ladies were the defiant Maureen, played by Jordan Empson; the haunted Jo, played by Robyn Clark; and the spirited Sarah, played by Emily Thorne. These three talented actors all excelled in this performance. Empson, Clark, and Throne were perfectly casted with witty comedy and impeccable emotional performance; they all delivered a captivating performance from beginning to end and always succeeded in holding the audience's attention. It can’t go unnoticed to acknowledge Baran Demir, who played Robbie. He was a standout performer who constantly stole the show with his witty comedy and physical acting. His emotional acting added so much to his character and scenes. He truly was a sensation. Additionally, the preppy Vic, played by Astrid Deibert, was a great addition to the group, and Deibert's emotional and physical acting was perfect from beginning to end.  


This show's attention to detail within scenes and character-building was impressive. This team brought the show together through every minor detail, emotion and comedic point. With the cast and crew, you can see the effort they put into this show. Their commitment is inspiring, and this company perfectly represents the true meaning of play. W.R.O.L (Without Rule of Law) is running at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barn till August 24th; if you want to see a show that is full of gut-punching emotion and dry, witty comedy, I cannot recommend it enough. 



By Emma Brown

Alberta Youth Theatre Reviewer


Camps, crafts, cookies, and solving the world's greatest mysteries for this Girl Scout troop. Without Rule of Law, or W.R.O.L for short and written by Michaela Jeffery, is about four girl scouts Maureen (Jordan Empson), Jo (Robyn Clark), Vic (Astrid Deibert), and Sarah (Emily Thorne) and Maureen's neighbor Robbie (Baran Demir) as they question what happened to the Shelton Commune, a group of people who disappeared 30 years ago while also dealing with real world issues.


W.R.O.L is a show where girls try to take action and teach others about being prepared and ready for anything, including the end of the world. But no one takes them seriously. While also trying to deal with problems on their own, and some bigger than they seem to be, they try to show their neighbour Robbie that there's another side to every coin. Empson shows that you can try to be prepared for anything and that you shouldn't always have to apologize for being yourself, while Deilbert brings forth how to remain positive even when situations are bad. All the cast helps show Robbie that things might not be the best but for others, it's worse and he can't assume it isn't an option. 


Throughout the show we get a glimpse into the scouts and what they are like. We also are always wondering what will happen next with all the mysteries and disappearances that are happening and maybe if you're lucky you'll be able to solve what's really happened to the Shelton Commune and these girls before it's too late.



NEW!

By Tessa Musiiwa

Alberta Youth Theatre Collective Reviewer


The 43rd Edmonton International Theatre Fringe Festival began this Thursday and is ongoing until August 25th, so there's still plenty of time to catch W.R.O.L (Without Rule Of Law), a captivating play written by Michaela Jeffery and presented by Light in the Dark Theatre. W.R.O.L perfectly captures the feeling of being 'seen and not heard' as it follows five teens who embark on an investigation to uncover the truth behind a cult that seemingly vanished without a trace. 


The talented cast of Jordan Empson, Robyn Clark, Baran Demir, Astrid Deibert, and Emily Thorne took the stage and in return gave the audience an unforgettable experience leaving everyone wanting more. Their scenes were filled with the perfect amount of hilarious and emotional scenes, meaning there was not a single moment in which the audience was not fully immersed in the story. Fans of Nancy Drew or Unsolved Mysteries will undoubtedly be in awe of the eerie and mysterious atmosphere created by the impeccable set, sound, and lighting design, led by Amanda Bertrand, Phoenix McLeod, and Chelsea Payne Evason.


So if you haven't had the chance to see W.R.O.L (Without Rule Of Law) yet, I highly recommend grabbing tickets and checking it out for yourself. The stellar performances complimented by the technical elements make this show an absolute must-see!



NEW!

By TJ Fouger

AYTC Reviewer


Can you change your ways? A question posed in W.R.O.L. (without rule of law) a play by Michaela Jeffery. The play answers with its kind-hearted and sarcastic comedy that is expertly used to frame how different people put into a scenario, such as this, will shape how those people try to find the answer. Whether they know what's true with all their heart, or they try to push down what they believe to keep those around them pleased. Maybe they just live in ignorance of the situation they've lived in all their life. Coming to face the truth of the world can be a scary thing after all. A world where people are inherently forced to follow the crowd, do what those in charge say or be put in place for what they believe, or they can adapt and change for the better being allowed to start building a life that they want to live, not the life that the masses deem is okay.


The characters in this play bring it to life for me, going farther than posing a question and giving you the answer, but doing so in a way that allows the story to breathe with funny moments while still allowing the moments of seriousness to shine through and resonate with the audience. The group of five struggling friends consists of the snarky and realistic Maureen, played brilliantly by Jordan Empson. The slightly goofy but overall smart, honest, and blunt Jo, played with such care and compassion by Robyn Clark. The naive and shielded boy from next door, Robbie, played amazingly by Baran Demir. The new kid Vic, who is definitely in over her head, played by Astrid Deibert, who gave her character great depth. Finally, we have the resident bookworm Sarah, who was brought to life by Emily Thorne. They did an excellent job making these characters a bridge between the friends that made them very entertaining to watch.


The story being told here is something that has great importance to everyone, especially if you feel trapped in your day to day life. You must experience this story for yourself.


NEW!

By Rea Francesca A. Pallay

AYTC Reviewer


“Be seen and not heard” is not what the cast and crew of Light in the Dark Theatre achieved, as their performance of Without Rule of Law engraves the story’s message through the audience. Follow these high-spirited and survival-prepared eighth-grade characters to investigate the remains of what used to be the Shelton Commune. This 90-minute play is a comedic yet somewhat dark exploration of difficult moments and topics. Prepare yourselves for this engaging performance.


Dedication to characterization was never an area the cast fell back on. Each character had incredibly distinct traits and choices of action. This was seen through Maureen, played by Jordan Empson, as her character consistently paced and explored the scene. Contrasting with Maureen’s desire to know more, Baran Demir presented Robbie as a nervous and ignorant trainwreck with his apparent distaste for digging deeper into the scene. Each actor’s commitment to setting their characters apart made their interactions on stage much more entertaining. 


Aside from the incredible acting, the technical and artistic choices for the set itself were nothing short of brilliant. Designed by Amanda Bertrand, stitched rags framed the stage on both sides, resonating with the constant theme of survival and serving as a backdrop for the various projections designed by Harjot Bassi. To create flashbacks, tableaus were set in place, and Phoenix Mcleod adjusted the sound effects and music to ensure suitability for the scene. From the entrance to the exit of the characters, the set was created to be interactive and captivating for both the young characters and the audience. 


In conclusion, the Without Rule of Law audience members are left awed by the raw talent presented by Light in the Dark Theatre, from their undeniably genius technical and artistic designers to their unforgettable cast members.


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