In their Bedlam Theatre debut, director Hikari Sutton-Hibbert, and producer Jackson Barkess, were met by an air of excitement and community as family, friends and University theatre enthusiasts gathered in anticipation for the opening night of Matt and Ben. The production, both professional in conduct, and full of passion, far exceeded expectations for a university-produced play. The set design – a well-curated mess of crumbs and junk – created an immersive experience that was further enhanced by the engaging performances of Natalia Campbell (Matt) and Ruth Ngonde (Ben).
The play, written by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers, is a satirical imagining of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s struggles with friendship in the face of fame, performed by an all-female cast, here portraying male characters. The story opens with fast-paced, overlapping dialogue as Matt and Ben recount the miraculous events of the Good Will Hunting script falling from the ceiling in an act of divine intervention. The bizarre and outlandish premise set the tone for a production that thrives on sharp wit and absurdity – to which this production of Matt and Ben fulfilled! A particularly memorable moment came with the ironic line “We are men. We are white. And we are American.” The delivery had the audience in fits of laughter while cleverly critiquing the themes of privilege prevalent of Hollywood stardom.
Campbell and Ngonde’s commitment to the production was palpable. Before our eyes, we were met with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck through their total embodiment of the characters. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their ability to seamlessly recover from any mistakes in character reinforced the time, practice and heart dedicated to this production. Among the incredibly convincing Boston frat-boy personas of Matt and Ben, Rhodd Friswell as J.D Salinger and Indy Woodwall as Gwyneth Paltrow were just as memorable. Their skilful comedic deliveries left a lasting impression, adding further layers of humour and unpredictability to the play. The cast delivered a spectacular performance that had the audience in fits of laughter throughout.
Lighting by Aaron Rashid played a large role in distinguishing, for the audience, present-day scenes from flashback scenes, which felt incredibly well-managed. The integration of lighting into the set design through household lighting, in addition to the more technical overhead lighting standard for a theatre production, was particularly effective. This created a more seamless experience for audiences to fully engage with the performance.
Matt and Ben at the Bedlam Theatre was witty, sharp, and superbly acted. The talent and dedication of the cast and crew was evident in every moment… audiences should look forward to seeing more of what’s to come by the cast and crew.
Image by Hikari Sutton-Hibbert via Bedlam Theatre