Good Things to Do: digital poetry from Imago Theatre

By: Michael Martini

Sitting down to chat with Imago Theatre, several thoughts crossed my mind: was that my phone I just felt vibrate?; what did my friends think of that quippy meme I just shared?; did so-and-so follow me back yet? Hey, focus. An important chat with Montreal’s preeminent anglophone feminist theatre company is about to happen.

For many, the realm of the digital carries negative connotations of distraction, anxiety, and even numbness. But running parallel, the online offers an obvious connection with community, an obvious comfort, and an obvious gateway to fascinating experiences, information, and discussions. During the pandemic, many theatre artists dove into the digital (or rather than dove, were forcibly pushed into the pool). Project after project took us online. Digital theatre bloomed – or should I say Zoomed? Few of these brainchild projects have outlasted their context, but others have found unexpected success and continue to merit attention, holding their weight in the company of live art. Online oeuvres offer a bonus in terms of accessibility: stay in your PJs, get cozy. No social pressure here, no leaving the house, and no parking ticket.

Good Things to Do is promised by Imago Theatre to be one of these rare pearls produced during the pandemic with a long life ahead of it. Since 2018, Governor General’s Award-nominated playwright Christine Quintana and her tech-savvy entourage have touched audiences with this work, built around themes of hope, generosity, and goodness.

A mysterious message arrives from an old friend. Audience members tap into an immersive, participatory dreamscape from the click of their mouse. The journey begins. Fear not, Good Things to Do is not on Zoom, and the audience is not simply shown a pre-recorded video. The artists come to you live through a mesmerizing interface to share sounds and images live over the course of 45 minutes. Framed by Quintana’s critically acclaimed text, Good Things to Do offers audiences a contemplative, soft repose from a harsh world.

“A mysterious message arrives from an old friend. Audience members tap into an immersive, participatory dreamscape from the click of their mouse. The journey begins.”

Imago’s artistic director Krista Jackson recounts seeing the work simultaneously with colleagues in separate spaces for the first time. She explains that minutes after the performance concluded, the team texted each other in a flurry, amazed by the work. They felt moved, touched, held, and knew the work needed to reach Imago’s audience. This is not the numbness of a meaningless rabbit hole on Youtube, but an active, well-crafted, poetic experience. Once you receive simple instructions, you view the piece alone at home, fostering an ephemeral community with your co-viewers. Audience members can interact with the performance and with each other at their own comfort level. Conveniently, Imago unveils the work in January, when- (let’s face it)- we can’t always be persuaded to shuttle around town in our Sorels to see a show.

Christine Quintana (text & concept), Mishelle Cuttler (sound design & composition), Molly Mackinnon (sound design & composition), and Sam Mackinnon (software design & development).

This delve into the digital was carved out to nourish Imago’s following in-between live, mainstage productions. Good Things to Do offers a mid-season treat before Imago ramps up for its live work The Flood, a drama investigating the little-known story of 19th-century women imprisoned in Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market. Behind The Flood is Black playwright and podcaster Leah-Simone Bowen, co-host of CBC’s The Secret Life of Canada. Not to be missed.

How does digital performance land in a decreasingly quarantined context? Imago is sure their audience is up for the challenge. Imago boasts a technologically adept primary audience of 20-35 year olds, an enviable bracket in any arts milieu. Artistic director Krista Jackson attributes this distinction to young fans who stay hooked on Imago after a first exposure through performances for CÉGEPs and high schools. The theatre company must be doing something right, and they have a recent Montreal English Theatre Awards sweep to prove it. Imago received 18 nominations and 7 wins at last month’s ceremony. So who better to keep the fire burning than renowned playwright Christine Quintana with her critically-acclaimed concept Good Things to Do?

Tickets for Good Things to Do are now on-sale. Sit back, enjoy, and try putting your phone in the next room. It’ll be worth it.