On March 6, 2025, the 2-person play The Cold House, written by Mary Humphrey-Baldridge, debuted in Nanaimo at the Bethlehem Centre on Westwood Lake produced by the Actors Collective Theatre (ACT) and directed by Amanda Cutting.
Baldridge-Humphrey is well-known for her playwriting skills, with Genesis: The Mary Shelley Story an award-winning production first performed in Calgary, BC. Cutting, the director of both Genesis and The Cold House, knew Humphrey-Baldridge personally. “I vividly remember the moment she embraced my wild ideas with enthusiasm, allowing me to flourish as an artist, director, and dramaturge,” she said.
In the director’s note, Cutting talked about Humphrey-Baldridge’s research and prose style. “Her meticulous use of repetition and subtle shifts in language compelled us to ask profound questions about the characters and ourselves.”
The play opened with main character Grace moving to an abandoned house in the woods, where her sanctuary quickly became a psychological nightmare. Wolfe, a figure from her past, appears and accused Grace of running from a terrifying truth. The story that unfolds built tension through silence as it delved into the intricacies of her character.
Dave Bigelow, who played Wolfe, said whenever a character asked a question, it wasn’t answered. “It’s always a deflection.”
Bigelow described his character, Wolfe, as both volatile and gentle. He can move from “tender moments or loving moments…to something that feels very violent or angry,” Bigelow said. Memorizing the dialogue came with a certain amount of pressure, as a lot depended on his performance in a two-person production.
Intense dialogue, an intimate set, and eerie sound work made for some shocking scenes. Bigelow said The Cold House could be a multi-genre play. “I think there are definitely elements of both suspense and horror, but it’s really hard to classify it.”
Audience member Cassidy Twamley said the fact the audience was lit versus in the dark made it hard to hide her reactions. “[I had to] school my reactions a little bit because it’s not like a normal play where you can’t see the audience. [The actors] could very much see everybody’s facial expressions… especially in some of the more uncomfortable moments,” Twamley said.
Burgeoning actors have plenty of opportunities to get involved with the productions like The Cold House through ACT, which opened its applications for their Island Summer Theatre Festival held at local Nanaimo parks July 22 to August 3. Visit ACT’s website or social media for upcoming shows, volunteer opportunities, and auditions.
Nanaimo Theatre Group, Echo Players in Qualicum Beach, Chemainus Theatre, and others are also opportunities to take to the stage, or work behind the scenes to mount a production.
Bigelow said, “Just be open to learning and if you do that, people will want to work with you.”
