Review: THE INVISIBLE at National Arts Centre

Catalyst Theatre’s The Invisible, Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare, written by Jonathan Christenson, tells the fictionalized story of seven very different but equally brave and determined women who joined the Special Operations Executive, or SOE, fighting for Britain and France during World War II. SOE agents were used to foil the Nazi advance in Europe, through reconnaissance missions and sabotage, including destroying bridges, tunnels, and other identified targets. The story is told from the perspective of Evelyn Ash (Melissa MacPherson), who serves as a narrator. Ash operates behind the scenes to plan and help execute the agents’ missions and recruits six women to join the fight as the first female SOE team.

The six new agents featured in The Invisible are Szarlotta “Charlie” Jazinski (Justine Westby), Jacqueline “Jack” Kovacs (Kaleigh Gorka), Anna Sidiqui (Henna Matharu), Dorothy “Dot” Ward (Kristi Hansen), Madeline “Maddy” Barré (Chariz Faulmino), and Betty “Bette” Anderson (Katie German). The women are joined in their desire to do something more to help the war effort and they leap at the opportunity to become secret agents. Because they are all fluent in French, the women join the F Section destined for France, with their mission critical to ensure a D-Day victory – that is, as long as they don’t get caught. If captured, the women know that they will be tortured, then killed.

The set design, by Bretta Gerecke, is simple but effective. A row of wooden chairs hangs above the stage and are illuminated during various parts of the story. The cast also uses chairs on stage either within the plot or as part of the choreography (Laura Krewski). Since the plot unfolds across multiple locations and periods, lighting the stage floor allows the space to become whatever it needs to be. Projections (lighting and projections also by Gerecke) are used in such a way that they provide additional background information or move the story forward without the show being too reliant on screens.

All seven cast members deliver outstanding performances. It is hard not to love each of these feisty, relatable characters. The actors not only make the women come alive on stage, but they also make the audience cheer their success through rigorous training and grow concern for their wellbeing during the fateful mission, knowing that a vicious SS officer has a bounty on their heads. MacPherson channels Marlene Deitrich in her portrayal of Evelyn Ash; an intelligent, sharp-witted woman who commands respect and tolerates no-nonsense. However, there is also a softer side to MacPherson’s Ash, as she exhibits a motherly affection for this team of female agents that she fondly refers to as her girls. Faulmino is outstanding as Maddy, providing some comic relief in the character’s exaggerated accent and flirtatious attitude. Faulmino’s athleticism and skill as a dancer is highlighted in “La Popote”, a snazzy, jazzy number that shows off their talent. Matharu exudes her character’s inner strength, despite her outward timidity.

Overall, Christenson’s score is unbalanced, though the cast's vocal talent is undeniable. Some of the numbers are catchy and multi-layered, and I can imagine adding them to my playlist, including title track “The Invisible”, the aforementioned “La Popote”, “All We Aimed For”, and “All I Believed”. However, other songs are forgettable or overly repetitive.

The drama builds up in the first act, with the magnitude of the mission and its risk to the agents. This creates a palpable tension that will quite literally have you at the edge of your seat as the story culminates in the second half. The Invisible is storytelling at its finest.

Now, I may be slightly biased as I enjoy learning about military history in general. Although I knew a bit about a couple of the female agents before seeing the show, I came out of The Invisible not only having more factual knowledge (also thanks to the historical boards in the NAC’s lobby to help bridge the gap between reality and fiction), but with a craving to learn more about the real women who took on dangerous missions with the odds stacked against them, while being simultaneously dismissed as “the weaker sex”.

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