‘48 North: A New Musical’: Friendship, Farewells, and Moving Forward
Set in an unnamed Canadian location, this musical follows a group of four friends spending their final two days together at a cottage in the woods before leaving their Northern hometown for universities across the globe to pursue their different passions. Each is chasing a different dream, and the story blends hope, nostalgia, humour, and the inevitable bittersweet feeling of growing up. What makes Jack Oliver Kotanen (composer/lyricist) and Katelyn Luoma (playwright)’s 48 North: A New Musical so compelling is how real the relationships feel. Their chemistry and emotional relatability make it a joy to watch.
Bailey (Sarah Doyle) is headed to New York to pursue journalism, Kara (Hailey Hatfield) plans to stay put and study law, and couple Matt (Connor Houghton) and Alex (Ryan Killoran) are preparing to live on opposite sides of the country, attempting a long-distance relationship while pursuing different areas of study. But beneath the excitement of new beginnings, the four struggle with the uncertainty of the future: Bailey fears leaving behind the only stability she’s ever known, Kara struggles to explain her decision to stay in their hometown when everyone else is leaving, and Alex quietly doubts whether his relationship with Matt can survive the distance.
There are some strong scenes, such as when Matt and Alex find themselves stuck on a ski lift in an uncomfortably awkward moment, or the poignant closing scene where the friends reunite years after the story begins. However, I found the nonlinear timeline often weakened the impact of other moments; I spent more time figuring out when a scene was taking place rather than immersing myself in the story.
Fortunately, even when the timeline left me a bit disoriented, the music still carried the show’s emotional weight. In their solos, each character’s worries and struggles come through with clarity. For example, Bailey sings about how her family troubles have led to the dilapidated treehouse and forest at the cottage being her only sources of stability, or Matt and Alex’s duet about the awkward tension of a seven-hour drive home from their disastrous ski trip. But the real showstoppers are when all four voices blend; the stunning harmonies in Kotanen’s music compositions are breathtaking and gave me goose bumps.
In addition, the use of space and repurposing props adds to the show’s charm. The boxes forming the tree house are moved to the centre of the stage and all of a sudden become a ski lift, the lawn chairs set around an imaginary campfire double as car seats. These changes are seamlessly worked into the show and, combined with the four actors’ movements, the setting is very clear and convincing.
Ultimately, it’s the vulnerability of the performances, the bittersweet memories, and the emotional storytelling that make this production so moving. It explores the highs and lows of relationships, the ache of nostalgia, and the bittersweet journey of growing up and moving forward through life’s challenges.
‘48 North: A New Musical’ runs until August 16, 2025, at Confederation Place in TK Fringe as part of The Kick & Push Festival. More information about the program and tickets can be found here.
