Dungeons Without Dragons in ‘Father, Forgive Me’
There is just something so exciting about attending a show where the performer knows almost as little as you do about what will unfold in the next forty minutes. For it being my first time ever seeing an improv show and also my first time watching someone play Dungeons & Dragons, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily I could follow Father, Forgive Me from start to finish.
The story begins like this: three friends (Alex McLarry, Emma Watchorn, and Tony Babcock) are gathered around a table, ready to play some Dungeons & Dragons. But there’s a problem. Their fourth player is late, and no one knows where they are. But just because they’re missing a player doesn’t mean they can’t find someone to fill the space. That’s when Host and Game Master McLarry’s “father”, played by Wilding, offers to take a break from fixing his truck to join in on the game. The four then run behind the curtains, and the next time they emerge, they’re prepping to set off on a magical quest.
Soon after, the entrance of a comedically large 20-sided die opens the door to endless comedic possibilities. For example, take the August 8th show, where the confidence roll of Babcock’s brave and bold Sir Knight landed on a mere one, transforming him into an overly timid knight who, as it turns out, may not have rescued as many damsels or dams (the male equivalent) as we were originally led to believe.
Though the lighting and music, designed by Will Smith-Felth, are minimal, they have a great impact. During character introductions and throughout gameplay, a single spotlight illuminates the stage. For outfit changes, the lights slowly shift through different colours, and in the final monologue, the lone character on stage delivers their lines fiercely as heroic music swells in the background.
The four actors were fully committed to their roles as knights, dryads, peasants, and even fathers. While you might expect a dad to feel out of place in such a magical setting, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that this character is refreshingly different and delightfully comedic. His presence allows the cast to feed off each other’s unique energies with ease. After all, if it weren’t for the father and his magical car wrench, that peasant might still be stuck in that cellar! The story stayed both funny and coherent from start to finish and was a joy to watch unfold in ways even the actors couldn’t predict.
‘Father, Forgive Me’ runs until August 17, 2025, at the Confederation Place in TK Fringe as part of The Kick & Push Festival. More information about the program and tickets can be found here.
