‘Suite Surrender’ is a Farce That Cannot Be Missed
A pair of rival, vicious Hollywood stars who must be kept apart at all costs somehow ending up in the same suite? What could possibly go wrong…
Suite Surrender, written by Michael McKeever, is a hilarious comedy directed by Lorna Jodoin currently playing at Domino Theatre. Two feuding Hollywood starlets, Claudia McFadden (Julia Moore) and Athena Sinclair (Vanessa Costa) are invited to perform at a war benefit at the Palm Beach Royale Hotel. Chaos ensues when the pair of divas both accidentally book the Presidential Suite, and the staff of the hotel, led by the panicked Bernard Dunlap (Jason Bowen), are met with absurdly comedic hurdles as they attempt to return order to the hotel before the performance that evening.
The writing of the show itself is a bit slow in the beginning, with a good deal of exposition to set up the plot, but the cast does well. The comedic bellmen, Otis (Bryan McDonald) and Francis (Justin Dubuc) explode onto the stage in a frenzy to prepare the suite with white roses for the famed—and feared—Claudia McFadden. The eccentric organizer of the benefit, Mrs. Everett P. Osgood (Catherine Marie Sossi), shares many humorous moments with Bowen’s Dunlap, who is eager to ensure everything is perfect for the star guests. As the first diva arrives, we see her lovely banter and connection with her assistant, Mr. Pippet (Phil Perrin). Claudia’s moments with her beloved dog Mr. Boodles also begin here and are absolutely hilarious throughout the show. Moore’s buttery voice is an additional highlight as she sings early on in the production, a warmness perfectly suited to the 1940s setting.
Vanessa Costa is sensual and charming as Athena Sinclair, rival to Moore’s McFadden, sharing many flirtatious moments with various characters throughout the show. Her assistant, the sweet and dedicated Murphy (Bryn Empey), is bubbly and flounces about in a gorgeous pink dress (costumes by Anne-Marie Kooiman) that perfectly matches the energy she brings into the show, especially in her more romantic moments.
Bowen is perfect as the distraught Dunlap, managing the chaos by growing more and more panicked as the events progress, yet remaining grounded—he plays off of each company member with ease, and has excellent comedic timing which lends itself well to the show.
Another standout performance is Rachael McDonald as hungry celebrity journalist Dora Del Rio, injecting every moment on stage with absurd physical comedy and hilarious acting beats. She shines in her character, causing uproar in the audience each time she stepped on.
The ensemble as a whole is very strong, each with performances that are well-suited to their characters, and clean blocking from Jodoin that really sells the slapstick comedy to the audience. The archetypal characters are well-written, but the cast and creative team take it to the next level through dramatized fight and intimacy choreography. Dubuc and Empey carry the brunt of this choreography, as well as a sweet, vintage film-esque dance number which features a lovely shift in lights (designed by Adair Redish) that transport the audience to the world of Old Hollywood.
The set design, by James Gow, is simple, yet features vibrant colours and details of the era, incorporating various entrances and exits for the actors to run back and forth throughout the show, providing a plethora of hilarious moments. My favourite part of the set was the “balcony” of the suite, featuring an entry door and glass window for audiences to view the happenings through, resulting in a few laugh-out-loud moments. Furthermore, the closet door, alcoves, and entry from the suite into the hallway all include details that cement them in the era, from a 40s radio to metal bar accessories that are on theme with real-world suites. This makes the outlandish comedy even wilder when comparing it to the realness of the set.
A small drawback was the use of AI in the portraits of Athena Sinclair which decorate the suite throughout the show. Although a very small feature, something as fun as a photoshoot using the costumes on hand would have been a great substitute, rather than making use of AI in an artistic setting.
Suite Surrender is a nostalgic show that makes audiences howl. Absolutely hilarious and not to be missed, there is no better way to cheer up than spending a night out at the theatre to see Domino’s latest comedy.
‘Suite Surrender’ is presented by Domino Theatre and will be playing until March 21, 2026. Tickets and more information can be found here.
