Aging and death may be universal realities, but they’re delivered with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in the Ottawa Little Theatre’s latest production, Barry and Jonas in the Home. Toss in a little risqué humour, and you’ve got the recipe for a very fun night out.
Barry, a divorced dentist and recent arrival at Gateway Gardens retirement home, is played with natural ease by Michael Kennedy. He’s so believable in the role, it feels as though it were written for him. Barry’s coddling daughter Rosie (Sarah Aaron) works at the home, and her attempts to keep him busy are met with his brooding resistance.
Early on, Barry’s Sports Illustrated magazine—possibly the swimsuit issue?—goes missing. When Rosie returns it, noting it was found on a dining-room chair, Barry comments that it’s “warm.” Rosie shoots back that it had been sat on for an hour and that he was “lucky it’s not moist.” From the opening scene, the audience is chuckling, and while the play doesn’t shy away from life’s heavier themes, it wraps them in humour that resonates with everyone.
The story pivots when stylish, older Jonas (Ian Stauffer) moves in. Brimming with libido and zest for life, he quickly shakes Barry out of his malaise. “When life comes calling, you don’t want it to find you in a soiled bathrobe on the couch,” Jonas quips to his rumpled new friend. Slowly but surely, Barry answers the wake-up call, and a touching, hilarious friendship develops—injecting new life into Gateway Gardens.
ABOVE: Retired actor-songwriter Jonas (Ian Stauffer) raises a glass to his “record-setting” 11-minute tennis match with new friend Barry (Michael Kennedy).
Director Sarah Hearn keeps the pace lively, while David Magaldry’s set design beautifully suggests the home’s charm and tranquillity. The warm lighting, along with Jonas’ poetic dialogue, transports the audience to a serene outdoor setting. The subtle presence of extras moving in the background gave the set added depth—and, at times, unexpected humour.
Canadian playwright Norm Foster has called Barry and Jonas in the Home his favourite work, and it’s easy to see why. On opening night, the three-person cast earned hearty laughs and heartfelt applause, as did the stage crew, whether intentional or not.
A night at Ottawa Little Theatre is a welcome antidote to the pull of screens, whether mounted on the living-room wall or tucked into your pocket. At $32 for an adult ticket—or $180 for a full nine-play season pass—it’s also one of the best deals in town. And with some of the lowest bar prices around, the evening is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Barry and Jonas in the Home runs Wednesdays through Sundays until October 11, 2025. Tickets are available at ottawalittletheatre.com or by calling the box office at 613-233-8948.
Photo: Maria Vartanova
