Theatre Nova's Space Transforms Again with Kayak

 Theatre Nova's Space Transforms Again                                 with Kayak
                            By: Kori Fay

                                                Photo by Sean Carter Photography

"Alone on a vast stretch of water, Annie Iversen recounts the chain of events which stranded her in her son’s old kayak. A doting suburban mother, Annie is blindsided when her son, Peter, falls in love with Julie, a passionate environmental activist. Desperate to protect her son from what she sees as a reckless path, Annie fights to hold on—until the danger she feared finds her instead." -theatrenova.org

            I took myself to the theatre this past Sunday with my love to see some art, and I always adore when theatre takes me to Theatre Nova. We were there to see Kayak by Jordan Hall. And what I saw were dedicated artists (on and offstage) putting their all into this piece. The play is somewhat a memory play, while having elements of "wait are we in reality?", but it's main focus is love. And I love when a script makes me think.

           What really drew me in and had me excited about the play was Craig A. Hane's scenic design. I mean, immediately you notice the Kayak in the middle of the theatre's notoriously quaint stage, but then your eyes begin to wander. I am always blown away by the transformations this place goes through after every show I see and I wonder, looking at that beautifully disguised pole that even I have had to act around, how many layers of paint cover that pole? Oh what stories it could tell. The stage is set with blue fabric on the ground and in the air that yes, stands for the water around the huge kayak, but also allows actors to flow through it in the immaculate direction by Briana O'Neal. The beautiful set, when met with the flowing in and out of scenes and characters felt like we were sailing down the river with Mrs. Iverson (Diane Hill). I saw the whole picture, and I was loving the look, the textures, and the storytelling before the play began. What a set up!

            Mrs. Iverson is stuck in a Kayak--why, we don't know at first--but we know she's not happy about it. SPOILER ALERT: I am AMAZED that the Kayak never left and it somehow disappeared when scenes were happening, you just forgot it was there--it became part of the story. I am ALSO amazed by Hill's ability to stay put while acting in a kayak the whole show--Mrs. Iverson experiences so much from that kayak and we see it all over her face and hear it in her words. As an actor to another actor--I know how hard it must have to be to not want to act with your whole body for everyone to see--bravo! Hill's storytelling was clear, and the love she had for her son felt palpable. I was also blown away by the intensity of our environmental activist girlriend Julie's (Grace Lawrence) foil to Mrs. Iverson. Lawrence was a tour de force, coming in and out of reality flawlessly and her intensity is not to be challenged! Then, there's Peter Iverson, son to Mrs. Iverson, played beautifully and sweetly by Cooper Miller--my heart felt for him at a lot of points throughout the play.

            I would also like to shoutout to the beautiful lighting design by Sam Schikora -- having to light reality, water, and dreamlike states came so naturally and I enjoyed the specials when it was water time.

            Overall, I enjoyed my night out at the theatre and it seemed the audience did too. There were laughs, tears, and callouts that let me know that people were waiting to see where Kayak was going. I think everyone can relate to the love in this script. When you love someone or something so much, there's no telling what you would do to keep that person/thing safe. This is a script about intense love. And what better time to watch it than now, during the season of love? Grab your mom, your best friend, your love, and get them to the theatre this Valentine's season.

Kayak by Jordan Hall runs

January 30 - February 22, 2026

Fridays at 8:00 pm

Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm

Sundays at 2:00 pm

Tickets: https://a2theatrenova.ludus.com/index.php?sections=events