Darrin Hagen recently turned 60. Now, we don’t think that’s old, but “in the theatre community, all these youngsters are coming up saying ‘Get out of our way!’ I used to say ‘No, I finally figured out what I’m doing!’ But now, I get it. Because if I keep doing this for another 10 years, that’s a lot of plays other people can’t stage, and a lot of sound design gigs that the ‘old fucker’ keeps getting,” he laughs.
But age is relative (right?!), and in his new directorial role, Hagen’s taking an if-you-can’t-beat-them-join-them approach. The theory of relativity is one of greatest things a human mind’s ever discovered, and Hagen considers The Theory of Relativity (written by Neil Bartram in 2014) one of the greatest musicals for a place like Concordia University to produce.
“It’s hard to find musicals for young people that aren’t condescending and a little shallow, but this one has some gorgeous depth without ever being pretentious,” he says. “There are the diversity songs, and subtle queer references — it plays all the cards, but never looks like it’s playing all the cards. It’s just a smart musical, and it’s gonna get produced so many times because it ticks all the boxes.”
One box it doesn’t tick is the one that says a musical should have a narrative. Described as an “unconventional song cycle” (with a few monologues), there isn’t a plot to follow — each character gets a song about their moment in time. The closest thing to a through line is that each character’s “moment” is early-adult life, just like the students playing the roles, some of whom are doing it for credit, others just to be a part of the big musical happening at school.
Hagen’s never directed a musical, or a cast this large (24 members), but the students’ energy is infectious, and Hagen admits he low-key loves being privy to the youthful gossip.
“The enthusiasm and the spirit — but also the drama in their young lives — is amazing. They’re on that verge of like, ‘I’m in school, but also my grandma’s getting sick, I just got dumped and my car just got broken into, so I won’t be at rehearsal today.’ And I remember that, because everything happens to a 20 year old all at once.”
Watch the musical drama unfold — onstage — March 15 to 24.
