Queen’s Musical Theatre (QMT) paints a masterpiece with Sunday in the Park with George.
QMT stunned with their 82nd show—a versatile performance that examines the connection between art and commerce, Sunday in the Park with George. Directed by Rachel Rusonik, ArtSci ’25, the show is an adaptation of the 1984 Broadway musical by James Lapine. The show is running at The Tett Centre Rehearsal Hall, from Jan. 14 to 26. Around two and a half hours in length, including an intermission, QMT put on an impressive performance, led by Louis Chitz, a PhD candidate at Queen’s, and Karen Lear, ArtSci ’26.
As an audience member watching Sunday in the Park with George, you never know what’s coming next. From glamorous costumes based on 19th century , spectacular harmonies and powerful dancing—Sunday in the Park with George not only did it all but aced it all.
The show, written by Lapine, is based on the painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” painted by Georges Seurat from 1884. The play is a fictionalized exploration of the artist’s, life in as a painter and how the created his most famous painting—a work that depicts people from all different walks of life enjoying the park together.
Absorbed in his work, the character George is the epitome of an artist dedicated to his craft, struggling to connect and keep his relationship with his lover, Dot, afloat. The play is an interesting commentary on the balance of life, the struggle of art and ion, and how art is being abandoned in the modern era.
Chitiz delivered a spectacular and deeply convincing performance as George. Completely lost within the character, Chitiz is fully committed and dynamic with his singing and acting. Through the play, the audience can see how the character struggles with his art through his facial expressions alone.
Though judged for his inability to connect and see the world outside his pad, George has a deep appreciation for beauty, colour, and light. Through a two-year journey painting his famous piece, George captures the simple magnificence that exists in his society’s enjoyment of the park within his work.
In a powerful scene, as George paints, three dancers dance behind him in yellow, blue, and red costumes. While George paints, he yells out the hues he’s using and the dancer in the corresponding colour dances to the front of the stage for a graceful, agile solo, an impressive and innovative moment in the show. This is a unique scene added by the QMT.
Discussing the talent that bubbled and erupted on the Rehearsal Hall stage would be incomplete without mentioning Zora Jajic, ArtSci ’26, the actress who played Dot for the Jan. 15 performance—taking over as understudy for Lear. Her chemistry with George sold the tortured love story that was at the heart of the musical.
Not only did Jajic’s acting impress, but her vocal control was undeniable. She kicked off the musical numbers with ease, belting the opening number, “Sunday in the Park with George,” with ease. The number illustrates Dot’s care for George along with her qualms about being ignored and overlooked by him in favour of his painting.
As well as providing drama, emotion, and talent, Sunday in the Park with George aces its comedic element. Every actor was unbelievably committed to their part, even interacting with the audience while in character over intermission.
The social aspect of the play provided many laughs, as the audience watches the petty arguments within friendships and romantic fumbles as characters interact at the park on their Sunday day off. In particular, Nicole Martin’s, ArtSci ’26, and Kristina Dovolos’, ArtSci ’26, characters’ friendship provided not only phenomenal harmonies, but entertainingly ridiculous and riotous banter.
I’m unable to recommend Sunday in the Park with George enough. The audience let out voracious laughter and engaged with the play wholeheartedly. The community and heart of the cast and crew was undeniable.
In a stressful academic environment, Sunday in the Park with George is exactly what the student body needs—a night of talent, song, drama, and laughter.
Tags
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be ed, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to [email protected].