Markham Little Theatre adds dark comedy to true-crime with Drowning Girls

Markham Little Theatre continues its 60th anniversary season this month with a striking shift in tone, bringing Drowning Girls by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson, and Daniela Vlaskalic to the Flato Markham Theatre stage. Running from February 11 to 14, the critically acclaimed Canadian play offers audiences an inventive, unsettling, and often darkly funny look at a real-life crime story that still resonates today.

“While it may seem counterintuitive, the play is playful,” says director Carol Santagato-Davies “They are able to laugh at themselves and better yet, to laugh at their killer, as they gain insight into his true character.”

Based on the true story of early-20th-century British serial killer George Joseph Smith—who married and murdered multiple women by drowning them in bathtubs—Drowning Girls flips the traditional crime narrative on its head. Rather than centering the murderer, the play is told entirely from the perspective of his three victims: Alice, Margaret, and Bessie. The women speak directly to the audience, weaving their stories together with striking humour, theatrical invention, and haunting insight.

“As they emerge from their tubs, they meet, tell their stories, and reflect on their short-lived lives in the most wonderfully poetic, often humorous manner,” says Santagato-Davies. “The mood is bittersweet.”

The cast are all relatively new to MLT. Lindsay Woodford plays Bessie, the one MLT veteran having played Carrie in 2023’s Drinking Alone. Christine Sawka Fraser as Margaret and Alyssa Spear as Alice have both been onstage many times in the area, though this is their MLT debut.

“The versatility of all three actors bring life, energy, and a wealth of talent to the MLT stage,” says Santagato-Davies. “I think the audience will enjoy the dynamic of watching all three actors take on a number of roles, 20 characters, in each other’s stories.”

Though the subject matter is dark, the tone is anything but bleak. The script uses stylized movement, rhythmic language, and moments of vaudeville-like comedy to create a theatrical experience that feels modern and accessible.

“Suffice it to say that the emotional qualities of the piece and yes, the inherent humour, find their rhythm in the safe space created for the women to tell their stories,” explains Santagato-Davies. “They are less ‘ghosts’ and more mischievous souls convening to share their respective tales.”

The minimalist design supports the play’s fluid storytelling. With a simple set designed by Wayne Milliner, evocative lighting, and carefully chosen sound cues, the production looks to move seamlessly between bathtubs, train stations, courtrooms, and memories.

“To be clear, the setting of the play is not heaven or hell or purgatory or any other conventional ‘afterlife’ domain,” says Santagato-Davies. “ The three tubs are the focus, while the nuances and details of the set suggest the fourth character in the play is the water.”

As with all Markham Little Theatre productions, Drowning Girls is powered by a dedicated group of volunteers, from the rehearsal hall to front of house. Perhaps even more to their credit, the choice of this great new play reflects the confidence of a professional company that’s willing to take artistic risks.

When asked why people should come see Drowning Girls, the answer came quickly.

“I love that it’s an emotionally charged, bittersweet, Canadian play written by three women about three women who deserve justice,” says Santagato-Davies. “The whole thing makes for fantastic theatre.”

Visit markhamtheatre.ca for more information.

Photo: The Cast of Drowning Girls; Alyssa Spear, Lindsay Woodford, Christine Sawka Fraser.