'Risky Phil' Play Features Two African Canadians in Lead Roles

By Neil Armstrong

Ordena Stephens-Thompson               Photo contributed

Daniel Ellis                   Photo contributed

Young People’s Theatre (YPT) presents the world premiere of “Risky Phil,” a comedy-drama about fathers and sons by the award-winning playwright Paula Wing, from April 9 to 27 in Toronto.

Two of the main actors in the play are Jamaicans Ordena Stephens-Thompson and Daniel Ellis. Sharing the limelight on stage are Brian Bisson, Jamie Robinson and Tal Shulman, directed by Stewart Arnott.

 Phil, the young protagonist, is extremely cautious and has always been very calculated in the choices he has made in his life. He has always lived with his colourful Aunt Gigi, a hairdresser with a flair for the dramatic.

When a new client shows up, the story of Phil's history starts to unravel and he discovers he isn't the orphan Aunt Gigi always said he was.

As Phil works to build a relationship with his father, he is forced to navigate concepts of trust, truth, and risk-taking. The play also involves issues of parental
neglect, abandonment, and mental illness.

In line with YPT’s season theme "finding yourself”, “Risky Phil” challenges you to consider how much of you is actually determined by your roots, notes a media release.

 Stephens-Thompson, who plays Aunt Gigi, has worked extensively in television and is a veteran of the theatre.

The Jamaican actor is happy to be making her YPT debut in “Risky Phil.”

“I love the role of Gigi because she is so complex. There is a lot that she
doesn't want to reveal for reasons that she deems very serious. I really connect with her mama bear qualities being a mother myself,” says Stephens-Thompson.

She says working on this play has been awesome so far.

“Our director Stewart Arnott is an actor's director and this is fortunate because he gets to the heart of the story and peels back the layers and complexities of the characters.”

The actor’s most recent theatre credits include “Other Side of the Game” (Cahoots/Obsidian Theatre); “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf “ (Soulpepper Theatre) and “How Black Mothers Say I Love You” (Factory Theatre).

Her film and television credits include “The Handmaid's Tale,” “Designated Survivor,” “‘Da Kink in My Hair, “ “Rookie Blue,” “Committed,”

and “The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe.”

Ellis, who plays Phil, is a Toronto-based artist raised in Jamaica by a village of theatre artists, poets and educators.

He is thankful to be grounded in their community strength and honoured to carry their creative legacy forward.

“I feel grateful for this role. Phil’s journey is exceptional but holds many
universal truths. It’s an honour and true delight to present this story to
youth whose experiences may be similar,” says Ellis.

Like Stephens-Thompson, this is his first time working with YPT.

“The experience so far has been incredible. I’m grateful for this opportunity
to be amongst this stellar team, who I am constantly learning from.”

Ellis says he has long admired the work of Stephens-Thompson and Robinson who are members of the cast.

His theatre credits include “Lukumi: A Dub Opera” (Watah Theatre), “The Circle”

(Tarragon Theatre) and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Pacific Opera Victoria).

A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Ellis is an alumnus of the playwrights unit at Obsidian Theatre and the emerging creators unit at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

He will be in the upcoming production “speaking of sneaking” (Why Not Theatre).

The set and costume designer is Rachel Forbes; lighting designer, Jareth Li; sound designer, Lyon Smith; assistant director, Luke Reece; stage manager, Michael Sinclair; and apprentice stage manager, Ada Aguilar.

 Wing is a playwright, actor, teacher and translator. She is a resident artist educator with YPT this season. The main character of Risky Phil originated in her popular play “Number One and Jamie,” which was produced by YPT in 2003/04.