Sibs

By Diane Flacks & Richard Greenblatt

Anchored in a poignant moment—adult siblings dealing with their parents' estate—the play flashes through the many stages of sibling history, from infancy through the rich miseries of growing up, the alien landscape of adolescence and teen years, the inevitable confusions of adulthood. Affection, jealousy, curiosity, tender guidance, us-against-them, deep love, and deep hatred: all the cards are brought into play.

“Sibs is an impressionistic exploration, fast and often very furious, of the complex relationship between brother and sister. Anchored in the painful, poignant aftermath of a parent’s death after the ceremonial Jewish Shivah, Sibs flashes back through the many stages of sibling history, from infancy through the rich mysteries of childhood to the even richer miseries of adolescence and the inevitable bewilderment of adulthood. Through a maze of games and power plays, teen dances and bar mitzvahs, loved ones and spouses “SHE” and “HE” consider the paradox of kinship.” – Urjo Kareda

Sibs at Tarragon Theatre, photography by Greg Tjepkema

Diane Flacks and Richard Greenblatt in SIBS, at Tarragon Theatre, March 2000, written by Diane Flacks and Richard Greenblatt photography by Greg Tjepkema 2

Production History

Sibs had its genesis in a 1993 Tarragon Theatre collective creation about Jewish identity called The Theory of Relatives. Richard Greenblatt (2 Pianos 4 Hands) and Diane Flacks (By a Thread) played brother and sister in one sketch and decided to expand the idea. What evolved was an impressionistic exploration, fast and often very furious, of the complex relationship between brothers and sisters.

Alisa Palmer, then Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre and director / playwright / performer of countless more productions was invited to direct the first workshop in 1998. Rick Sacks composed and performed the original music.

The Tarragon Theatre in Toronto produced the world premiere of Sibs in April 2000 and the six-week run was sold out within the first week of production. It was later remounted by the Tarragon Theatre (at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto) playing to over 5,000 theatre-goers in its three and a half week limited run where it played to 90% capacity and standing ovations every night.

The overwhelming response to the revival inspired a Winnipeg production and an Ontario tour, both of which received rave reviews.

In 2003, a film version of Sibs was produced by Sienna Productions featuring the original performers, Diane Flacks and Richard Greenblatt, as well as Natasha Greenblatt and William Greenblatt, and Eli Purdy-Flacks, then 5 months old. It premiered on CBC Television later that year.