It’s not every day that a grandmother fakes her own death to reunite a fractured family—but that’s exactly where the story begins in Liars at a Funeral, now on stage at Port Stanley Festival Theatre through August 2nd.
Written by Canadian playwright Sophia Fabiilli, the fast-paced farce blends sharp comedy with family drama, centring around Mavis, a matriarch who launches a plan to get her estranged relatives in the same room—by staging a funeral for herself.
Fabiilli explains that the show is packed with secrets, curses, quick changes, and plenty of laughs—plus a unique twist for Canadian theatre.
The result is a rapid-fire ride of entrances, exits, and transformations, anchored by a talented cast that includes PSFT favourites Andy Pogson (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Sarah Machin Gale (The Beaver Club), and newcomers Lia Luz (Over the Rainbow finalist), Barbara Saxberg (Blyth Festival), and Justin Otto (Alter Boys, CBC).
Otto, who originated his roles in the play’s premiere at the Blyth Festival in 2023, returns for the Port Stanley production under the direction of Julie Tomaino—a former Radio City Rockette and in-demand director who brings a fresh physicality to the show.
While Liars at a Funeral leans heavily into farce—mistaken identities, slapstick, and lightning-fast costume changes—it also deals with deeper themes of grief, reconciliation, and the complexities of intergenerational relationships.
A former actor herself, Fabiilli said the transition to playwright has allowed her to create the kind of dynamic roles—especially for women—that she felt were underrepresented on stage.
“This play features three generations of women, and I really wanted to write complicated, loving, messy female characters that drive the story.
Adding that she’s thrilled to see her work staged in Port Stanley—especially in a theatre committed to Canadian stories.
Liars at a Funeral runs through August 2nd at Port Stanley Festival Theatre.
Tickets and show times are available at psft.ca.
Written by: K. Freeman
