With a lifelong passion for the arts, Aviva Armour-Ostroff is known for bringing depth and authenticity to her performances. She is currently readying to play Dr. James in Coal Mine Theatre’s highly anticipated production of Lucy Prebble’s The Effect. Rounding out the cast are Aris Athanasopoulos, Leah Doz, and Jordan Pettle. Directed by Outside the March’s Mitchell Cushman, the production runs until July 30.
This 2012 play by the writer now globally known for Succession explores the question of whether people who medicate for mental health issues are really their authentic selves – and if two people fall in love while on psychotropic medication, is that love real? Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, Prebble infuses the narrative with her trademark dark humour and wry wit.
Born and raised in an environment that fostered artistic expression, Armour-Ostroff’s journey into acting seemed entirely natural. “I was lucky enough to go to an arts high school and have the privilege that comes with liberal parents, so a life in the arts never felt like a conscious choice, more simply how things happened.” Her acceptance letter from theatre school solidified an inevitability: she would become an actor.
Despite her claim that “there have been countless times since then I’ve considered getting a real job, but frankly, I don’t have any other skills,” her diverse body of work indicates otherwise. In addition to acting, Armour-Ostroff has ventured into filmmaking with partner Arturo Perez Torres. One notable project is their film adaptation of Michael Healey’s renowned play The Drawer Boy, available on HighballTV. She has also written and starred in the film Lune, a deeply personal exploration inspired by her relationship with her father. (Armour-Ostroff invites anyone interested in seeing the film to contact her directly via @lunethefilm.)
While in rehearsals for The Effect, Armour-Ostroff chatted with Sesayarts about her role as Dr James in The Effect, the play’s exploration of mental health, and previous projects which remain pillars in her “historical heart memory”.
Sesayarts: What attracted you to The Effect and to your role as Dr James?
A A-O: The arguments in this play are compelling enough not to have a clear right or wrong answer. I grew up navigating my father’s bipolar condition, so mental health and pharmaceutical medications are topics close to my brain and heart.
Sesayarts: How similar or different are you from each other?
A A-O: With most characters I play, I start from a place of similarity between myself and the character, so it’s hard to determine how much we are actually alike, as another actor would play her completely differently. I can relate to her empathy and curious mind, as I like to think I have those qualities. I’ve dealt with anxiety, as has Dr. James, but I do not live with chronic depression, like she does.
Sesayarts: What themes of The Effect especially resonate with you? How do you think diverse Toronto audiences will connect to it?
A A-O: I was listening to a podcast on mental health and Gabor Maté said the biggest disaster in the history of medicine was disconnecting the mind and body. I am interested in exploring how illness manifests in the body and exploring the notion that mental health should be treated as any other physical illness.
In this play, my character debates whether it’s an illness at all, perhaps it is a symptom of something else. There’s such a spectrum of opinion on what begets mental health issues, whether it’s caused or created, nature or nurture. Obviously, each person has to decide the best way forward for themselves, whatever works, but overall, there’s so much more room for discussion and research and acceptance.
As much as giant telephone corporations would like us to believe we talk about mental health, there’s still so much stigma around our relationship with our emotional selves. I am hoping this play can incite discussion, and at the very best, make people feel less alone. I should also say, this play is about love, so let’s hope audiences accept and feel inspired to pour more into the love that already exists in their lives.
Sesayarts: Considering your vast body of work so far, which roles stand out to you as favourites or highlights (or even disasters)?
A A-O: Oof. Tough question. I really liked playing Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker. What a gorgeous play and inspiring true story. I also loved playing a dog trainer in Suzanna Fournier’s Philosopher’s Wife, directed by Leora Morris.
When I think of favourites, I think mostly about the great people I worked with. Collectively creating The Rochdale Project over four years, working with ARC Stage on several productions, working with VideoCabaret, creating and running a multiarts festival (Lab Cab), are pillars in my historical heart memory.
Sesayarts: Tell us something about you that we will not find on your resumé. Is there anything that might surprise us?
A A-O: I am a pretty open book, so don’t know if there’s anything that could surprise you. I am learning to garden and can lose myself weeding. I spend many hours playing spider solitaire on my phone.
My pro tip for a good life is a recipe of: hot bath, board of snacks across said bath, and favourite TV show playing. Or a good podcast.
The Effect runs until July 30, 2023 at Coal Mine Theatre. Content advisory: Coarse Language, Nudity. Recommended for ages 14+ Reserve tickets on coalminetheatre.com.
© Arpita Ghosal, Sesayarts Magazine, 2023
