A $6,000 Hermes purse, a wedding dress, a cherished
pair of boots. Whatever the accouterment of choice, clothes are what make the memories in Love, Loss and
What I Wore, the award-winning show by Nora and Delia Ephron currently playing at Toronto’s Panasonic
Theatre.
Solo or together, the Ephron sisters have penned the screenplays of such hit romantic comedies as When
Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail and Julie and Julia. Love, Loss and What I
Wore, adapted from the book by Ilene Beckerman, is a collection of vignettes and monologues that use
clothing and accessories to trigger recollections of life’s funny, often poignant moments. This May, the show
won the 2010 Drama Desk Award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience in New York.
Lifestyle editor-in-chief Kristall Espenes caught the Sept. 18 show at the Panasonic: “The play was
hilarious — it had me laughing all the way through! It's definitely a go-to for a girls' night out; whether
you're out with your girlfriends, sister or mother, you're sure to share a lot of laughs and relive some
memories of your own as you immerse yourself into the play. More than likely you'll probably hear your voice
or someone you know echoed in one of the many monologues or vignettes. It’s a collection of shared
experiences and it’s universal. It’s not about being a fashion diva — it’s about being a woman.”
The production, which opened in Canada in July, features a rotating cast that has included Louise Pitre,
Andrea Martin, Margot Kidder, and Paula Brancati and Lauren Collins of Degrassi fame. The current
September cast is a similarly diverse and multi-talented group of performers:
Jeanne Beker: TV personality, fashionista and designer extraordinaire. September is a
milestone month for Beker, with Fashion Television celebrating 25 years and her new clothing line,
EDIT, launching at the Bay. (Due to previous engagements, Lisa Horner, star of the Mirvish hit My
Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, will take over for Beker on select performances.)
Barbara Budd: Co-hosted CBC Radio’s As It Happens for 17 years. Prior to that, the
York University theatre graduate worked for five seasons with the Stratford Theatre Company and performed in
radio dramas for the CBC.
Luba Goy: Long-running member of the Royal Canada Air Farce troupe. The funnywoman’s
accolades include the Governor-General's Performing Arts Award, 15 ACTRA Awards, a Juno, a Gemini and a star
on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Sheila McCarthy: Gemini, Genie and Dora Award-winning actor. McCarthy earned acclaim for her
roles in the Canadian films I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing and The Lotus Eaters, and
currently stars in the hit TV series Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Jane McLean: Launched her acting career in 2001 after studying at the American Academy
of Dramatic Arts. McLean’s credits include The Time Traveler’s Wife, Dexter and 24, and she
will next appear in the feature comedy Running Mates and the upcoming season of CSI:
NY.•
The show has been extended to Oct. 30, with an all-new cast starting Oct. 7. For more info and tickets,
visit lovelossonstage.ca
Photos by Cylla von Tiedemann. Main image: The September cast of Love, Loss and What I Wore
(l-r): Jeanne Beker, Barbara Budd, Sheila
McCarthy, Luba Goy and Jane McLean.
