They dropped the gloves and now have three periods to figure it out. Join 25th Street Theatre as they take you into the dressing room for a look at fathers, sons, and hockey culture in Men Express Their Feelings.

Director Joshua Beaudry gathering sound effects from the rink. (25th Street Theatre)

This comedy by Sunny Drake follows Mr. Sharma and Mr. Bacon who’ve been sentenced to a sharing circle after a brawl at their sons’ hockey game. It’s the last chance to sort it all out before the scouts arrive and the kids miss their chance to make juniors. There’s a lot of hockey in this play but director Josh Beaudry says it’s also about relationships, racism and communication.

“It’s about how we expect men to behave and the generational and cultural differences that exist,” says Beaudry. “These men are more comfortable expressing anger or aggression. Empathy and kindness are considered ‘too soft’. This play celebrates the positive aspects of sport but it’s also not afraid to shine a light on the darker side of the game.”

Actor Munish Sharma was attracted to the story of fathers and sons navigating the world and their own emotions as men. (25th Street Theatre)

Regina-born, Vancouver-based actor Munish Sharma is returning home to play Mr. Sharma. He says the play is a way to start the conversation about healthy masculinity both in and out of the sporting world.

“The show asks those tough questions in a very soft, light kind of way,” says Sharma. “It’s much easier to get at the heart of things when the audience is comfortable. This is comedy done in a healthy way that gets people talking.”

Audiences will delight in the staging of this performance. Staged in three periods, it takes you right to the rink with a raucous crowd, music and mascots.

“It’s fun to have a play that looks like a hockey game. It’s a real sports vibe,” says Sharma. “We go to games to have fun, cheer on our teams. It leans into the experience of a sports event. It’s just great.”