It’s a testament to both the fearlessness of Peterborough theatre artist Sarah McNeilly and the subject matter of her bold new solo work Titty Cakes: A Recipe for Radical Acceptance that all five performances at The Theatre On King in downtown Peterborough from October 19 to 23 are already sold out.
Created, written, and performed by McNeilly and presented by The Theatre On King and Public Energy Performing Arts, Titty Cakes sees McNeilly interweave deeply personal stories from her own life, as a two-time survivor of breast cancer and a survivor of sexual assault, with those of Agatha of Sicily, one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of Christian antiquity and patron saint of breast cancer patients, rape victims, wet nurses, bakers, and bellfounders.
Born to a rich and noble family in the third century, 15-year-old Agatha made a vow of virginity to demonstrate her Christian faith. After she rejected the persistent advances of a Roman prefect, he first imprisoned her in a brothel and, when she continued to refuse to break her vow, he sent her to prison where she was brutally tortured — including having her breasts torn off with pincers.
The “Titty Cakes” in the title of McNeilly’s work refers to “Minne di Sant’gata” (“Saint Agatha’s breasts”), a traditional breast-shaped pastry served during the Festival of Saint Agatha, an annual religious festival taking place during February in the city of Catania in Sicily.
While McNeilly is not Catholic, the story of Saint Agatha provides an allegory for her own experiences as a survivor of sexual assault and as a survivor of an aggressive form of cancer that claimed McNeilly’s own breasts in 2016.
“I’m certainly no saint but a lot of my life experiences are surprisingly similar to Saint Agatha’s,” McNeilly says. “Agatha’s passion is unique. It’s not like other Christian persecutions. It has little to do with religion and everything to do with personal vendetta.”
A veteran comedy and stage performer who most recently appeared this summer in The Great Shadow at Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre, McNeilly draws on her dark sense of humour and an inner capacity for resilience, using the recipe to embody her storytelling.
That recipe will also sees McNeilly attempt to bake “Minne di Sant’Agata” live on stage. Apart from the live performance, McNeilly will also host an entertaining online cooking show directed and written by filmmaker Michael Morritt where viewers can learn the exact steps to make their own “titty cakes” at home.
“As far as the comedic style goes, look no further than the title,” McNeilly says. “I still laugh every time I read it or say it. It’s true what they say — laughter really is the best medicine.”
While the 75-minute performance contains mature themes, with multiple trigger warnings (as well as an allergy warning due to the processing of food allergens including pistachios and almonds on stage), McNeilly also serves up comedy and moments of levity to the audience — as well as some sweet treats supplied by local artisan chocolatier Naked Chocolate.
“The act of baking and eating together is a really important part of this show,” McNeilly says. “It’s my own version of communion — a 21st-century healing ritual of sorts. The stage has always been my church.”
According to Titty Cakes director and dramaturge Kate Story, McNeilly’s performance will provide “survivors hope and inspiration to find their own ways forward.”
VIDEO: “Titty Cakes – A Recipe for Radical Acceptance” trailer
“We have worked with Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and there will be active listeners in every audience should people need to connect with trained counsellors,” Story explains. “The show deals with some complex and difficult themes. But it’s also a very funny show. Like many survivors, Sarah is one of the funniest people I know.”
Local performer Linda Kash says McNeilly “offers eloquence, honesty, fierceness, humour, and humanity.”
“She is absolutely fearless, even when she’s scared to death,” Kash says. “I just know that this show will be a must-see for anyone who understands the transformative power of theatre.”
Titty Cakes has received funding support from the Canada Council for the Arts’s Digital Now Fund, the Electric City Culture Council’s Arts Alive Fund, the Ontario Arts Council, Theatre Trent, and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.
“This is, hands down, the bravest thing I’ve ever done — and I’ve done two tours of duty in Cancer-land,” McNeilly says.
McNeilly will perform Titty Cakes: A Recipe for Radical Acceptance at 8 p.m. from Wednesday, October 19th to Saturday, October 22nd, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 23rd. Tickets are sold on a sliding, pay-what-you-can scale from $5 to $25, but all performances are already sold out.
You can join a waitlist via Eventbrite in case tickets for a performance become available but, if you can’t get tickets, a free digital screening will also be made available in the near future.
For updates about Titty Cakes: A Recipe for Radical Acceptance, visit publicenergy.ca.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a long-time media sponsor of Public Energy Performing Arts.
