Never Swim Alone
at Langley High School

Reviewed on April 23, 2021

Julia Tucker
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

As a perfect, golden summer day descends into tragedy at the egotistical hands of Frank and Bill, the waves of repercussions lock the childhood friends into a perpetual, lifelong competition to answer the question--which man is the first man? Under the water lies a deeper mystery: what happened on that fateful day, and how did it all go wrong? Langley High School's captivating production of Never Swim Alone invited listeners to dive deeper into the men's ocean of secrets as the true origins of their rivalry washed ashore.

Acclaimed Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor wrote the one-act play Never Swim Alone in 1991. The play debuted at The Theatre Centre in Toronto and was soon declared a staple of Canadian theatre. Never Swim Alone follows Frank and Bill in their endless competition to prove one is better than the other, with the winner of each round determined by the mysterious Referee. The flashbacks that punctuate the men's competition reveal the depthless ocean of their guilt-ridden past.

The tiny three-person cast worked together with precision and intent. Despite having no live audience to cheer the company on, the three actors radiated energy and continued to build their vivacity throughout the performance. The extensive work put into rehearsals manifested itself in each meticulous line of dialogue and every minute movement: the actors knew the show as if it were an extension of themselves.

Seniors Cole Sitilides and Leland Hao portrayed friends-turned-enemies Frank and Bill, respectively. The duo's cohesiveness shone in each movement: each actor perfectly echoed the other's mannerisms, from vocal intonations to the gestures and placements of his hands. While the show began lightheartedly, the men gradually darkened their moods to mirror the rising intensity of the story. Despite the evident anger between the characters, Hao and Sitilides also portrayed the deep love and appreciation the men had for one another, which added depth to the complexity of their characters.

Hannah Toronto's performance as the Referee added to the mystery surrounding the murky waters of the show. In her drowning scene, Toronto drew back from the boys as they outpaced her: the resulting image created a tragically beautiful tableau that highlighted the misfortune of the story.

The lighting, designed by Mary Muir and Kira Lentz, subtly switched colors to emphasize drama and help the actors paint a picture of the scene in the absence of a set. Actors could always be heard loud and clear thanks to Teddy Spaner's effective sound design. Ella Smith's pragmatic costume design was both practical and effective--the costumes matched how the script described them and looked tailored and sleek on the actors. All the technical components worked in harmony, courtesy of Alyssa Medici's note-worthy stage management skills.

One man is the first man--but, as the Referee revealed, the second man has a loaded gun. The stage grew dark as Frank and Bill stood facing one other, guns drawn, which begged the question: which man is which? The ambiguous end to Langley High School's mesmerizing production of Never Swim Alone gave rise to its own vast, mysterious ocean of speculations.

Kylee Weimeister
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

A ruthless battle of ego between two men, each determined to emerge victorious. Langley High School explores the facades carefully crafted and formulated by individuals and provides insight into the world behind the mask. Never Swim Alone is an absurdly engaging show with tumultuous undertones. It is the ultimate battle of one-upmanship, from superficial qualities to actions with massive repercussions.

Written by Daniel MacIvor, Never Swim Alone was originally a 50-minute piece. Langley High School shortened the piece for competition purposes. The show followed two men intent on outshining one another. Under the supervision of a referee, whose role was portrayed in a lifeguard-like fashion, the two men competed in numerous displays of superiority. In the beginning, the men seemed to be incredibly similar, but as the show progressed, their individual goals and values became apparent. As the energy of the show built, and the competitions intensified, components of all three characters' pasts were revealed, and an incident they were all plagued with emerged.

Cole Sitilides captured the essence of Francis DeLorenzo ("Frank"), through his subtle mannerisms and aggressive undertones. Sitilides developed his storyline and intentions as the show progressed, his actions no longer mirrored that of his competitor, and his tone became less forgiving, more intent and unbreakable. Leland Hao developed his character, William ("Bill") Wade's true values through amplification and subtle distinctions. Hao hastened when speaking of family and that dynamic portion of his life, despite his frustrations growing throughout the performance. Both men fully understood their relationships with one another, and the physical unity, as well as past comradery, was evident.

Hannah Toronto embodied the role of Referee with effortless technique. Toronto remained present throughout the entirety of the show, with subtle nods and other reactive actions. She was decisive, with sharp, quick movements often associated with a referee type role, and was unapologetically committed to telling the story correctly. Toronto's character added to the slow burn of the plot, transforming from a simple referee to a significant member of the two men's past trauma. Toronto handled this transition beautifully, making small connections to this "other" character from the moment she entered the stage.

The technical elements of the show were distinctly minimalistic. The tech team created understandable stage pictures with just chairs and lights. Mary Muir and Kira Lentz should be commended for their lighting expertise, which translated visibly across a recorded video. Teddy Spaner's work on sound was cohesive and aided in the execution of the performance. The costumes, done by Ella Smith, from the seemingly tailored suits to the bathing suit, were deliberate, simple selections that contributed to the understanding of the piece. Stage manager Alyssa Medici ensured the performance ran smoothly, and without error.


Langley High School's production of Never Swim Alone is an ostentatious satire with unexpected gravity. What lies beneath the competitive masks of these men?

Amelia Preble
Robinson Secondary School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

What happens when best friends turn foes? Langley High School's "Never Swim Alone" explored the complexities of friendship, trust, and honesty. The play, written by Daniel MacIvor and first performed in 1991, followed two former childhood best friends as they competed to see who is the "first man" for an unknown reason. This comedic yet compelling play built to an unforgettable climax you wouldn't want to miss.

Cole Sitilides as A. Francis DeLorenzo and Leland Hao as Bill Hade captured their characters' complex "frenemy" relationship perfectly. Throughout the show, they often had to talk simultaneously or complete each other's sentences. They did so with astonishing speed and consistent articulation. The two worked as a quintessential dynamic duo: talking in sync, mimicking each other's movements, and even performing stage combat, all whilst giving an authentic performance and maintaining the integrity of their characters to move the story forward. Such a balanced pair is a rare find, but Sitilides and Hao shared the spotlight beautifully.

Each of the three actors, all on stage for the entirety of the show, demonstrated a deep understanding of and commitment to their characters. Not only did they work well together as an ensemble, they each stood out to create powerful moments throughout the show. Sitilides maintained a confident air before he broke down in rage and despair at the show's climax. Using a skillful balance of vocal power and body language, Hao played Bill Wade's resentment and underlying guilt with a stunning maturity. Both men combined their characters' arrogance with subtly increasing emotion to build to an impactful ending. Hannah Toronto, playing the Referee, sat back, always engaged, for most of the show, but showed a mysterious connection to the men through eye contact and careful choices. Her emotional performance at the climax of the show made for a moving and powerful moment.

The show was tastefully enhanced by minimalistic technical elements. A lifeguard's chair set the scene, and two chairs gave the actors a variety of positions around the stage to tell their story. Matching the lifeguard chair was the Referee's costume, a simple bathing suit that contrasted the formal suits the men wore. The scene was lit by Mary Muir and Kira Lentz, with a simple blue cyc background and soft light on the actors, becoming darker only when the Referee was underwater. This simple but effective choice put the focus on the actors while contextualizing the world around them. By using only the essential technical pieces, Langley gave the talented cast room to shine as the primary storytellers.

In a whirlwind of humor, ego, tragedy, and pain, Langley High School explored the intricacies of interpersonal relationships. A triumph of theatre during a pandemic, "Never Swim Alone" told a moving story with the perfect balance of satire and sincerity.

Brooke Hanser
Robinson Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Patch (Fairfax/Alexandria)

In a world filled with conflict, is it possible to lose sight of what truly matters? Langley High School's rendition of Never Swim Alone delves deep into the intricacies of relationships riddled with competition and comments on how easy it is to lose control in dangerous situations.

Never Swim Alone told the story of two ex-best friends, now enemies, fighting to be "The first man" through a series of seemingly pointless competitions. These matches are facilitated by another childhood friend, appearing as a referee. The play, written by award-winning playwright Daniel MacIvor, was first produced in 1991. Throughout its 20-year run, Never Swim Alone's themes of guilt, morality, and virulent competition have remained just as relevant today as ever.

When the show began, the two men, played by Cole Sitilides and Leland Hao, entered the room, taking synchronized steps on the stage. These shared motions established an expectation that the two men would move in sync throughout the show. Not only did the two move together flawlessly, but they recited lines at the same time too. The boys rapidly switched from individual monologues to synchronized speech, never missing a beat. Sitilides and Hao were mesmerizing as they mimicked each other's speech patterns and footsteps faultlessly.

Even though these two characters mirrored one another most of the time, the actors gave each of them their own distinct personalities. Francis (Cole Sitilides) was goal-driven, aggressive, and willing to destroy anything that stood in his way. Bill (Leland Hao) was family-oriented, cocky, and had a more calculated approach to life. These subtle differences in mindset created the build-up for the dramatic climax, a moment where the tension between the two characters increased into violence. Sitilides and Hao maturely pulled off an elaborate fight sequence, generating a complete sense of authenticity for this moment.

In stark contrast to the headstrong boys was the Referee, played by Hannah Toronto. The fun-loving facilitator of the matches would always pop in right as tensions were dangerously high to remind the boys of memories from their childhood friendship. Toronto had a distinct ability to captivate the crowd with her storytelling abilities.

The minimalist set allowed the depth of the actors' characters to shine through. Their playing space was limited to one chair each, set up in a perfect triangle. Paired with the lighting design by Mary Muir and Kira Lentz, this space created an intimate atmosphere for Francis and Bill to fight out their matches in an up-close and personal way.

Langley's production of Never Swim Alone looks at the bigger picture of a lethal situation through the lens of two highly competitive men. They handled the complexity of the characters and the plot with ease. The play asked the audience to question what truly matters and if there can rightfully be a "first man" if both men are flawed.

Elana Kaplan
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

The "buddy system" is a familiar idea to most people but was taken to a whole new level by Langley High School's production of Never Swim Alone. A captivating show written by Canadian playwright Daniel Maclvor, Never Swim Alone follows the story of two longtime friends in a competition of masculinity. The show discussed themes such as selfishness, guilt, and missing the big picture. It featured two men and a referee, who decided the winner of each round. The men competed throughout the show to find out who was the better man.

The three senior actors reflected their four years at Langley through their intense chemistry and timing. The men, A. Francis DeLorenzo (played by Cole Sitilides) and William "Bill" Wade (played by Leland Hao), were extremely well rehearsed, reciting powerful lines in perfect time with one another throughout the duration of the show. Although it was a small cast, the energy never dipped. The referee (played by Hannah Toronto) was always acting, even when she had long stretches without lines. The stage combat done by the men was incredibly realistic and enhanced the amazing physicality of all three actors.

Enhancing the actors' performances was the amazing collaboration between those on and off the stage. Sound, by Teddy Spaner, was clear and at a good volume. It had no noticeable issues, which allowed for the show to have little extra distraction. The lighting, by Mary Muir and Kira Lentz, reflected the mood with subtle changes as well as color changes, which complemented the work done on stage by the actors. Ella Smith, who was in charge of costumes, did a wonderful job at matching the costumes to what was discussed in the script. The costuming aided in the storytelling of the piece and the characterization of each role, highlighting the two men's similarities at face value, urging audiences to look even closer to identify their differences.

The time and effort that were clearly put into Never Swim Alone created a marvelous piece, highlighting themes of competition, of masculinity, and selfishness. The students of Langley High School, in only half an hour, managed to make a compelling and thought-provoking show.

Oscar Lazo
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

Compassion and sympathy were lost on the shores of a beach, not to the high tides or hungry sea animals, but between two men competing to prove their own masculinity through a series of verbal battles. Langley High School's "Never Swim Alone" had audiences on the edge of their seats as two men fought to prove their masculinity was worth more than their opponent's.

Originally performed in 1991 on a stage in Toronto, Never Swim Alone is a satirical play that displayed the extent men will go to prove their masculinity and to one-up another for egotistical reasons. Through thirteen rounds of verbal and physical altercations, audiences watched two men battle it out as a female referee decided the winner of each round.

With a cast consisting of only two actors and an actress, consistent monologuing and dialogue without the assistance of additional cast members may prove tiresome--but all three actors defied this as energy elevated throughout the show and the actors held their ground, even without the bonus adrenaline that actors usually obtain from a live audience.

Portraying A. Francis DeLorenzo, Cole Sitilides stepped into the shoes of one of the competitors and did so by portraying moments both melancholic and infuriating. Sitilides did not hold back, as seen when a physical altercation in one of the final rounds spiraled out of hand. His counterpart, Leland Hao (playing William (Bill) Wade) was a tad less violent than Sitilides--but still portrayed his role with consistency and never let Wade's guard down in verbal battles against DeLorenzo. The two worked together with complex synchronized sequences and balanced each other's roles throughout the performance.

Perched on top of her lifeguard chair, Hannah Toronto portrayed the Referee and mediated the matches between DeLorenzo and Wade. Although a third-party figure to the main action, Toronto consistently remained energetic even when she was only a spectator of the brawls occurring beneath her. In a scene in which the men were swimming and she was left behind, Toronto's despair and panic as the Referee lost stamina was nothing short of excellent.

Despite having a minimalist design, tech elements provided an alluring ambiance to the matches between the businessmen. Costume design by Ella Smith closely followed specific instructions from the script such as tie designs. In addition, the suits worn by the businessmen appeared tailored and well-fitting. Lighting design by Mary Muir and Kira Lentz provided a blue cyclorama which complimented the action occurring downstage.

Never Swim Alone might seem a recollection of petty battles between friends-turned-enemies, but Langley High School instilled a deeper thought among audiences: what extents will we reach to prove our superiority?

Samantha Hayes
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Two childhood best friends, now grown up, are in a one-upmanship competition; what could go wrong? Langley High School's production of Never Swim Alone took on that question and answered it in a captivating story which played into the complexity of the combination of friendship, guilt, passion, and abhorrence.

Published in 1991, Daniel Maclvor's play Never Swim Alone followed the story of two egotistical childhood best friends, Frank, played by Cole Sitilides, and Bill, played by Leland Hao, forced to compete to decide who is the first man. The first man must be guiltless, but how can you be guiltless when the secret you share involved another life? The competition contained 13 rounds led by a referee, portrayed by Hannah Toronto who shared the secret with the men, but not in the way that might be assumed.

The men mirrored each other and often spoke lines in unison, a task typically difficult to deliver correctly. However, Sitilides and Hao performed them with well-rehearsed excellence, making it appear effortless. The chemistry both actors shared was extremely evident and they were able to create such tension the audience could feel through their screens. Sitilides showed such a great build in his energy and acting throughout the whole production and showed flawless physicality. Hao was able to connect with emotion in his character and brought striking energy to the stage. Even though not speaking as frequently as the others, Hannah Toronto drew attention towards her specific and intentional acting choices. She moved the story along through the rounds effortlessly and helped create synchronous lines of dialogue.

The lighting, designed by Mary Muir and Kira Lentz, helped add to the overall emotion in the production by utilizing slight color changes which emphasized important moments. The set, while simple, was powerful in its simplicity and was a perfect setting to showcase the performers. The costumes for the men, being the same, helped further the narrative of the two men mirroring one another.

The detailed and specific technical elements complied with the impeccable cast created a truly captivating show. Within just 33-minutes Langley High School's Never Swim Alone touched the hearts of the audience with the dissonance of love and hatred. The only question left to answer is: who is the first man?

Beverly D'Andrea
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

What does it take to be the "first man"? For two cutthroat ex-best friend businessmen, everything from the armor of the office, the suit and tie, to cutting personal remarks about family and melodramatic death throes. Or is being the best in their world simply an illusion brought about by desperation and repressed trauma? These are the questions grappled with by the riveting cast of Langley High School's Never Swim Alone.

The play was written by Daniel MacIvor and was first produced at Platform 9 Theatre in the Theatre Center in Toronto. The play centers on two men and a woman, who acts as referee for the men's macho competition to determine who the "first man" is. However, there is more to the boastful posturing than ego, as a shared secret casts new light on the whole affair.

Playing the explosive A. Francis "Frank" DeLorenzo and satirical William "Bill" Wade were Cole Sitilides and Leland Hao respectively. Frank's intensity and darker edge were cultivated by Sitilides and grew steadily throughout the show, finally culminating in a no holds barred fight scene which Sitilides played with enthralling intensity. Similarly, Hao ramped up the intensity of his character, but was able to craft a completely different character from Sitilides's Frank despite their outward similarities. Hao's Bill relied on his sharp tongue which Hao's expert timing accentuated to great effect with his witty one-liners. The mastery both actors had over their characters was undeniable as they needled each other with recollections of old childhood memories so concretely assembled by the actors that it drew the audience into these men's petty argument even more deeply.

The Referee was played with intriguing and mysterious allure by Hannah Toronto. Toronto was always locked into the scene even if she had no lines, and her constant presence in the background served as a reminder of the ultimate catalyst for the men's tiff. When she did narrate events, Toronto's large physicalization and unsuspecting voice created a very opposite persona from the two men. Her drowning scene became all the more poignant as her cheerful physicality turned unsure, then scared as her playful voice grew panicked. Toronto allowed the audience to see within the men's struggle as she brought to life the crux of all their insecurities in one staggering moment.

Although the stage was minimally set, every shading of tech mattered in this show because each choice was purposeful. The costumes, by Ella Smith, were all true to the script, which laid out in detail what the costuming should be like, and were perfect in their details. The suits fit correctly, which made them feel authentic. The bathing suit worn by the Referee was unpretentious and allowed a glimpse into her girlish character. The lighting, by Mary Muir and Kira Lentz, fit the mood of the show perfectly at every turn. For example, during the affecting drowning scene the lights on the cyclorama went to an undulating blue, adding the final touch to an already spectacular stage image.

In a witty, aggressive, and satirical look at the price of ego, Langley High School was able to deliver a high-energy exploration for the Point. It lies somewhere past the beach and the bay.