Golf clubs, puppets,
and stilts, oh my!

Dense & Stage Theatre presents the world premiere workshop of Putt

By Mai DaSilva

February 12, 2026

Putt, written by Ian McCormack and composed by Aaron Delaney, had a limited workshop run from January 31 to February 1 at Teesri Duniya Theatre. The weekend had a sold-out run, capturing audiences with its promise of a “satiric, circus-inspired, queer musical set in a near-future society obsessed with mini-golf.” With direction by Kerrin Lee Whyte, that exciting promise was kept, bringing an enticing new work to the stage that leaves the audience thinking about compliance, colonialism, social classes and more.

Brought to life by Dense & Stage Theatre, an up-and-coming independent theatre company, the world premiere workshop had many strong points. For one, playwright Ian McCormack effectively built a world highlighting a zany, golf-centred society not vastly different from our own. This world served as a perfect foundation for effective satire that rolled right off the page, hitting the audience with timely political commentary. Ian focused on the three golfers and their Caddies on a mission across the golf course to bring the King a new pair of “stilts,” which serve as a sign of power in this world. As their journey to the king veers off course, we begin to see these characters explore their own arcs of secrecy, whether it be their dreams of becoming a sportscaster, personal love affairs, identity, or social status.

… playwright Ian McCormack effectively built a world highlighting a zany, golf-centred society not vastly different from our own. This world served as a perfect foundation for effective satire that rolled right off the page, hitting the audience with timely political commentary.

Paired with the musical talents of Aaron Delaney, this duo made a full-length musical, with a handful of songs that stood out to me. In particular, Corbeau Sandoval and Julia Pye’s performance of If I Were a Garden naturally warmed the hearts of many. I found myself eager to hear more after Repair and Repent, a vulnerable duet between Adlin Loud and Julia Pye that marked a shift in the group’s dynamic, bringing their two characters to the same level. Once we reach the second act, the gang of adventurers run into a pirate, portrayed by Christian Henegan-Comeau, and we learn about the Life of a Pirate, in a silly, mood-shifting full cast number. The upbeat energy provides a nice contrast to the show’s finale, End Of The World, a song filled with beautiful harmonies and sucker punches.

The small (but mighty!) cast of five performers portrayed these characters authentically, rather than exploiting their humour. Recent graduate of Concordia University’s Acting for the Theatre BFA program, Julia Pye, played the spunky low-class Caddy whose wants and desires are irrelevant to the needs of the golfers she tends to. Pye’s performance was sweet and grounded in Caddy’s desires. Adlin Loud played Tug, one of the golfers, a character whose arc takes them from unlikeable to pitiable to loved. Adlin made it hard not to feel warm towards Tug, while stunning the audience with powerful vocals.

The show used a variety of puppets for the alternate characters. Designed by Kerrin-Lee Whyte, Stella Charles Fisher, Neo Walsh, Ian McCormack and Kris Hodder, these puppets raised satire to a new level, creating a hilarious dynamic among the performers. Christian Henegan-Comeau wore many hats in the production, serving as both the designated puppeteer and the King, a corrupt leader ignorant of the struggles around him. A standout moment of his performance was the King’s expressed love affair with his golf cart, garnering a laugh at nearly every line.

Dense & Stage Theatre is a queer and neurodivergent theatre collective created by Abi Sanie that, alongside their other values, aims to create art exploring political resistance against the forces of oppression. Putt fits right in with these values; with an absolutely gut-punching ending, the audience is left asking themselves about how we may be complicit in colonialist values.

‘While this play could have used other sports to reach the same conclusions and talking points, Ian McCormack’s decision to set it on a golf course is inherently a fruitful political statement about how the creation of golf courses is often deeply intertwined with colonialism.’

Alongside the anti-colonial sentiment, we also get an impactful perspective on this group of golfers, seeing the state of how the “off-course” live in comparison to their lavish lives. While their future productions may have distinct sets for “on-course” and “off-course,” this variation was well performed and a triumphant social commentary on class inequality. When brought together, these sentiments complemented each other quite well, helping create a successful political satire that leaves a mark.

Considering the limitations of producing workshops and staged readings, Putt exceeded expectations, delivering a uniquely topical presentation that amused the audience. With that in mind, despite the limited performance space, I had no issues feeling immersed in the production. While the workshop lasted only one weekend, I believe Putt has an exciting future ahead.

Images: courtesy of Dense & Stage Theatre

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Mai DaSilva is an up-and-coming multidisciplinary artist based outside Montreal. She has performed in various plays and independently produced several of her scripts. Currently a theatre student at John Abbott College, Mai is ecstatic to delve deeper into the world of Montreal theatre.