About EXCESS at the Haskell
"One Theatre. Three Countries. One Conversation."
A Historic Theatre at a Crossroads of Two Nations
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House
EXCESS: A Cuban American Canadian Comedy About Sex! Shopping! and War!
Stanstead, Québec / Derby Line, Vermont · Preview · November 13–15, 2026
Full production: March 2027
A historic play. A historic venue. A moment that demands conversation.
Imagine watching a play about borders, identity, power, and storytelling — performed in a theatre where the border itself runs through the building.
This is the extraordinary opportunity behind EXCESS, a new two-act comedy by acclaimed Canadian playwright E. Kent Stetson, C.M., presented this November as a one-week production lab that culminates in three high-energy, full-tilt preview performances at the historic Haskell Free Library and Opera House, while the U.S. midterms are still hanging in the air. Each performance is followed by a talk-back with the cast and production team. Join us for the Preview →
A Stage Where Nations Meet
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House is unlike any theatre in the world. Built as a symbol of friendship between Canada and the United States, it stands directly on the international boundary between Stanstead, Québec, and Derby Line, Vermont.
It's a place where borders are not abstract ideas — they are part of the architecture. That makes it the perfect home for EXCESS, a play that explores the relationships between Canada, the United States, and Cuba through the lens of history, humour, and human connection.
A story about borders belongs on a stage that crosses one.
Why This Play? Why Now?
The world is experiencing a renewed conversation about sovereignty, influence, misinformation, and cultural identity. Communities everywhere are asking: Who gets to tell our stories? Who preserves our histories? Who decides what the world remembers?
EXCESS brings these questions to life through comedy.
Set in 2003, as Canada chooses not to participate in the Iraq War, the play follows Canadian screenwriter Grace MacDonald and Cuban oncologist Dr. Làzzara Ortega La Santos as they challenge an American producer, Arthur Briknale, determined to rewrite history for entertainment.
But beneath the satire is a deeper human story:
- A Canadian voice fighting to be heard.
- A Cuban voice defending identity and independence.
- An American character forced to confront the limits of power and perception.
Together, these perspectives create a uniquely North American conversation.
Could there be a more fitting place for EXCESS to begin its journey?
Curious what happens on that stage? Read about the play →