For Miriam Fernandes, every day is its own mini marathon. She stars as the Storyteller, the central character in “Mahabharata,” a theatrical production she adapted, with Ravi Jain, from a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic. The play, at the Bluma Appel Theatre until April 27, is divided into two parts and runs for more than five hours.
Most days there’s only a single performance of one part, but April 12 was the first two-show day of the Toronto run, with both halves performed back-to-back. On top of that, Fernandes had her young daughter, Liv, coming to the theatre that day, her father-in-law visiting from Norway, various family members and friends waiting to congratulate her at the end of each show and Toronto Star photojournalist Nick Lachance documenting her every move for 13 hours.
11:48 a.m
A copy of “Mahabharata,” which Fernandes adapted with Ravi Jain, sits next to her daughter Liv’s birth record. At just six months old, Liv began traveling the world with this production, heading to Banff, Australia and now back home to Toronto.
11:52 a.m.
“What sound does the Lion make? Roar!” Fernandes spends a few minutes playing with Liv.
11:56 a.m.
Fernandes sneaks in a final diaper change for her daughter, Liv.
12:01 p.m.
Fernandes’s father, Ernest, helps her to dress Liv.
12:12 p.m.
Fernandes and her parents, Maria and Ernest, play with Liv before Fernandes heads to the theatre for a two-show day.
12:13 p.m.
Fernandes looks at her checklist before heading out for a marathon day of theatre as the storyteller in Why Not Theatre’s epic production of “Mahabharata.”
12:31 p.m.
Liv looks up as her mother straps her car seat into the back of a Uber.
1:02 p.m.
Fernandes makes faces at her daughter as they arrive at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.
1:29 p.m.
Fernandes begins her warmup for Part 1 of “Mahabharata” as Liv plays beside her.
1:36 p.m.
Fernandes’s husband, Sturla Alvsvåg, shows up to take care of Liv as Fernandes prepares to go on stage for Part 1 of “Mahabharata.”
1:40 p.m.
Actor Navtej Sandhu lifts Liv in the air as soon as she sees her. Liv has become an honorary cast member of “Mahabharata” as she has been present for most of the current run of the show.
1:58 p.m.
Fernandes stretches backstage ahead of Part 1 of “Mahabharata.”
2:02 p.m.
As Fernandes waits backstage for the start of the show, audience members take their seats at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts’ Bluma Appel Theatre.
2:05 p.m.
Fernandes shares a hug with co-star Darren Kuppan moments before Part 1 of “Mahabharata” begins.
2:06 p.m.
Fernandes takes the stage as the Storyteller for Part 1 of “Mahabharata.”
4:51 p.m.
Liv playfully grabs Kuppan’s nose after Part 1 of the show.
5:21 p.m.
Fernandes has a moment of calm with husband Sturla after Part 1 of “Mahabharata.”
6:21 p.m.
Fernandes relaxes on a cot in her dressing room for three minutes before heading to fight training.
6:36 p.m.
Fernandes stretches during fight rehearsal for Part 2 of “Mahabharata.”
8:45 p.m.
Fernandes uses a breast pump during the intermission of Part 2 of “Mahabharata.” Meanwhile, co-star Jay Emmanuel prepares to go on stage as Shiva.
10:17 p.m.
Friends and co-stars raise their hands in support of Fernandes coming for a post-show drink after a marathon day.
11:08 p.m.
Fernandes shares a toast with friends, co-stars and her brother Joshua (in ball cap) after a two-show day of “Mahabharata.”
11:39 p.m.
Fernandes relaxes while having a drink.
11:51 p.m.
Fernandes takes an Uber home. (Liv had been taken home earlier by Fernandes’s husband, Sturla.)
12:01 a.m.
Fernandes is greeted by her husband as she returns home.
“Mahabharata Part 1 & 2” runs until April 27 at the Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front St. E. Visit canadianstage.com for tickets and more information.
