It’s risky business in theatre to direct your own work. It’s even riskier if you’re taking a stab at it for the first time well into your established career.

Playwright Andrew Moodie rolls the dice anyway in The Real McCoy and comes out a big winner due to his inherent sense for story structure and knowing the difference between what works and what doesn’t.

The production chronicles life’s ups and downs of Canadian inventor Elijah McCoy who single handedly elevated steam engine technology to new heights in the late 1800s when he introduced the self-lubricating cup to the industry. The thermo-dynamics feat made him the talk of the nation. It’s one thing for such an accolade to be reached by a white bred entrepreneur but it’s something completely different if your parents were runaway slaves. The arrant challenges of this reality take shape more than once throughout the play.

The script is anchored by copious research and sharp engineering speak that makes the period piece unapologetically educational on various levels. The history is remarkable and the science is thrilling.

While Andrew Moodie continues to demonstrate his craftsmanship for layered storytelling that evokes tender emotion amid witty chambers of dialogue, he garners momentous nods as a director for employing a number of dramatically visual effects. One such technique comes when tragedy strikes the central character and resulting in the death of his wife. The scene is played out in slow motion and worth every moment of its shock value. Also notable is his choice to overlap scenes which keeps the production moving steadily without any bold apertures.

The moxie cast leaves no room for error on stage with Maurice Dean Wint as Elijah McCoy striking a beautiful balance of nobility and pathos. Kevin Hanchard adds just the right touch in his supporting role while Bruce Beaton supplies some blithesome comedy as Elijah’s Scottish brut school professor.

Playwrighting isn’t an exact science but The Real McCoy sure makes it look that way.