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Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Elektra
Thanks to the Stratford Festival, I am developing a passion for Greek tragedy. This production of Elektra, starring Yanna MacIntosh in the title role and Seana McKenna as Clytemnestra, definitely added to my enthusiasm.
The director of this production, Thomas Moschopolous, is Greek and clearly brought a contemporary Greek sensibility to the production. The staging was excellent, particularly for someone who had never worked on the Paterson stage before. The chorus was brilliant, moving around the space, taking turns with the lines and engaging the audience.
Hearing the two leading actors discuss the production at a Meet the Festival a week later pointed out how much I had missed. I think I need to see it again.
The director of this production, Thomas Moschopolous, is Greek and clearly brought a contemporary Greek sensibility to the production. The staging was excellent, particularly for someone who had never worked on the Paterson stage before. The chorus was brilliant, moving around the space, taking turns with the lines and engaging the audience.
Hearing the two leading actors discuss the production at a Meet the Festival a week later pointed out how much I had missed. I think I need to see it again.
Misalliance
The key thing to remember about this is that it is the one where he plane crashes into the conservatory! And in this production it does so with great style to reveal Tara Rosling as Lina Szczepanowska.
Thom Marriott, sporting a full head of hair, is perfect in the role of Tarleton, referring everyone to the particular author who can provide insight on any problem. Ben Sanders is outstanding as Bentley Summerhays. His performance could easily have slid over the top, but he kept it in control even as he launched into one tantrum after another.
At the beginning, I was not sure Krista Colosimo was right for Hypatia, but it came together as the play progressed. I think it was her costume that put me off - it did not seem to fit the rest of the family. But eventually I forgot about it, as she took over the role.
Thom Marriott, sporting a full head of hair, is perfect in the role of Tarleton, referring everyone to the particular author who can provide insight on any problem. Ben Sanders is outstanding as Bentley Summerhays. His performance could easily have slid over the top, but he kept it in control even as he launched into one tantrum after another.
At the beginning, I was not sure Krista Colosimo was right for Hypatia, but it came together as the play progressed. I think it was her costume that put me off - it did not seem to fit the rest of the family. But eventually I forgot about it, as she took over the role.
The Millionairess
We have seen at least two previous productions of this Shaw play and enjoyed them all. This year's version is certainly one of the best.
Nicole Underhay is wonderful in Shaw's opinionated, glamourous and determined heroine roles. There was not a woman in the audience who did not want to have her costumes and the body to wear them. Robin Evan Willis is almost as good as the practical other woman, Polly.
The men in the play are excellent, but there is no doubt they have to work hard to keep up with the women, as their parts are just not as solid.
Lots of fun and not as overly wordy as some ofmShaw's plays can be.
Nicole Underhay is wonderful in Shaw's opinionated, glamourous and determined heroine roles. There was not a woman in the audience who did not want to have her costumes and the body to wear them. Robin Evan Willis is almost as good as the practical other woman, Polly.
The men in the play are excellent, but there is no doubt they have to work hard to keep up with the women, as their parts are just not as solid.
Lots of fun and not as overly wordy as some ofmShaw's plays can be.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Come Back Little Sheba
The Shaw Festival has done acclaimed productions of work by William Inge in the past, including Bus Stop and Picnic, but we have missed seeing them for some reason. Come Back Little Sheba was our first exposure to this American master.
Ric Reid and Corrine Koslo were superb in the lead roles as Doc and Lola Delaney, with good support from Julia Course as Marie and Kevin McGarry as Turk.
Jackie Maxwell directed and as usual was fully in control of the action. The tension between Doc and Lola grows to a climax that is shocking. Doc finally says what he has been thinking for the past year and it is nasty and cruel. But when he comes back, he speaks the truth again, even tough it is totally at odds with what he said before.
Ric Reid and Corrine Koslo were superb in the lead roles as Doc and Lola Delaney, with good support from Julia Course as Marie and Kevin McGarry as Turk.
Jackie Maxwell directed and as usual was fully in control of the action. The tension between Doc and Lola grows to a climax that is shocking. Doc finally says what he has been thinking for the past year and it is nasty and cruel. But when he comes back, he speaks the truth again, even tough it is totally at odds with what he said before.
Hedda Gabler
Is this a feminist dramatic manifesto, or the story of a bored housewife who incites suicide to cure her boredom?
I think the first time I saw this play, nearly forty years ago, I would have taken the feminist manifesto side of the argument, as early audiences certainly did. Now I see Hedda as a woman stifled by her need to conform to the conventions of her restricted society, but so spoiled and ego centric that she cannot break free in any positive way. Instead she rebels within her society by urging Loevberg to a beautiful death. And when he fails to meet her expectations, she finally does the deed herself.
Moya O'Connell is a beautiful, tightly wound Hedda, someone who can "smile and smile and be a villain".
Claire Julien is her match as Thea Elvsted, the quiet shy woman who wins in the end. A tiny little smile is the only sign that she knows her own victory.
Excellent performances by Jim Mezon as the unprincipled Judge Brack, Patrick McManus as George Tesman and Gray Powell as Eilert Loevberg.
The production, directed by Martha Henry, is still in previews and needs tightening up, patricularly in the first act. But overall, a worthy production of a difficult play.
I think the first time I saw this play, nearly forty years ago, I would have taken the feminist manifesto side of the argument, as early audiences certainly did. Now I see Hedda as a woman stifled by her need to conform to the conventions of her restricted society, but so spoiled and ego centric that she cannot break free in any positive way. Instead she rebels within her society by urging Loevberg to a beautiful death. And when he fails to meet her expectations, she finally does the deed herself.
Moya O'Connell is a beautiful, tightly wound Hedda, someone who can "smile and smile and be a villain".
Claire Julien is her match as Thea Elvsted, the quiet shy woman who wins in the end. A tiny little smile is the only sign that she knows her own victory.
Excellent performances by Jim Mezon as the unprincipled Judge Brack, Patrick McManus as George Tesman and Gray Powell as Eilert Loevberg.
The production, directed by Martha Henry, is still in previews and needs tightening up, patricularly in the first act. But overall, a worthy production of a difficult play.
A Word or Two
Christopher Plummer chats at the audience, occasionally reciting or declaiming or performing as the mood strikes. It was fun to see a great actor, but it is not a play and not a great evening. If i had driven all the way from Toronto just for this, I would have been disappointed, but as I just walked over on a lovely summer evening, it was a nice way to spend an evening.
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