I would not have described this as one of my favourite Shaw plays, but this was a terrific production. Pacing was great and the cast was superb.
Evan Buliung was terrific as Dick Dudgeon - he carried the show, although he had a lot of help from Donna Belleville, Fiona Byrne and Peter Krantz. Jim Mezon nearly stole it form him with his performance as General Burgoyne - the world weary, cynical, realist.
I think this is the first time we have seen Buliung in the lead role, although we have been watching him develop with interest for some time now.
This seemed so much faster than the last time we saw it.
ReplyDeleteI previously really only related to Burgoyne - and Jim Mezon did a great presentation of him in this version - but I actually also related to Dick this time; kudos to Evan Buliung, obviously, but also to the rest of the cast, particularly Peter Kranz, who I normally find rather one dimensional, they brought Dick and his decision to life.
I liked the local comments that were added, as NOTL welcomes its modern American invasion with open arms (and store fronts).
As to Buliung in a lead role, wasn't he lead in "Taming of the Shrew" at Stratford last time?
ReplyDeleteAnd, I don't know about lead but he was certainly in a major role in "Journey's End" and Earnest at Shaw - as well as other stuff (to get technical).