What is Art? a small question, but dealt with seriously and cleverly in this play.
We looked forward to seeing it becuase of the great cast - Peter Donaldson, Evan Buliung and Colin Mochrie are all favorites and they did not disappoint.
Donaldson caught exactly the right note as the skeptic, Mochrie was calm and forebearing in spite of his enthusiasm for the painting and Buliung was brilliant as the neutral friend dealing with his own problems. His entrance monologue was so good that the audience could not refrain from an ovation that was well deserved.
I saw this play first in the original french and enjoyed it then, even though I knew I was missing many of the jokes since the dialogue was so fast. The translation is excellent, so good that you would swear the play must have been written in English.
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Overwhelming
Set in Rwanda on the eve of the genocide, this play asks questions about what is true and what is a lie and how can you tell the difference. Does knowing someone intimately for several years years ago really mean that you know them now? David Storch as Jack Exley thinks he knows his friend and he is sure he knows the answers to all the hard questions about right and wrong. But reality intervenes and he finds out that America is not Africa and things are not as obvious as he wants them to be.
His wife Linda White-Keeler, played by Mariah Inger thinks she too is seeing the truth only to have a rude awakening when reality intrudes.
The other big question asked by the play is whether your principles are more important than your family? Do you save your family or friend when forced to choose?
A truly excellent cast with Hardy Linehan as the local CIA agent and Nigel Shawn Williams as the doctor friend and Sterlin Jarvis as Samuel Mizinga.
Play was written by J.T.Rogers and produced by Studio 180 Theatre, who also produced Stuff Happens.
His wife Linda White-Keeler, played by Mariah Inger thinks she too is seeing the truth only to have a rude awakening when reality intrudes.
The other big question asked by the play is whether your principles are more important than your family? Do you save your family or friend when forced to choose?
A truly excellent cast with Hardy Linehan as the local CIA agent and Nigel Shawn Williams as the doctor friend and Sterlin Jarvis as Samuel Mizinga.
Play was written by J.T.Rogers and produced by Studio 180 Theatre, who also produced Stuff Happens.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Communion
Daniel MacIvor has apparently described this play as a love letter to his therapist, and it certainly protrays the client therapist relationship vividly.
But the play is not really about that - it is about realizing that each of us lives for ourselves and we have to stand on our own. Leda feels guilty about having lived her own life, and not having been a good mother. Is she being punished by her daughter's conversion ot evangelical Christianity? Or is Ann just living the life she wants?
The mother daughter dynamic is fascinating and well portrayed by Caroline Gillis and Athena Lamarre. Lamarre has fabulous body language - she captures a teenager perfectly - the posture, the shuffeling, the foot scraping are all perfect.
Sarah Dodd as the therapist struggles not to tell the client what to do, when everyone in the audience is having the same urge. "See your daughter" is the message, and ultimately the right message.
Good play, good cast, well worth watching.
But the play is not really about that - it is about realizing that each of us lives for ourselves and we have to stand on our own. Leda feels guilty about having lived her own life, and not having been a good mother. Is she being punished by her daughter's conversion ot evangelical Christianity? Or is Ann just living the life she wants?
The mother daughter dynamic is fascinating and well portrayed by Caroline Gillis and Athena Lamarre. Lamarre has fabulous body language - she captures a teenager perfectly - the posture, the shuffeling, the foot scraping are all perfect.
Sarah Dodd as the therapist struggles not to tell the client what to do, when everyone in the audience is having the same urge. "See your daughter" is the message, and ultimately the right message.
Good play, good cast, well worth watching.
Blind Date
Cabaret style set up, with wine and free popcorn available suggest right away that this is not just another play.
And when Mimi appears wearing her clown nose, the suspicion is reinforced. Improv Artist Rebecca Northan then goes shopping for her blind date and the lucky soul is launched into a 90 performance that can and does go anywhere. Northan is clearly talented at finding someone who will be able to respond to her improvisation, without panicking, and generally have a good time.
The result is hilarious. Men and women react differently to this evening, so the laughs are quite often gender specific! But everyone has a great time.
It would be fun to see it again to see how a different partners changes the dynamic.
And when Mimi appears wearing her clown nose, the suspicion is reinforced. Improv Artist Rebecca Northan then goes shopping for her blind date and the lucky soul is launched into a 90 performance that can and does go anywhere. Northan is clearly talented at finding someone who will be able to respond to her improvisation, without panicking, and generally have a good time.
The result is hilarious. Men and women react differently to this evening, so the laughs are quite often gender specific! But everyone has a great time.
It would be fun to see it again to see how a different partners changes the dynamic.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Hush
Rosa Laborde who wrote Leo, has done another thought provoking play. The critics did not like the structure and found it confusing, but I disagree. I thought it waas well structured - kept you wondering what exactly was happening, but paying attention. It then came together elegantly at the end.
Tara Rosling as Talia gave her usual great performance. She has such a fantastic voice and uses it so well. Graeme Somerville is another Shaw Festival regular that is a pleasure to watch. the frustrated lover and father all in one.
Someone to watch is Vivian Endicott-Douglas who gave a terrific performance as Lily. Just the right balance between the little girl and the about to be woman. The scene in which she demonstrates her new safety skills is hilarious.
We have probably seen Conrad Coates at Stratford, but did not notice him. Now we will be on the lookout for him.
Tara Rosling as Talia gave her usual great performance. She has such a fantastic voice and uses it so well. Graeme Somerville is another Shaw Festival regular that is a pleasure to watch. the frustrated lover and father all in one.
Someone to watch is Vivian Endicott-Douglas who gave a terrific performance as Lily. Just the right balance between the little girl and the about to be woman. The scene in which she demonstrates her new safety skills is hilarious.
We have probably seen Conrad Coates at Stratford, but did not notice him. Now we will be on the lookout for him.
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