Big expectations here, with Atom Egoyan directing and Arsinee Khanjian starring. Alas, the expectations were not met.
The play is a modern day rewrite of Sophocles Trachiniae. The subject is war, the atrocities committed in war time and how those acts resonate at home. Lots of scope, but somehow the whole thing did not work. Unlike the critics, I had no problem hearing Khanjian and thought she was quite good. In fact the whole cast was quite good, but the writing and the direction did not support the talent.
It is easy enough to accept the plot in the original Greek play, but the modernisation resulted in a number of holes. The author tried to fit too any themes into the play that just left the audience unsatisfied. The poisoning of the General is a case in point - it gets all mixed up with a former lover who was working on chemical warfare. Just an unnecessary complication, but one the author threw in just to round out the themes of war time atrocities.
as usual, a great performance by Nigel Shawn Williams as Jonathan and by Jeff Lillico as James. Cara Ricketts Was wasted in her role, ( the out of tune karaoke was a pointless disaster) although Brenda Robins managed to deliver in spite of the direction and writing.
In spite of it all, the play did keep my attention throughout.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Penny Plain
Ronnie Burkett's puppet plays are always a mix of funny and depressing, but this is the first dystopian play. The world is going to hell and so is everyone in it. The bad news starts right away with a newscast voice over that rings too true - the financial system is in chaos, the environment has been ruined, there is crime and poverty everywhere. No surprises.
Penny Plain is an elderly blind woman who is waiting for the end, not fearing it, just waiting. the other characters in her boarding house all react to the coming end in their own ways. Tuppence refuse to let her parents kill her, but becomes Penny's dog instead, replacing Geoffrey, the dog who has gone off to become a gentleman. All actions are in vain. The end is inevitable.
When the end of the play actually does come, it is sudden and surprising, probably because we are all still hoping for something better to happen. It doesn't.
Penny Plain is an elderly blind woman who is waiting for the end, not fearing it, just waiting. the other characters in her boarding house all react to the coming end in their own ways. Tuppence refuse to let her parents kill her, but becomes Penny's dog instead, replacing Geoffrey, the dog who has gone off to become a gentleman. All actions are in vain. The end is inevitable.
When the end of the play actually does come, it is sudden and surprising, probably because we are all still hoping for something better to happen. It doesn't.
Kim's Convenience
A new play by a first time playwright, and what a beginning! Let's hope this is not just a one time wonder, but the beginning of a great career.
Ins Choi is an actor who is also at the beginning of his career, but writing may take him off the stage.
Another play about the immigrant experience, this time definitely set in Toronto and now dealing with the inter-generational conflict. The parents have struggled to give their children opportunities, but then are not sure they like what the kids choose to do with those opportunities.
The convenience store is familiar to all of us and the family dynamics ring true. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is outstanding as the father Appa. He is funny, racist and loving. He struggles to decide what to do with the store - if he sells to a developer and retires, what will become of his story?
The scene in which he decides to train his daughter Janet (Esther Jun) to take over the store is hilarious. The scene in which he give the store to his prodigal son ( Ins Choi) is moving.
Two other scenes are worth mention. The one in which mother (Jean Yoon) and son meet in the church demonstrates the beauty of the set. A church appears where there was no church, just a convenience store. Lighting and design are superbly used. And it is hard to discuss this play without mentioning Cle Bennett who plays four roles. The marriage proposal scene is hilarious!
One of the strengths of this play is the way in which it moves from funny, to sad to philosophical, but always manages to seem real. The resolution is satisfying because the author has made you care enough about the people that you want a happy ending for everyone.
Definitely worth the standing ovation it got.
Ins Choi is an actor who is also at the beginning of his career, but writing may take him off the stage.
Another play about the immigrant experience, this time definitely set in Toronto and now dealing with the inter-generational conflict. The parents have struggled to give their children opportunities, but then are not sure they like what the kids choose to do with those opportunities.
The convenience store is familiar to all of us and the family dynamics ring true. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is outstanding as the father Appa. He is funny, racist and loving. He struggles to decide what to do with the store - if he sells to a developer and retires, what will become of his story?
The scene in which he decides to train his daughter Janet (Esther Jun) to take over the store is hilarious. The scene in which he give the store to his prodigal son ( Ins Choi) is moving.
Two other scenes are worth mention. The one in which mother (Jean Yoon) and son meet in the church demonstrates the beauty of the set. A church appears where there was no church, just a convenience store. Lighting and design are superbly used. And it is hard to discuss this play without mentioning Cle Bennett who plays four roles. The marriage proposal scene is hilarious!
One of the strengths of this play is the way in which it moves from funny, to sad to philosophical, but always manages to seem real. The resolution is satisfying because the author has made you care enough about the people that you want a happy ending for everyone.
Definitely worth the standing ovation it got.
The Golden Dragon
Originally written in German, and presumably set in a German city, this play easily captures the Toronto immigrant experience, with one exception: even an illegal immigrant could get medical help at the emergency room of a hospital. but the interaction of the various people seemed very real.
This production had one flaw, from my perspective, which was the use of the spoken stage directions. The device got a laugh every time, but I would like to see how the play works without it.I suspect it would be much more intense, and given how it ends, the intensity might be too much, But the laughs seemed wrong. I would also like to know if this was the playwright's intention, or a diirector's decision.
The cast was very strong and able to move from part to part easily. David Fox and Anusree Roy are familiar: Lili Francks, Tony Nappo and David Yee are worth watching out for.
Overall, I enjoyed the play but would not give it the four stars that the Globe did. three or three and a half.
This production had one flaw, from my perspective, which was the use of the spoken stage directions. The device got a laugh every time, but I would like to see how the play works without it.I suspect it would be much more intense, and given how it ends, the intensity might be too much, But the laughs seemed wrong. I would also like to know if this was the playwright's intention, or a diirector's decision.
The cast was very strong and able to move from part to part easily. David Fox and Anusree Roy are familiar: Lili Francks, Tony Nappo and David Yee are worth watching out for.
Overall, I enjoyed the play but would not give it the four stars that the Globe did. three or three and a half.
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