Two Plays in One Day - Lucky Me!
Yesterday I got to go to two theatrical events. It was a good day. It wasn't stressful. It wasn't even pre-planned, so that was really nice.
First I went to a workshop of Hwy63: the Fort Mac Play. I will tell you honestly, as a long-time resident of Fort McMurray there is no way I would ever be completely objective about this piece. I did try very hard to be so. It was also a workshop, so it is still in development so I think it hasn't quite found it's groove or purpose. Right now the whole environmental thing is very prominent in the script. An oft repeated phrase, "What's your agenda?" (something the playwrights were asked frequently when they went up there) was interesting, because I certainly found an agenda in the script. I was also disappointed when I recognized people I knew and I felt they were slightly mocking in their portrayal of them. Now, I did stick around and talk to one of the playwrights and she was very interested in what I had to say. I felt she was sincere in her response to me and she respected where I was coming from and she also said she was glad I shared my comments with her. I am glad for that. I do not want to dictate what someone else's play will be, but this is a topic close to my heart and I felt I should say something.
I also went to Doubt at the Citadel. The Production value was up the wazoo. Gorgeous set, costumes, lighting, etc... all you would except from the Citadel for decoration and atmosphere. I was very Impressed with Karen Robinson (the boy's mother, Mrs. Muller). She was a stand out. Lally Cadeaux (Sr. Aloysius) was very good, and John Ullyat (Fr. Flynn) was also quite good although he is so charismatic and charming that it is hard to truly doubt him. The weak link in the show was Clarice Eckford (Sr. James). I just found her performance to be flat and pre-planned. Nothing seemed organic with her performance and her voice was so one-dimensional. I have talked to others about this show and they seem to agree with me on it. I enjoyed the show overall, but I felt it could be better. The script also has a few false notes, but you are pretty much stuck with that.
First I went to a workshop of Hwy63: the Fort Mac Play. I will tell you honestly, as a long-time resident of Fort McMurray there is no way I would ever be completely objective about this piece. I did try very hard to be so. It was also a workshop, so it is still in development so I think it hasn't quite found it's groove or purpose. Right now the whole environmental thing is very prominent in the script. An oft repeated phrase, "What's your agenda?" (something the playwrights were asked frequently when they went up there) was interesting, because I certainly found an agenda in the script. I was also disappointed when I recognized people I knew and I felt they were slightly mocking in their portrayal of them. Now, I did stick around and talk to one of the playwrights and she was very interested in what I had to say. I felt she was sincere in her response to me and she respected where I was coming from and she also said she was glad I shared my comments with her. I am glad for that. I do not want to dictate what someone else's play will be, but this is a topic close to my heart and I felt I should say something.
I also went to Doubt at the Citadel. The Production value was up the wazoo. Gorgeous set, costumes, lighting, etc... all you would except from the Citadel for decoration and atmosphere. I was very Impressed with Karen Robinson (the boy's mother, Mrs. Muller). She was a stand out. Lally Cadeaux (Sr. Aloysius) was very good, and John Ullyat (Fr. Flynn) was also quite good although he is so charismatic and charming that it is hard to truly doubt him. The weak link in the show was Clarice Eckford (Sr. James). I just found her performance to be flat and pre-planned. Nothing seemed organic with her performance and her voice was so one-dimensional. I have talked to others about this show and they seem to agree with me on it. I enjoyed the show overall, but I felt it could be better. The script also has a few false notes, but you are pretty much stuck with that.
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