Hamlet

Knavish Hedgehog Productions—PTE – Mainstage

There were things I liked and things that didn’t quite please. I loved the enthusiasm of the large cast; and their obvious delight in performing. I enjoyed that they stayed true to the original work. The Bard said it best and I love my Shakespeare pure. This troupe has been around for awhile and sticks exclusively to Shakespeare; and likes to play with the staging of his works. This show was performed in modern clothing; and that’s where I had a little bone to pick. Some of the costuming was fine but the men’s outfits suffered from horrible tailoring. The four inch, poorly hand-sewn hems on Claudius’s pants made me want to jump in with a needle (hardly fit for a King), his jacket was too short, small and tight, and Guildenstern’s outfit was made for someone five sizes smaller. They adventurously chose to cast a female as Hamlet, but her drab, ill-fitting garb did her no favors. I would have played with the fact she was female and had her in a feminine, flowing gown. Then some outfits were lovely; like Ophelia’s dress and neck wreath when she’s was crazed. The costumes seemed to not come from the same time period; and one character looked positively Amish, including white sports socks with brown dress pants. If I have to watch something for ninety minutes, I want it pleasing to the eye.

The casting seemed off to me. I would have placed some of the stronger performers in the larger roles; though I’m not going to call anyone out by name. The talents of the cast varied wildly, from very accomplished to stiff and barely adequate. Staging was strange, with characters having a dialogue together, standing a stiff, great distance from each other, and a lot of rushing about like a wildebeest migration. But on the whole, it was worthwhile. It was opening night, and hopefully this production will smooth out for some of the weaker actors. With all the one actor shows, it’s nice to see an ensemble cast. If you want to see an authentic performance of Hamlet, take this in.

Lisa Campbell

A Nightmare On East Hastings: A Comedy.

Bessie Jean Productions—PLATFORM Centre

Bill Pats has a lot of fans, literally there are several fans at this much un-cool venue.
That being said, Mr. Pats proceeds to tell us about his big move to Vancouver and how he ended up doing something other than what he went there for, which was to pursue an acting career. He tells disturbing yet funny stories of being a building superintendent in the raciest, scariest, part of Canada. The people he had to deal with, homeless, penniless, drug depended characters…real people that we as a society look the other way at most of the time. Bill does not paint a pretty picture, though he still shared humorous situations put upon himself and the other human beings he deals with in this shoe box real estate existence. Bill chokes a couple times, making me feel he wrote this from the heart.

Wonderful thought provoking but humorous play.

Kevin Campbell

Animosity

Downside Up Productions—Forth

Billed as a companion to last year’s production of Anomie, Animosity proposes the same setting with a familiar intro. If you did not see last year’s edition, the first scene brings you up to speed. If you did see it, the first bits play like a rerun. The premise continues to be fascinating and intriguing but a bit less repetition would engage the return viewer much quicker.

As well, last year’s venue suited the play better than this year’s. The actors still make it work but you need to use your imagination a bit more. Also, the location sits in the (cool) basement below an active restaurant and lounge. The noise upstairs can be a bit of a distraction, but you soon get over it. As a tip, please do not move your chairs together when you enter the venue; they’re placed where they are on purpose.

Whereas Anomie explores the concepts of “is the grass always greener,” the current show prods into the effects of desolate isolation and the desperate grasp for companionship. Faced with an impossible situation, what happens when you take for granted what you have—then you lose it?

This engaging chapter takes you on another introspection into the endless channels of the human psyche. What is the true abyss? Does anyone know? Nagilum?

Hopefully there will be another installment next year. Can our heroes ever get their answers or are they doomed on Gillligan’s Island?

Listed at 60 minutes, the actual run time lasts only 44 minutes.

Ray Yuen

The Placeholder Show

TPS Production—Wee Johnny’s

Once again I started my Fringe this year with local Comedian/Artist/Storyteller J.D. Renaud’s show. I have always enjoyed his performances and find they are the perfect way to get into the Fringe.

Those familiar with him will know him for his great stories told with accompanying pictures/video or his simple, yet amazing, cartoons. I’m blown away by how every year he somehow finds some weird true story from long ago and then enthralls the audience in the way he presents it. This year that story opened the show and was about a race horse from 1923 and it was great. He then goes on with some stories from his own life and wraps it all up with a nice bow with the first story he created for kids. If you want to see some great storytelling and be fully entertained, and maybe have a beer as well, go check out this show at Wee Johnny’s.

Murray Hunter