The fall season closes with Urban Tales @ Centaur

Well just when I thought it was over, the fall theatre season slides into the holiday season with Urban Tales @ Centaur. Presented in the the stark bare smaller performance space all the trimmings are left outside as the under garnished set consists of a simple riser and a carpet, occasionally we have a chair. On the upper level a guitar is plucked to some back ground music takes on familiar Christmas tunes.

The series of adult flavored short stories are well written and presented by the storytellers one-by one with transition music between each. Then there is an intermission. And then more stories. I liked all of the 'tales' some of which are translations from French originals and all are set in Montreal during the 'holiday season'. The performers do a very good job of presenting, admittedly a few stronger than others, but overall good quality.

Where this highly publicized yet very poorly attended (There was -25 in the audience the Saturday evening I attended.) production falls short is on ambiance. The space begs for some decorations and the venue for some holiday season cheer. One has the feeling that we are visiting a funeral parlor to pay our last respects to an acquaintance or neighbor who has met with an unfortunate and ill timed yet expected demise. In the effort to not leave out any of the 'Faiths' or to offend anyone, they (the religions) are all pretty much left out begging the question, what's the point?

Place the same production in a cabaret setting, with some seasonal decorations, a few carolers, maybe a small band, and a bar, with a maximum $10. fee at the door and a donation of a non-perishable item for a local charity and this would be a much more appropriate (and price marketed) setting. One can only imagine the budget allocated to such a production; the promotional budget alone based on the print ads I've seen could fund an entire mount for an independent company. Maybe it's the Scrooge in me or just the B***h, however 'fabulous' coming OUT. Happy F***ing holidays! (Fabuing)?!

DON'T drink & drive!

See you in the New Year!

La Bella Luna or a 'bad moon rising'?

Written & directed by Patrick de Moss, La Bella Luna is a very long play in serious need of an edit...to cut down the 2:30 running time down to 1:30. And the intermission of and extra +15 minutes, is it really - necessary? The over indulgent miss-use of pop rock lyrics only serves to drag the scenes down and becomes tedious and gets very old very fast.

Transitions are far too many and very poorly coordinated...
The blocking lacks logic and efficiency.

The production begs for direction to clean it up.

Dawn Ford - Laura/Ash is equally excellent in her interpretation of both roles and delivers an overall standout performance among this ensemble.

Jonathan Marquis - Jack/Jean is very entertaining and utterly delicious in his portrayal of Jean, however he falls considerably short as Jack with a lack of focus and development.

Even good actors can still deliver good performances; There are some great yet sporadic moments to be savoured here but the overall production is too ambitious for even this large ensemble cast to maintain and hold together.

Even if this was a film about to be released on DvD, I would have to advise - Skip It!