AUTOBAHN races into the Freestanding Room

Autobahn by Neil Labute* is presented by Freestanding Productions at the Freestanding Room March 31 to April 3. An original production co-directed by Jock MacDonald, Isabel Farias and Nicole Braber. *"The average person spends about an eighth of their lives in cars, being their own car or others. In addition to transpotation, cars are also used as covert love nests, battlegrounds, or a place of refuge. This play is a dark, provolative collection of one-act plays, exploring how claustrophobic and deeply foreboding the inside of your average family car can be." A series of shorts plays: Funny, Bench Seat, All Apologies, Merge, Road Trip, and Autobahn, on a minimalist stage are presented in one act of approximately an hour and a half.

In addition to the clever stylized writing of the six short two handers, the cast of twelve is the featured element of this production with some very special stand out performances. Funny, Isabel Farias Lehoux, a teen in out of rehab vowing to be a repeater, she never shuts up and finds time to smoke a joint as her mother, Lois Dellar, who never utters a word drivers her home. Bench Seat, JoAnn Mailloux (a Avril Lavigne type) as the Walmart employee relationship junkie and Francis Néron as the potential assistant teacher boyfriend are 'parked' at look out point, but are they there to make out or break up? All Apologies, David Bronfman (a Robert Downey Jr. type) as the 'bad boy' husband and Karie Richards (a Kate Winslet type) the scorned wife sits and listens to his rant and rave for forgiveness. Merge, As they meander their way through traffic jams and detours Helena Marie Patté is the alcoholic wife returning from a business trip with a weighty confession to reveal to her concerned and naive husband Craig Thomas. Road Trip, Danielle Doiron and Daniel Giverin, play a young innocent student and an older creepy man, on a get-a-way trip to a secluded country cabin. Autobahn, Nicole Braber (a cross between a Laura Linney and Julianna Moore type) as a wife who berates her husband about accusations of his molesting a foster child, and the husband, David Bushman (a Daniel Craig type), who has nothing to say in his own defense. Although all of the performances are great, stand out moments that were well received by an appreciative audience were delivered by: Jo Ann Mailloux, Helena Marie Patté and David Bronfman.

Opening night was sold out, the intimate space (Freestanding Room - 4324 St. Laurent, 3rd Floor) has a very limited seating capacity so reserve ahead. Tickets 12$-8$ 514 817-6429
freestandingproductions@gmail.com