@Real_EstateInfo Hilarious, but so very wise!
Zadie’s Shoes
reviewed by Ron Singer
Zadie’s Shoes, written by Adam Pettle, @ Factory Theatre until June 5
Although recently ending its Factory Theatre run, Zadie’s Shoes is a wonderfully written, often moving play with cleverly structured conflicts, easily recognizable and perfectly contrasting characters and relevant contemporary themes. Wow! That’s a mouthful AND an awful lot to cram into one play….well.
But prolific and award-winning playwright Adam Pettle does so with this modestly rewritten and tightened revival of his 2001 hit. But, of course, it takes more than a superb play to create a winner. Thus, the supporting and talented team of actors (Joe Cobden, Patricia Fagan, William Macdonald, Harry Nelken, Shannon Perreault, Geoffrey Pounsett and Lisa Ryder), co directors (Adam and his brother, Jordan Pettle), designers (Jackie Chow-set/costumes, Andrea Lundy-lighting, Christopher Stanton-sound) and stage manager (Tanya Greve), all play a major part in creating this excellent ensemble production.
Zadie’s Shoes tells the story of Benjamin (Cobden), a compulsive gambler, who plays the horses with, and loses, his girlfriend’s (Patricia Fagan) money, which she had saved for her “alternative” cancer cure and which he is under extreme pressure to win back before they leave town in a couple of days time for her treatment. Stressed to the max, Benjamin, a thoroughly non observant Jew, heads for a synagogue, hoping for God’s intervention/assistance and there meets up with an old, but wise codger (Harry Nelken) who generously dispenses practical advice, often sprinkled with humour, coming in the form of sage sayings and aphorisms. And this elderly gentleman keeps popping up throughout the script, advising, counselling and at times, badgering Benjamin.
For those of you familiar with the play Tuesdays With Morrie, this play, Zadie’s Shoes has some similarities. Both plays involve a North American secular Jewish sensibility and both contain conflict, wit, charm, humour, pathos and enough schmaltz (chicken fat) to make a large serving of very rich chopped liver. But Pettle’s play has younger characters and tackles more ‘with it’ and contemporary themes. In fact, I have seldom seen as many young people (16-40) in attendance at a local theatre for a non-musical, as I did here at the Factory Theatre for that Sunday matinee. The high stakes and very humorous, yet poignant plot, is very shrewdly but seamlessly mixed with the universal themes of compulsive behaviour, family, love, faith and loss of relationships.
In the final analysis, Pettle tells a good story and understands that conflict must occur at strategic intervals in order to hook your audience. I, for one, was totally engaged, because Zadie’s shoes is clever ‘popular entertainment’ and definitely worth the trip to Factory.
by Editor
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Loading ...National Theatre Live
Time to take in top-notch British theatre, in Toronto
by Ron Singer
“National Theatre Live” is the name of a phenomenal and groundbreaking theatrical initiative that has been taking place in Toronto since January 2009, but you’d be hard pressed to find overwhelming numbers of Torontonians who know about it. What exactly is it? It’s the best of British Theatre, performances of outstanding plays of all types and genres that are performed in repertory at the three theatres of the Royal National Theatre in London and broadcast live via satellite directly to a select number of cinemas and performing arts venues around the world, including the Cineplex chain here in Toronto.
Think about it, some of the best plays from across the globe, featuring many of the world’s best actors and directors and produced by one of the world’s most reputable and successful repertory companies.. seen live, here in TO–without the tedious hassle of having to go to London, AND at a very reasonable cost per ticket.
Thus, I find it difficult to understand why there are not far more people ”breaking down the Cineplex doors”, so to speak, in order to attend this spectacular series.
If you haven’t been a fan, then take note, below are only some of the exciting productions that you have missed.
- Phedre by Jean Racine starring a nothing less than brilliant Helen Mirren playing the title role of Phedre in this savage play,
- The Habit of Art, an extremely witty and articulate play by brilliant British playwright Alan Bennett,
- A Disappearing Number by world famous theatre company, Theatre Complicite, a provocative, but superbly performed Hamlet,
- the recent Broadway musical hit, Fela and most finally,
- Frankenstein directed by famous film director Danny Boyle of Academy Award winning Slumdog Millionaire fame.
- And upcoming, Checkov’s Cherry Orchard, Emperor and Galilean and A Woman Killed with Kindness.
And as if that’s not enough to satisfy even the most dedicated theatre officianado, the Cineplex organization is now hooking up with Broadway producers and beginning to bring in hits directly from productions currently running on the Great White Way. One of these is the award-winning show starring Brian Bedford in The Importance of Being Earnest and the second of these Broadway offerings is the present long-running musical, Memphis.
Do not think that you’re diminishing the importance of local theatre by supporting these foreign productions, you are, however, expanding your theatrical knowledge and experience, which can only serve to improve the quality of the theatre-going audiences in this City.
by Editor
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