Saturday, March 08, 2008

Elephant Wake

It was a treat to take in some theatre last night. Joey Tremblay gave an amazing performance of his play Elephant Wake at the Globe theatre. Walking into the building I was immediately charmed by the intriguing design of the theatre and then of the set. I really liked the hanging lanterns and I think they could also create a delightful effect suspended in my house. The main character Jean Claude, the last resident of a small Saskatchewan town called Sainte Vierge, was very endearing and wonderfully eccentric. The audience was carried into his world and nostalgia through intricate stories, lively songs and elaborate re-enactments. The intimate setting of the theatre in the round and the playful interactions with the audience made it real. For the evening of March 7th I was a part of that small francophone community re-living masses in latin, christmas parties, school bus rides, funerals, roadside pranks and more. I loved the twisted prairie rendition of Edith Piaf''s song Milord and the inventive papier maché creations that were continually being described. I wanted his family, childhood and town to come back to life as much as Jean Claude. Joey Tremblay is an excellent actor and should you ever have the chance I highly recommend going to see him perform.

I am not sure how long it will last, but there is a short web trailer on the website that will give you a glimpse of the performance: Regina Globe Theatre

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