current production reviews

[Don Perkins]

A quick list of U. of A. upcoming productions:
 
Main season (Studio Theatre)--Srping Awakening-Wedekind, Feb. 8-17;
Museum-Tina Howe, Mar 28-April 16; Life Without Instruction-Sally Clark,
May 2-11.
 
There are, of course, many in-house productions, which are often
excellent value:  Saucy Jack, March 2-3; Mad Forest, March
18-24,
Oleanna, March 23-24, As You Like It, April 4-7, among others.  These are
usually MFA directing projects, or class projects.
 
The best use of these in-house, low-budget offerings last term was a
first-rate run of Cooks' On The Rim of the Curve, directed by Alex
Hawkins, and featuring the acting of non-acting --B.A, B.Ed and
M.A--students.  Roles were doubled or tripled--three people playing the
Ringmaster at the same time, sharing the lines among themselves, at
least two for each other role, and the performers had to find the
places to shift from one to the other.  It brought out the Brechtian
element brilliantly--much better than a concurrent BFA Acting
production of The Threepenny Opera was doing in the main auditorium of
the Timms theatre.  It also brought out how gendered Cook's action
is--Europe largely male, aggressive, grasping, brutal, Beothuk largely
female, defensive, peaceful, caring, natural, etc.  Tickets for the
in-house shows are free, if you can get to the Drama office early
enough to snag a pair off the reel--honour system, you know.
 
Hope that helps.
 
Don Perkins
U. of A.