The
first double take that one might have done upon first reading about the Theatre
Passe Muraille/ Green Thumb Theatre co-production of George F. WalkerÕs play, Moss Park, (which opened at TPM recently) was: Green Thumb?
IsnÕt that the theatre for young people ensemble that originated in Vancouver
30 years ago and generally presents plays that edify and educate at the same
time?
A
long way from the sometimes dark and depressing world of George F. Walker,
especially when he is dealing with contemporary down-and-outers as opposed to
his historical plays.
This
two hander character study comes in at just about 60 minutes running time which
is another indicator of its Òstamp of approvalÓ for a high school assembly
program with time left over for the obligatory Òtalk backÓ session that would
be important for the audience base served by Green Thumb. Having noted all of
this, I think itÕs best to judge the play solely on it merits, regardless of
whatever template it has to satisfy with regard to format. And this play does
have much merit.
Tina
and Bobby are real young people who face real problems. Poverty exacerbated by
dead end, low paying jobs along with TinaÕs impending pregnancy are just a few
of them. Their options seem to be limited. Bobby considers going back to
stealing in order to make a living while Tina considers whatever work is
available. Although it soon becomes apparent, by way of WalkerÕs signature fast
paced and funny dialog, that Tina is the more capable of the two when it comes
to career planning.
Haley
McGee as Tina is a practical yet
pragmatic heroine who we quickly gauge as the more competent of the two. Graeme
McCombÕs Bobby, on the other
hand, is a clueless rogue who will easily end up behind bars unless he listens
up and takes HaleyÕs advice which he seems incapable of doing. How that all
plays out is the gist of the play.
I
wonÕt ruin anyoneÕs evening by doing a disclosure here but suffice it to say
that the ending of the play is indeed edifying without being treacly thereby
making it consistent with Green ThumbÕs mandate when it comes to working with
youth, which is: Òto empowerÓ.
Moss
Park will run at Theatre Passe
Muraille until November 16th. Twitter hashtag: #MossPark