Review
by Robin Breon
Back
in 1988, when Stratford's then artistic director, John Neville, dissolved the
Festival's Young Company, he deprived the artistic leaders of one generation a
place to grow and mature their art. No matter, necessity was the mother of
invention for a group of talented, young classical performers who were not about
to let despair turn into cynicism and defeat of their aspirations. Led by Albert
Schultz the
group formed Soulpepper and since 1998 the company has been giving Stratford a
head-on run for its money by mounting seasons that overlap, compete and many times
offer artistically superior product compared to that seen on the Stratford
stage.
The
great success of Soulpeppers' production of Our Town is more the celebration around
the opening of their new permanent home in Toronto's historic Distillery
District than in the play itself. The $14 million renovation/restoration is an
architectural triumph and while the good burghers of Grover's Corners, New
Hampshire, ply their streets and sidewalks with due diligence, the production
itself might best be described as pedestrian.
There
are standouts in the cast however and one cannot dismiss the wonderful
chemistry and new interpretation given to George (Jeff Lillico) and Emily (Martha MacIsaac) by director Joseph Ziegler who imbues the characters with
an ice cream soda laced with a scoop of apprehension.
Our
real town is a much different place than Grover's Corners. The challenge for
these new residents will be to reflect the contemporary sensibility of this
vibrant multicultural city within their classical artistic mandate. In the
meantime - as they get on with the task of interior designing - may they enjoy
the comfort of their new home.