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Tottering Biped theatre closes is 2010 season this week at Burlington Student Theatre with an energetic production of Morris Panych’s The Ends of the Earth. Winner of the 1995 Governor General’s Award, this choice perfectly meets the company’s own mandate to bring grown–up theatre to grown–ups in the greater Hamilton/Burlington area. There’s a wink of mischief in Biped’s eye in mounting this production, at least for this reviewer. To end the season with a comedy is good business, often employed by theatres so we can leave our brains at home for once and pick them up later. A treat, if you like, a dessert for eating our broccoli. During the season we were stunned by the unexpected beauty in tragedy of Gary Kirkham’s Falling: A Wake, and emotionally wrenched by My Name is Rachel Corrie, both in the writing and performing, Don’t we deserve a pudding, a comedy? Of course, and who better to deliver such a confection than Morris Panych?
Indeed, but be thankful you can’t leave your mind behind, as it will come in very handy as you settle back to live a while with Frank (sometimes Miles) and Walker (the incomparable Trevor Copp and Michael Hannigan). You want a laugh, you’ll get lots. But we’re in a kind of parallel universe with these two Beckett–like losers, and up to our nostrils most of the time, gasping for air. Panych creates a seeming reality, a world you almost recognize until he takes you round corners and the streetscapes change, leaving you wondering where you are. Frank thinks he lives in the same world as we do, with structure and rules and somebody in charge. Then the rules aren’t there and instead of order there’s Walker, whom he fears is following and watching him. Everything needs to be re–examined; even the rules of grammar and syntax begin to lose their sense. Paranoia rules.
A master of text, Morris Panych writes from a wonderful well of imagination and observation, often sharp and apt, sometimes oblique and detached. His characters are creations of the moment, but once conceived and made, they take on lives of importance to the moment. Keeping an eye on the shaky controls of the world is the policeman Clayton (nicely played by Adrial Fitzgerald). And since he’s there, he’s not to be wasted and takes turns as a spaced–out truck driver, janitor, sailor and a ship’s captain, to name a few.
Arising as needed are, among other things, a girlfriend, a waitress, a spacey would–be actress, a psychic with a Russian accent, a murderous old lady, and a ditzy Irish hotel manager (all hilariously played by Daniela Carnevale and Mary Elizabeth Willcott in turn).
All of this is in the seasoned and skilled care of Director Ron Cameron–Lewis, pacing the whole with elegant economy of movement and beat. He uses the simple minimalist set and props of Diana Stephens with few problems, establishing time and season with a series of periaktoi, the clever costuming of Deb Bouchard, the very effective lighting of Jenny Jiminez, and some pretty fine use of sound effects by an unnamed designer. The whole thing benefits immensely from Henny Hamilton’s fine stage–managing.
There’s a lot of content in the play, a risky factor in the world of absurdist theatre. It would be a huge burden to a weaker company. One has especially to commend the two leading actors, whose confident control of the text is absolutely remarkable. Trevor Copp discovers in speech so much fine–tuning and sub–textual riches as to amaze an audience. He is a whole body actor, as convincing in stillness as he is evocative in movement. In Michael Hannigan, the production has a skilled absurdist masked by a convincing façade of realism. He has a sound understanding of what is needed when, and his experience is eminently evident in his timing and action, both of which make his comedy delightful.
In their supporting roles, Daniela Carnevale sparkles as a natural comedienne, and Mary Elizabeth Willcott shows an enormous range of acting skills. Adrial Fitzgerald is up to challenge of his multiple roles and more so.
The Ends of the Earth deserves your attention and attendance. Don’t miss it. V
THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
By Morris Panych
@ Burlington Student Theatre
2131 Prospect St. Burlington.
September 2 to 4.
totteringbiped.ca
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