February 15th, 2011
Review by Michael Bean
February 11th, 2011
Pathos in a play is like salt: the right amount adds savour, too much just makes everything taste like salt. Almost Maine manages to find a good balance with it’s gentle take on the closeness and the distance of love. Written as a series of interwoven two-actor vignettes, it never takes itself too seriously, and at its best pulls on the heartstrings. Gently.
The staging is simple, with some clever technical innovations provided by lighting designer Darren Boquist, including a subtle laser-light starscape during the blackouts that should immediately be stolen by anyone setting their play outside. While the tech crew did their best to smooth them out, it’s difficult to get around blackouts in a vignette-based play, and as a result each vignette is digested by the audience as a micro-play in itself. And though all the vignettes are engaging, some of them crackle more than others.
Almost Maine is an Actors Equity approved co-op, basically a ‘for the love’ production with a cast of solid actors. Andrew Coghlan as always brings a beautiful innocence and presence to his work, and if his disparate characters feel similar, he’s so likeable that he’s instantly forgiven. Michael Kopsa has warmth, confidence, and the kind of voice you could listen to read the phone book, and he’s strongest in his understated character for “Where it Went” in the second act opposite Jennifer Copping, who plays all her characters with an engaging sensitivity. You can’t help but laugh at Victoria Bidewell’s never-been-kissed tough small town girl in “Seeing the Thing,” opposite John Shaw’s genial everyman. The show stealer for me was Gina Leon, her performance in “Story of Hope” mixes intense vulnerability and unselfconscious humour with a wonderfully specific physical life. Pure electricity, exactly what I hope for when I go to the theatre.
Some of the theatrical conventions, including one where characters fall dramatically prone while ‘falling in love’, are a little flat. I would have liked to see more variation in the style, several of the scenes verged between naturalism and broad comedy without quite landing satisfactorily on either. It’s a little quibble though, in a lovely gentle little play.
My verdict? Go see Almost Maine. Bring a date.
“Almost Maine”
by John Cariani
directed by Stellina Rusich
presented by Jeezum Crow Equity Co-op
at Studio 1398 (formerly Playwrights Theatre Centre) on Granville Island
February 9th-26th
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February 12th, 2011
Saw Ruben at the Rivoli in Toronto last year. It was a great show, nice songwriter, killer band. Check this kid out. This is some new work from him and the band, album coming soon.
Rueben deGroot: The Last Green Mountain Bootlegger Queen from josh lyon on Vimeo.
February 11th, 2011
8 p.m., to Feb. 26
Studio 1398, 1398 Cartwright on Granville Island
Tickets: $20 advance, $25 at the door, call 604-338-4710
VANCOUVER — When an off-Broadway play closes, it sometimes means the production will be moving to Broadway itself. John Cariani’s 2006 work, titled Almost, Maine, went the other way.
There’s no getting around the fact that Almost, Maine was an almost-ran in the Big Apple, failing to appeal to New York sensibilities and closing a month after it opened, costing $800,000 to mount and losing every penny. Cariani went back to auditioning as an actor.
Yet something about this modern fable, set in a fictional New England town beneath the glow of the Aurora Borealis, kept it bubbling away on a back burner. Dramatists Play Service started marketing Almost, Maine as the perfect play for schools, drama competitions or, as in the case of a new production in Vancouver, actor showcases.
The Vancouver premiere, opening tonight at Studio 1398 atop Festival House on Granville Island, is one of many productions now taking place around the world. From Korea to Mexico City, theatre troupes have embraced the play, in part because its flexible nature allows a full cast of 19, or as few as four people, to portray all the kooky characters.
Audiences, meanwhile, flock to see it because Almost, Maine is one of those sweet sets of stories that make a trip to the theatre fun for everyone. In 2010 it knocked A Midsummer Night’s Dream out of top position as the play most produced in high schools.
In Vancouver, Stellina Rusich directs a cast of six: John Shaw, Victoria Bidewell, Gina Leon, Andrew Coghlan, Michael Kopsa and Jennifer Copping. The gang has wisely given itself a good, long run, a smart move because one of the secrets of this work’s success is the word of mouth that spreads as audiences come away happy.
Sun Theatre Criticpbirnie@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Theatre+preview+Charming+play+rocky+start/4261313/story.html#ixzz1Dfafuadr
February 11th, 2011
Jim Bryson was kind enough to allow me to use some of his music in my film MY AMERICAN EXODUS. Such a talented singer/songwriter and if you get the chance you should really check him out.
Here’s how good you can sound singing outside of a convenient store…
February 6th, 2011
February 5th, 2011
February 2nd, 2011
Hey all, wanted to share Part 1 of MY AMERICAN EXODUS. Give it a view and they’ll be more to come. ENJOY!
My American Exodus
Promote Your Page Too
February 1st, 2011
The ship has landed.
Recently I helmed a presentation pilot written by Michael Northey called “Captain Starship”. The stellar cast of Paul McGillion, Quinn Lord, Michael Northey, Erin Karpluk, Rick Dobran, Alistar Abel, Donnie Lucas, Jennifer Copping, Gina Charelli and Michael Shanks all helped create a shoot I’ll never forget. Somehow Producer Ivon Bartok kept the 30 cast and crew safe and joyful throughout the 4 day, 1 camera shoot and still managed to keep his perfectly groomed quaf intact.
The project is now in the fine cut stage and will soon be unleashed on the public.
