by Marcello Cabezas, directed by David Ferry, R.H. Thomson, Charles Officer, Nicole Stamp & Chad Dembski

macIDeas, Toronto Fringe Festival, Factory Studio Theatre, Toronto

July 1-11, 2009

Chooch, etc. is like a wedding where you know no one there.  The farfetched premise is that Marcello Cabezas (playing himself) wants to negotiate a treaty with his mother on stage, but needs a big name to play his mother.  For 40 of the 60 minutes we listen to tedious voice messages from Woody Harrelson, Mark McKinney and other demi-celebrities as they consider the proposition.  Finally, Marcello decides his real mother should play his mother.  It’s charming to see the two declare their mutual love, but why make this private event public and why charge people to see it? 

©Christopher Hoile

Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2009-07-02.

Photo: Marcello Cabezas. ©QPicture.