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music, book, lyrics & direction by Susan G. Acheson

august Productions Theatrical Inc., Toronto Fringe Festival, Factory Theatre Mainspace, Toronto

July 4-13, 2013

Susan G. Acheson's earnest musical based on the life of the Biblical King David is burdened with an inept, undramatic structure. It follows David from his time as a shepherd but ends abruptly with his repentance for stealing Uriel's wife, strangely strangely omitting his well-known battle with his son Absalom and his own death.

Acheson does not tell her story though action and dialogue, but through the snail-paced narration of Nathan the Prophet (a stolid Alex Strauss). Her adult-oriented pop songs, nearly all for David (Nigel Thompson), merely reflect what Nathan has just said rather than moving the action forward. The songs sung to pre-recorded music all sound alike which only only contributes to a sense of stasis that even Thompson's inspired, whole-hearted performance can't disguise.

              

©Christopher Hoile

Note: A version of this review appeared in NOW Magazine 2013-07-11.

Photo: Nigel Thompson as David. ©2013 J.R. Media Productions.

For tickets, visit http://fringetoronto.com.