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by Stephen Briggs, directed by Liz Bragg

Socratic Theatre Collective, Toronto Fringe Festival, Pauper’s Pub, 539 Bloor St. West, Toronto

July 5-14, 2013

In Stephen Briggs's adaptation of Pratchett's 2003 fantasy novel, Polly Perks disguises herself as a man to join the army of Borogravia in its war against Zlobenia only to find that virtually all the "men" in her regiment are women in disguise.  The cast is uneven but there excellent work especially from Alex Dallas as the gruff but philosophical Sergeant Jackrum, Sarah White as the plucky Polly Perks and David Galvin Heppenstall as the enthusiastic but clueless Lieutenant Blouse, the only male in his regiment and the only one unable to recognize the true gender of his “men”.

Liz Bragg's brisk direction of the uneven cast makes imaginative use of Pauper's Pub, which stands in for the tavern Polly runs and the Borogravian army canteen where much of the action occurs. The show works best when Briggs keeps the focus on Pratchett's satire of patriotism and macho posturing, but bogs down amidst the plethora of battles and extraneous characters drawn from his source.         

              

©Christopher Hoile

Note: This review is a Stage Door exclusive.

Photo: Alex Dallas as Sgt. Jackrum and David Galvin Heppenstall as Lt. Blouse.  ©2013 Juliana Brown.

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