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by Arthur Schnitzler, directed and adapted by Lewis Baumander

Theatre Onslaught, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto

May 19-29, 2005

Austrian writer Arthur Schnitzler’s infamous play La Ronde (1900) depicts ten sexual encounters between people of all stations in life.  A shags B, B shags C, and so on till we’re back to A.  At only 70 minutes, Theatre Onslaught’s new production is about half as long as the tedious Soulpepper production of 2001, but weak acting compounds problems in the adaptation and direction.

To reinforce the universality of Schnitzler’s view of sex as an exercise in egotism, adaptor and director Lewis Baumander has set the ten scenes in different times and places, mostly bouncing between the ‘40s, ‘60s and the present.  Unfortunately, since Baumander’s adaptation doesn’t reflect each period distinctly, it confuses more than enlightens.  “You are such a bewitching creature,” the Husband says, not in the ‘40s but in the present.  At least, there is humour in the encounters, though not all of it is unintentional.

The acting of the ten-member cast ranges from painful to passable.  Jo Chim as the Young Wife has real stage presence.  David Tompa as the Count is adept at subtle humour.  As the abused Maid, Asha Vijayasingham makes us care about her character in a way that we care about none of the others.        

©Christopher Hoile

Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2005-05-26..

Photo: Shawn Reynolds and Jo Chim.