Reviews 2010
Reviews 2010
✭✭✩✩✩
written by George F. Walker, directed by Ken Gass
Factory Theatre Mainspace, Toronto
May 6-June 27, 2010
Featuring Loretta is probably the least successful of the six plays that make up George F. Walker’s “Suburban Motel” cycle. It’s as if Walker decided to try his hand at French farce and left behind the emotional and moral complexities that make other parts of the series like Adult Entertainment or End of Civilization so dynamic.
Walker’s typical kookiness is here but it is kookiness for its own sake. Loretta (Lesley Faulkner) has fled her home town to get away from all the people trying to control her life after her husband was eaten by a bear. Yet, if she has really tried to escape, why does everybody back home have her motel phone number and why does she answer? Lorrie has escaped one group of controlling forces only to acquire another. Michael (Kevin Hanchard), a booker of topless dancers, thinks Lorrie has a “special quality” that he would like to exploit in a series of erotic films. Dave (Brandon McGibbon), who sells industrial screws, has fallen hopelessly in love with Lorrie, yet his mad jealousy and suspicion turns her off exactly when he would turn her on. Then, Walker throws in Sophie (Monica Dottor), a Russian maid who ex-KGB father owns the motel. This could be a real laugh riot if Walker didn’t run out of ideas after about 20 of the show’s 75 minutes. The dialogue merely repeats the same points with increasing volume until the action simply stops leaving Lorrie in the same position as when the show started.
Surprisingly, Faulkner, who has given moving performances elsewhere, gives a grating one-note performance as Lorrie. The character may be in a constant state of irritation, but that is all the more reason why Faulkner should vary her tone. What humour there is comes from the other three actors. McGibbon is an old hand at playing clueless slackers, while Hanchard positively revels in this chance to show off his gift for comedy. Dottor’s performance is the most understated and, in general, the funniest. Director Ken Gass amps up the physical humour and the frequent wussy attempts at fighting between Dave and Michael are funny if only because they’re unintentionally homoerotic. Marion Wihak’s breakaway set and Jeremy Mimnagh’s exciting video projections provide theatrical possibilities that Gass doesn’t fully explore. Walker addicts will want to see this lesser work no matter what. Others will have to ask themselves if they really want to see this playwright at his least inspired.
©Christopher Hoile
Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2010-05-07.
Photo: Brandon McGibbon, Lesley Faulkner and Kevin Hanchard. ©Ed Gass Donnelly.
2010-05-07
Featuring Loretta