The final two one-acts of George F. Walker’s Suburban Motel Suite, Criminal Genius and Risk Everything, have been launched. Genuinely satisfying as theatre, the two served to provide a workout for laugh muscles I haven’t used in years.
Mathieu Perron directed Criminal Genius at an absolutely manic pace and got some terrific comic performances from his delightful cast.
Dom Pompeo plays the hapless and self declared victim father with a comic intensity that never loses momentum. Mike Payette gives a hilarious performance as his ill fated “slow” son. Tamara Brown is terrific as the “macha” crime leader who is seduced by her own violence and Shiong-En Chan shone with an intense kind of magic as the hostage turned empress of crime. George Bekiaris reprising his role as the alcoholic motel manager from Problem Child just walked away with the play. His one -liners were delivered perfectly and he made even the violent ending unbearably funny.
There are those who are not George Walker fans and have called this kind of play “theatre as slumming”. But if you do not take it all too seriously, this is a wonderful opportunity to see comedy live and really well done. The only drawback is a bit of oblique blocking which leaves audiences at Stage Left craning to see the madcap action.
Risk Everything, directed by Eric Hausknost, is a darker comedy with fewer guffaws but it offered the delight of watching actors in the full stride of their talent. Johanna Nutter as the Queen of Kvetch-mother-from-hell is flawless in her pacing and delivery. She never allows the tension to drop for an instant, and her most nefarious manipulation is totally credible.
Mike Hughs delivered a multifaceted performance as the hapless husband and low-life loser, first revealed in Problem Child. Joel Fishbane is back as the porn director from Featuring Loretta, after filming in the suite next door.
Joanna Sarazan was the straight man to Johanna and gave just the right amount of manic performer on a buzz to make the piece work. She is recognisable as the impossible mother of Problem Child, and manages to convince us of her dysfunctional relationship with both compliant husband and truly wicked mother.
There is an extended run for those of you who still wish to see first four plays. It is a delightful way to spend an otherwise bleak month in Montreal and I do not remember when I have laughed more. It is hugely encouraging to see so much talent, and in so brief a time; a reminder that while the granting agencies had their backs turned, theatre not only survived in this city, it flourished.
I am looking forward to the upcoming play readings and am grateful for the youth and energy that Tableau D’Hôte brought to this not so sweet suite of plays.
Criminal Genius and Risk Everything continue at MainLine Theatre through November 29. Following that, there will be one more showing of each duo of one-act plays: Tues., Dec. 1 – Problem Child (7 pm) and Adult Entertainment (9 pm); Wed., Dec. 2 - Featuring Loretta (7 pm) and The End of Civilization (9 pm); Thurs., Dec. 4 - Criminal Genius (7 pm) and Risk Everything (9 pm). For more details, check MainLine Theatre (3997 boul. St-Laurent) Box Office: (514) 849 – FEST (3378). Or the Tableau D’Hôte Theatre site.
Photo: Cindy Lopez.
From left: Dom Pompeo and Mike Payette (Tableau D’Hôte co-founder).
