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910 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa
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"Two"
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Absurd Person Singular
Photo by Andrew Alexander
Theatre of the Most Delightfully Absurd
If you love theatre,
"Absurd Person Singular," directed by John P. Kelly is a must see.
Keep in mind that the writer is the award-winning British playwright
Alan Ayckbourn. His brilliant comedy "How the Other Half Loves," was the
play that opened the Gladstone Theatre in 2008. Capital Critics Circle
named Kelly the
Best
Director (Professional)
for
this production. And if you saw the Phoenix Players
"Bedroom Farce" by Ayckbourn last year at the Gladstone, you know what
lies in store.
And fortunes change in this comedy of manners. The play could be described as a tragi-comedy because the characters are too busy focusing on their own concerns to care about anyone else. As Ayckbourn explains, "Dramatic counterpoint - using a deeply serious action against a background of comic events." Some characters lack social skills, another admits to adultery, one tries to commit suicide, another is snob who loves to drink. We soon realize that people become trapped in their lives, but Ayckbourn makes us laugh at other people's pain. Director John P. Kelly explains, “.What makes the audience laugh, even though another character is trying to end her life. Well it is not simple laughter. It is a dark, dark piece. How can we laugh at a woman trying for 45 minutes to kill herself, or at an alcoholic in the throes of despair, or at a marriage crumbling under the pressures of infidelity? But the genius of the writer is that he makes us do so, and it is not always easy laughter. This is a play to make you laugh till you cry.” Why is Ayckbourn so successful with his comedy? Kelly says, "I suspect it is something to do with his ability to have us see little bits of ourselves in the people he creates, and to make us laugh at the sheer absurdity of much of how we lead our lives.” Ayckbourn is brilliant in pushing the absurd. The finale of the play is a pure circus of comedy. You won’t stop laughing.
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“The
Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production
of
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Theatre Gone Mad "Noises Off" follows the cast and crew of a British sex farce called "Nothing On." Tensions mount as relationships on stage and behind-the-scenes go sour until there's more drama brewing backstage than on. "It's a play within a play and a parody of farce," Kelly explains. “Someone always seems to take off something. In this one, a girl plays most of the play in her underwear, and three male characters take their trousers down. One lady wears a corset, garter belt, black stockings – every man’s dream,” he smiles. “The three men show varying shades of boxers.” The play is in three parts. First you see a rehearsal where everything goes wrong, and you hear the director shouting to his actors to remember their lines and movements. There’s a lot of talk about sardines and whether they should be on or off stage. For part two, the innovative, massive set turns, and you see the action again, but from backstage… where everything goes wrong. As well, the intrigue of the actors’ personal lives begins to interfere with the performance. In part three, you see the play again as it is performed before an audience. This time there is complete mayhem as everything goes wrong. You won’t stop laughing.
A tremendous challenge was creating the set - a two-story English manor that comes apart and rotates 180 degrees for the second act. “It is very large for this theatre, Kelly says. “ The whole thing has to be taken apart at the first intermission and built up again back to front. Then the same process is in reverse for the third act.” Stay for the set change. It’s a great feat to watch. Up-and-coming set
designer, Ivo Valentik, built this impressive set that works on several levels,
complete with 15-foot walls, 3 staircases and over 8 doors and windows. “It’s a
technical nightmare,” Kelly insists. Steve Martin is outstanding as Garry, his role in “Nothing On” and Roger the actor performing in the play. His timing is excellent, his gestures hilarious, and his acrobatics astounding. One fears he will be completely black and blue by the end of the run.
The only weak
point is the final curtain call where the cast continues to romp, appearing and
disappearing in the multi-leveled set. By this time, we’ve already experienced
enough coming in and out of doors. We want to settle down. More confusion
doesn’t add to our experience. Director John P. Kelly is a master of comedy. The Gladstone theatre opens its new season with a hit, repeating their first season when Kelly directed Alan Ayckbourn’s “How the Other Half Loves,” a brilliant production. Kelly’s a genius at creating the most insane scenes. One wonders if he learned this across the sea, back in Dublin where he was born. He came to Ottawa just over five years ago because his partner, Colette, was offered a job here. “I created my own company, working in pubs, clubs, and anywhere I could get,” Kelly says. “Since then, the people and the artists of Ottawa have been wonderful to me.” “Being a theatre director is not easy. It entails lots of risks, but that’s part of the excitement … to make something out of nothing… to make words come alive,” he insists. “ The challenge is always to continue to produce high quality material for a very discerning Ottawa audience. There is, luckily, a very high standard of acting here, so that helps enormously.” Kelly’s
company, SevenThirty Productions, dedicated to Irish theatre, will present
“Shining City” written by Conor McPherson at Arts Court, November 17-29, 2009.
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A riotous journey of self-discovery
Richard Gélinas, Tim Oberholzer, Kelly Rigole, Robin Guy, Kathi Langston |
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"The Radio Show"
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The Gladstone Opened with Grandeur |
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New
Life in Centretown
Capital Critics Circle |
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Doubt A story of suspicion
and moral uncertainly |
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Rabbit Hole |
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