Theatre
February 3rd 2010
Play is creative and resonant with room for improvement
Vinegar Tom
Directed by Hope McIntyre
Presented by U of W Department of Theatre and Film as part of Churchill Fest
Plays at Canwest Centre for Theatre and Film (400 Colony St., Theatre 1T15) until Saturday, Feb. 6
The University of Winnipeg Department of Theatre and Film showcase their creativity and range of talents in the production of Caryl Churchill’s Vinegar Tom. The students did not simply recreate Churchill’s powerful feminist script exploring the horrors of the witch trials in 16th and 17th century Europe; they gave it a personal touch.
The play begins with an innovative and interactive prologue, created by the students, that demonstrates the resonance of the play’s larger themes of scapegoating and discrimination in our modern world.
Yet another artistically interesting aspect of the play was the use of a screen in the middle of the stage upon which various drawings of witch-hunt scenes were projected during the length of the play. This bold use of multimedia created a visually powerful contrast to the otherwise modest, earth-toned set.
While the highly dramatic nature of the script demanded strong emotional intensity from the actors, many fell short of the task. None of the characters were remarkably vivid, with the exception of Margery, a devoutly superstitious countrywoman played by Reanna Korade. Korade seemed at one with her character and certainly gave the most captivating and convincing performance of the evening.
What the other characters lacked was made up for in the musical performances. The scenes are separated by a number of humorous choral interludes, which improved dramatically as the play progressed. The vocals were substantial but not exceptional; yet, the detailed choreography and energetic execution of the segments strongly portrayed the immense talent and passion of the actors.
While the overall performance was not on par with that of a professional theatre company, the U of W’s theatre and film students certainly demonstrated their potential as young performers and their ability to create their own unique spin on a script.
This review appeared in Volume 64, Number 18 of The Uniter, published February 4th 2010.
