True Lies: The Play!

So I didn't post a review for Mother Courage from February. I didn't post a review that I had prepared for Urine Town at Hart House.
With that aside I'd like to offer a review of the performance I observed most recently.

This was the lovely True Lies rendition produced for the stage. It was done by the York Theatre program in the Greene Theatre in the fine arts building. Maybe there's no 'e' at the end of Greene.

Anyway, it was a lovely adaptation. Quite comical and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not much makes me laugh, but this qualified.

It was part of the playGround series, which is similar to New Voices at Ryerson in that it showcases new talent from the students and playwrights.

There were a few things that I really enjoyed in this production.
The first thing that I thought was quite original was the Fox Searchlight sequence that airs before most Fox films was some-what replicated for the stage.

This was done by fading and raising various lights on the tubes, and playing the fanfare in sequence. The only thing from lighting designer M. Anderson hooked up that stuck with me. The other cues were also fantastic but the overall show was completely controlled by the actors.


Speaking of which, I have to say I enjoyed not only my good friend Ray Mackenzie's performance, but also the writers ensured to include the very memorable strip-tease sequence performed by Jamie Lee in the original film.

the last thing that really stuck with me was the wardrobe the production team chose for Simon. Oh that shirt! It really captured the feeling that Simon brings out. He's the pathetic under-achiever in all of us. And that shirt is probably hanging up in my closet.