Silly Little Country

Cushman also gets CanStage's Fire

And knows a lot more about it than me and SillyWife - though I think his calls are really good.

The first-act curtain of Fire really lights one. Two, actually. On one side of the stage, there's Ted Dykstra, as a first-generation rock 'n' roller not unlike Jerry Lee Lewis, shaking the theatre as he pounds out Good Golly Miss Molly on voice and piano. On the other, there's Rick Roberts as a Bible-belt minister with resemblances to Jimmy Swaggart, finding his feet and his voice on his first venture into a radio studio.

100% AMEN! That was the moment in the show that made it worth the 2 and a half hours for me.

He also hits a point I did not know how to articulate:

Nicole Underhay gives herself over as fully to Molly who, what with having the first and last speeches, emerges as both chorus and protagonist. The actress can carry it; the character can't. Simply, it isn't about her.

The actress was superb. The role failed her.

I remain pleased CanStage did this show and that we went. But all its virtues were played out before intermission. If you want to see a half a fine show, buy a ticket and leave in the middle.

Labels: CanStage Fire Dykstra

posted by Alan Adamson @ 1:10 PM