Venue: Studio 58, Langara College, Vancouver
Date(s): March 21 - April 7, 2002
Reviewer: Jane Penistan
Wallace Shawn's The Hotel Play is set on a
tropical island where anything and anyone may arrive. The set is
colourfully stylized: exotic vegetation, sandy beach and unreal azure
sea and sky, designed by Bryan Pollock. This is enough to get one
wondering.
The one constant character among the multitude who appear at this
holiday resort is the hotel clerk, played energetically by David
Beazely. While doing his job trying to serve and satisfy the various
strange guests, he has his own ways of getting his just or unjust
rewards.
At break-neck speed, the day at the hotel moves from dawn (through
three more crowded scenes) to the hour before the next dawn. This time
span is peopled with caricatures of different types of tourists:
demanding, pleasure-seeking, relaxing.
Some are fanatics, others health freaks, one or two seeking erotic
experiences. There is guitar and percussion music, some well-recognized
and some composed by Jeff McMahan and Becca Auerbach, played, sung
and danced to onstage by the cast. Also notable are clever portrayals
of children ingeniously dressed.
The lighting is suitably atmospheric, as are the sound effects.
This is a really excellent display of ensemble playing. The 21 actors
succeed in bringing almost 50 different characters to life, even if
this is in a not quite real world.
Congratulations to the director, cast and the sound lighting and
effects departments in making such an exhilarating show.
© 2002, Jane Penistan
The Hotel Play runs at Studio 58, at Langara College, 100 West 49th
Avenue, Wednesday to Sunday at 8.00 p.m. Sunday matinee at 3.00 p.m.
March 21 - April 7, 2002
Tickets Wed, Thurs, $13.00 general admission, $12 for students and
seniors,
Fri and Sat. $14.00, and both shows on Sunday are 2 for 1,
or $7.00 each.
For information and reservations call the Studio 58 Box Office at
604-323-5227.
Studio 58 is located in the basement of the Main
Building, Langara College, 100 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver.