Terminal Theatre
Speed-The Plow

Dates and Venue 3 - 14 November 2009 (Tues - Sat at 8pm | Havana Theatre, Vancouver

Reviewer Ed Farolan

From a theatre group that recently emerged at the 2009 Fringe, I'd say there's a lot of promise for this company of talented actors and directors. Directed by Sarah Szloboda, the production stars the versatile Mikal Grant (Bobby Gould), the passionate Ivan Wanis-Ruiz (Charlie Fox) who reminds me of the young Al Pacino, and the lovely Alexis Kellum-Creer (Karen) whose character left me wondering whether she was pretending to be naive in order to manipulate Bobby.

Written in 1988, this play is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity, as it just closed a highly acclaimed Broadway run, featuring Jeremy Piven, Raul Esparza, and Elizabeth Moss. When you have a well-written play like this on, a play one would call in theatre parlance "an actor's play", and you have good actors, the play is sure to succeed. And true enough, from the applause at curtain call which is what makes the play a success or a flop, I could tell that the audience did appreciate the acting of these three thespians.

Congrtulations to the cast and crew, especially to Director Sarah Szloboda and Assistant Director Lara Isaacson. I remember Stage Manager Brianna Wiens from her summer hit, Reefer Madness, which she directed. I liked Mike Kovac's fight scene between Bobby and Charlie, and Brittany Elchuk's costume design of Karen's dresses which were sexy yet sophisticated and ladylike. I also like the 80s look of Charlie.

I look forward to this company's next production in February, the Vancouver premiere of The Vic by Leanna Brodie which will also be directed by Szloboda..  

© 2009 Ed Farolan