Sharman Yarnell for Curtains Up
It has been a long time since I have ventured into a theatre packed with young children and their parents – a very long time. It is most appropriate, then, that when I chose to do so again, it was a Geordie production, Head a Tete. I had never been to a Geordie show before. I must say, having heard all the wonderful things about Geordie (it has just launched an adventurous 33rd season), I expected nothing less than brilliance. Although somewhat leary and prepared for a show totally geared towards noisy youngsters, I was thrilled to discover it was everything but that. Indeed, it was brilliant!
What a joy! What an experience!
The set by Amy Keith is nothing less than out-of-this-world creative. It provokes your childhood memories, nudges them back to life, so your time waiting for the show to start is spent thinking of derelict cars and huge ships, trees growing out of nowhere and what, who, might dwell in this motley abyss.
Enter first actor – Not in the conventional way, oh no, not Geordie! I will say no more on that –
Joe de Paul delights, charms and cajoles hysterical laughter out of the little ones. What am I saying…he had the parents (and me) doubled up with his first peak out of…. Not saying!
Michel Perron, as big as he is, enters all bundled up, looking twice his size, yet always gentle. Nothing that scares. (More hysterical laughter from the audience.) Perron is woofly and wonderful in his role.
As actors, the two together are grand to watch. As characters, they enjoy the best of each other. Bouncing off each other (literally sometimes), they argue about imaginary boundary lines drawn, want what the other has, destroy the other’s possessions in the process and…horrors upon horrors…neither speaks the other’s language. It is clear, however, they are meant to be together, meant to share in something. Is this beginning to sound familiar? It should.
The play delivers a strong message to children about enjoying each other’s differences and making a world and life together, drawing on and enhancing those differences. It also makes a clear statement about the human spirit and the need for us all to survive together. (Obviously this is directed at we adults attempting to make a life here in Quebec. Madam Marois and her cabinet should see this play. They could benefit from a tickle in their trunks.)
Is it possible for a play to have an affect on a child? Does a child understand what it is seeing and hearing? At one point, Perron’s character is about to take a bite out of the last bit of food the two have grudgingly shared, unbeknownst to de Paul’s character. From within the audience came the plaintive cry of a child: “Noooooo!” The plea resounded throughout the theatre! Perron paused and deftly turned his gaze up to the heavens, searching from whence the cry came! That did everyone in – Well deserved applause broke out.
The direction by Alain Goulem (almost choreographic) is sharp, clear and to the point. Not a spot on that imaginative stage is left unused.
The lighting by Ana Cappelluto was beautifully imaginative and supported the magic as it unfolded before our eyes.
Head a Tete is a must see play to be enjoyed by both children and adults. It does everything Geordie promises to do. It provokes, fires up the imagination and all the while, Entertains.
A child’s infectious laughter has the ability to reach into the heart and turn the most skeptic of us into a child again. It opens the eyes for wonders to be seen.
Bravo Geordie!
Head a Tete is on at the Centaur Theatre until April 21.
