Abby Elizabeth for Curtains Up
Have you ever had a really awful day? Or experienced an angry encounter with a public service representative i.e.: receptionist, bus driver, coworker etc… Did you wonder what their problem was? Did you allow their negative demeanor to affect your day, did you confront them with more negativity or did you brush it off without a care in the world?
Billy (The Days of Howling) written by Fabien Cloutier, directed by Emma Tibaldo and translated beautifully by Nadine Desrochers is a story that explores the world of perception , the hypocrisy of prejudice and the affects people have on each other on a daily basis.
The plotline is loosely based on real life events. However, Cloutier embellishes his story and characters to create a satirical affect. This allows audience members to feel more aware of their words and how they express themselves. The story even feels somewhat allegorical because the three main characters are such detailed representations of personality traits found in nearly everyone.
Alice’s Mother, played by actress Nadia Verruci is the perfect example of the perfect O.C.D specimen. She is strict, organized, clean, well groomed, disciplined and a hard working loving mother of one. However, she discriminates against anyone who is not as motivated, caring, smart, thin or responsible as her. She believes herself to be the perfect parent and looks down on families with seemingly lower moral standards. She is a perfectionist who is highly anxious. It helps that Verruci delivers a standout performance in her reading and representation in the role of Alice’s mother
The two other characters played by, the very talented Kent McQuaid and Susan Glover are extremely flawed with a high and mighty attitudes. Glover plays an elderly woman who enjoys gossip and lacks empathy, while McQuaid portrays a rough and tumble blue collar worker who is constantly being called lazy and no good. The ensemble becomes intertwined in a story that revolves around human relationships unrealistic assumptions and the notion that some people are better than others.
Audience members are made to feel slightly voyeuristic throughout the show. We watch these individuals spiral into rage after rage over inconsequential non-events like: Drivers not wiping all the snow off their car windshield, rude receptionists, unhealthy lifestyles etc…
The amount of anger, discrimination and lack of empathy makes Cloutier’s characters seem crazy. However it’s a social commentary that pinpoints not only societal views but political ones as well. Billy (The Days of Howling) is meant to shake us by the shoulders and ask: why do we allow mundane things to create such hostility and why do we think we can make assumptions about others as if we know them? Everyone has their own story and Cloutier makes us very aware of this. Nothing is simply black or white, bad or good, right or wrong…There is always a gray scale and reasoning.
The Days of howling is a perfect title for this piece. The incessant howl of anger, grief and misery holds throughout the performance. There is this perfect flow of stress. The unpredictability and twist and turns of the plotline will leave people thinking about the story for days after. Although the presentation was in form of a public reading it felt as though it were a live play because the actors were amazing and the writing captivating.
Special credit should go to Nadine Desrochers who not only interpreted the play superbly but her understanding and grasp among both the French and English language is dead on. She translated the emotion and humor flawlessly. According to Cloutier, Billy (The Days of Howling) will be performed as a play with costumes and sets in the near future.
I highly recommend this play! Parents should take note that there is a lot of profanity and therefore not suited for children.
Not on presently but keep your eyes open for it!
