Review: Instant
iPhoto caption: Leah Fong and Michelle Rambharose in Instant. Photo by Andrée Lanthier
Instant
Geordie Productions
Written by Erin Shields. Directed by Dean Patrick Fleming. Set and costumes by Cathia Pagotto. Lighting by Andrea Lundy. Sound by Devon Bate. At Young People’s Theatre. Runs until December 15.
What would you do if you were a teenager who wanted to become famous? Playwright Erin Shields examines that question and many others in her bracing new play Instant.
Meredith (Michelle Rambharose) is desperate to become a famous singer/songwriter and frequently posts videos of her singing on social media. Her best friend, Jay (Dakota Jamal Wellman), supports her efforts. When their shy, awkward classmate Rosie (Leah Fong) posts her own video with huge response, Meredith is furious with jealousy. So much so that her jealousy gets the better of her with almost disastrous results.
A sensitive, perceptive writer, Shields delves into the world of the teenagers’ obsession with social media, likes, hits, and all the attendant lingo important to these teens. We see how mean and sordid the internet is and how easily teens can be sucked into that world of being cruel. We’ve all read stories in the media about cyber bullying before, but Shields does not present the stories in her play as clichés or provide easy solutions. There is a kind of earned redemption. People grow up, wise up, mature, learn from their mistakes, and learn from each other.
The cast of three give beautifully nuanced performances. Jay is the conscience of the piece. He cares for his friend Meredith, but he knows what she did to Rose was cruel. When it was absolutely vital, Jay acted selflessly to help Meredith right her wrong and to come to Rose’s aid and give her the support she needed. I like the moral fibre of the play.
Instant is directed simply by Dean Patrick Fleming, who realizes the fragile dynamic of the three friends. When the characters interact there is a proximity that never seems fake or forced. Cathia Pagotto’s spare set is made up of moveable blocks, which the actors shift around in swift, efficient manoeuvres to represent the various locations in the play, like the school and Meredith’s house.
Ordinarily I never comment on an audience’s reaction to a play. Instant is different, because I saw it with an audience of teenagers at a student matinee. They are a tough audience and easily distracted if they are bored. There was not one sound from them, no shifting or fidgeting in their seats. Just silence as everything happening on stage was being soaked in. Instant spoke to them. It’s an important, perceptive play for our times.
For tickets or more information, click here.
Lynn Slotkin
Lynn is the former theatre critic for Intermission, and currently writes reviews on her blog The Slotkin Letter. She also does theatre reviews, interviews, and commentary for CIUT Friday Morning (89.5 FM). She was a theatre reviewer for CBC's Here and Now for ten years. On average, she sees 280 shows a year.
LEARN MORE
iPhoto caption: Photo by Emily Cooper.
REVIEW: Theatre Under the Stars puts a compelling spin on Cats
In the end, Cats left me puzzled, perplexed, and absolutely buzzing. Did I ever learn what Jellicle means? No. Did I have a great time? Absolutely.
iPhoto caption: Photos courtesy of the productions photographed. From L-R, top to bottom: 86 Me, Bus Stop, Rosamund, 1 Santosh Santosh 2 Go, Far-Flung Peoples, Death of a Starman, See You Tomorrow, Before We Go, and Gulp.
Toronto Fringe’s New Young Reviewers 2024 | Round Two
The second round of reviews from the Toronto Fringe's New Young Reviewers program is here!
iPhoto caption: Photo by Dahlia Katz.
REVIEW: The Last Timbit is a surprisingly charming commercial gem
The Last Timbit, a show of snow and sweets, had a limited run at the Elgin Theatre in June and is getting a streaming release on Crave on August 12. I, for one, am more than curious to see how a wider audience will react.
iPhoto caption: Photo by JVL Photography.
REVIEW: An unabashedly feminist Macbeth hits all the right notes in Ottawa
Kate Smith's pointed interpretation of the classic tragedy is a definite highlight and forecasts riveting things sure to be in store for Fools’ future programming.
iPhoto caption: Photos courtesy of the productions photographed. From L-R, top to bottom: The Apartment, MONKS, the bluffs, Colonial Circus, Rat Academy, Remembrance, Koli Kari, Escape From Toronto, and Sheila The Musical.
Toronto Fringe’s New Young Reviewers 2024 | Round One
The first round of reviews from the Toronto Fringe's New Young Reviewers program is here!
iPhoto caption: Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Festival Theatre.
REVIEW: Lighthouse Theatre brings haunting edge to Mary’s Wedding
If you, like me, enjoy touching tales of love and loss, then you’ll be happy you saw Mary’s Wedding, even if you leave in tears.
iPhoto caption: Marcel Stewart, Dan Mousseau, Christef Desir, Alex Bulmer, Shakura Dickson in The Story. Photo by Neil Silcox
It was frigid the night I saw the production, and when you are freezing and can’t feel your fingers or toes, time-wasting shenanigans wear thin.
iPhoto caption: Lena Maripuu, Graham Conway, and Peter Pan ensemble. Photo by Nicholas Porteous
Joy to the world—the most inventive, lively, whimsical production of Peter Pan has arrived for the holidays!
iPhoto caption: Robyn Stevan in The Mess. Photo by Dahlia Katz
Co-creators Mikaela Davies and Polly Phokeev have devised a short, complex, layered story of how the mess a person creates can affect those around them.
iPhoto caption: Company in the Grand Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol. Photo by Claus Andersen
Reviews: A Christmas Carol (x2)
Reviews of two productions of A Christmas Carol—Ross Petty Productions and the Grand Theatre, in London, Ont.—that couldn’t be more different.
iPhoto caption: David Schurmann and Carly Street in Heisenberg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann
Of the three productions I’ve seen of Heisenberg—on Broadway in New York, the West End in London, and here in Toronto—this one is the best.
Comments