Periscope
Bradley Sawatzky | for CBC News | Posted: July 22, 2017 4:03 PM | Last Updated: July 22, 2017
Show is exuberant but it's not all smooth sailing
Rating: ★★★
Company: Nutmeg Creations
Genre: Play - Comedy
Venue: 7 — The Cinematheque
Megan Phillips is exuberant and very likeable. She bounces us back and forth (and sideways) through a Comedy Industry Party, her character on Ecstasy. This party is her own personal Long Days Journey into Night. Her advertisement for MDMA (Ecstasy) is a personal highlight.
But her trip, and the show, are not all smooth sailing.
Phillips is not always grounded. She serves up the laughs with aplomb, but the heavier moments don't carry the weight they need.
And she broke a big rule. If you assure someone there is no audience interaction to get them in the front row and then target them with an intense moment, you've broken that trust. It fit beautifully with her character, but the line was crossed.
The writing is strong. TJ Dawe's touch as dramaturge can be felt.