Haunted: More Material than Ethereal
Haunted by Daniel Karasik is the winning script from the 2011 Canadian Jewish Playwriting competition. I loved the writing. The dialogue is witty and natural, and the characters are fleshed out and interesting. The subject matter felt a little stretched, not in the believability of the circumstances, but that they invoked such conflict. The play revolves around the way grief affects a mother and a daughter, their relationship and their relationships with others. It explores the concepts of faith and escapism and asks questions about what normal really is. Karasik describes the play as a conversation and as such it is eloquent, human and civilized. But not passionate. Not yet.
Opening night of a premiere performance must be a little intimidating and I felt that the actors relaxed into their characters, the auditorium and the audience as the action progressed. Most notably Patrick Sabongui, playing the rabbi David Green. Once he got going Sabongui was disarmingly charming with his unexpected wisdom and relaxed, self-effacing manner. Each of the actors had stunning moments, but overall the performances were inconsistent; vacillating between beautiful, full, human moments and a withdrawn stageyness that manifested in self-conscious proclamations, out of place in this naturalistic context. I could also say that perhaps the actors didn’t go far enough. For the life of me I could not figure out why all the other characters seemed to think Sarah’s behaviour was so very unusual. I didn’t see the desperation or loneliness of Sarah’s mother Abby underneath her well put together, superficial and manipulative exterior. Kayla Deorksen as Raina had one very moving monologue near the end of the play but for the rest of the time I was wondering why her character was there.
Overall this was an eloquent and beautiful production. I felt that a lack of engine in the writing and in the performance inhibited me from investing in the story as much as I wanted to. I wanted to feel their motivations, I wanted a driving force to truly make me care about this story and the struggle of the characters within it. The potential is there, it's very close, but it just hasn't quite clicked yet. It is my hope that as this production grows, as the cast relax into it and own the space that they will open themselves to the deeper currents running within this story. When they do this play will knock your socks off!