Green/Roof:green shoots of promise

It was very pleasant to sit under the awning in Caroline’s backyard (where blankets are provided) to enjoy Green/Roof, this most inventive use of neighbourhood space as theatre.  The bushes shake as a stealthy, die-hard-positive guerrilla gardener, played convincingly by Caroline Sniatynski, clamours over the chainlink fence, on a mission to transform this neglected garden with green life. However, she is not alone; unknown to her, a woman is secured above to the chimney by a long cable, armed with binoculars, obsessed with the minutiae of neighbourhood developments. It wasn’t entirely clear whether this woman was a squatter on the roof (which I thought for about half the play), or whether she was an obsessive property owner (as later seems to be indicated), and that her presence on the roof was meant to represent her life indoors.  In any event, it was certainly interesting that she was on the roof.

The show is well staged. Neighbourhood happenings are amusingly incorporated into scenes. Some parts of it are funny and all of it is charming, inventive, and well-executed. On the down side, the story lacks momentum, revolving too much around the interesting idea of the guerrilla gardener and the obsessive roof lady, rather than the journey upon which these quirksome characters embark. Considered as a work-in-progress, this is a show that holds tremendous promise, and hopefully the creators will be encouraged by the supportive attendance they deserve to bring it to its full potential. It’s certainly worth the trouble, provided it is not too far out of your way. And if you have kids, they’ll really like the lemonade. 

Green/Roof is on as part of this year's Vancouver Fringe. For more information go here.