Helen Lawrence - Eating a Bowl of Icing (Where's the Cake?)
In honour of the visual polyphony attempted by the creative team of Helen Lawrence, two intrepid PLANK reviewers attended the world premiere showing and recorded their discussion post-show in a fairly synchonous fashion. Allyson McGrane and Danielle Benzon weigh in as they hang in a pub drinking Grolsch.
Allyson: Why not film it?
Danielle: That's the question! I did like the dual images when they were different, like zooming in and out at out the same time - with the choking sequence.
Allyson: It's like going to a live concert [Danielle: Or a hockey game.] AND watching the screen.
Danielle: Exactly! And what's her name was charming... Haley McGee playing Jo / Julie Winters. She was fantastic. I also thought Mary had some really strong scenes (Crystal Balint). And Henry (Sterling Jarvis)... he had moments, particularly in the emotional close-ups. Oh, and the German wife Ava (Eva Banks)... though she wasn't given much to do.
Allyson: May I have a piece of garlic bread?
Danielle: Why of course. I just think the scrim could have been more interesting. It was a great concept – lots of potential. But the result was less polyphony and more redundancy since most of the images were exactly the same only filled in. [Allyson: It reminded me of...] I would have used the screen / video in between not overtop or use it for climactic moments only. Empty stage and actors, then a projection of "reality", then acting like they started in the direction of in the first scene and transition. Only what's the point of having the actors onstage and projected too?
Allyson: Two things it reminded me of: 1) Robert Lepage in the scope of technical ambition onstage and 2) John Sayles who's an American film director that creates worlds on a wide canvas. Question - when did you care about anybody onstage?
Danielle: Jo - from the beginning. I wanted to know her story - she was so honest, open and sweet. Henry - when he was arguing with his brother Buddy (Allan Louis). Ava - on and off. And Mary - as the show went on. Oh, and Harry just before he [SPOILER ALERT] died / was murdered.
Allyson: I felt detached everyone mostly. I liked Jo - but I didn't know what anything meant.
Danielle: Not a compelling plot... liked Jo and Rose (Mayko Nguyen) at the end... just not an interesting story.
Allyson: I want to be compelled in some way - I couldn't tell who to root for - if anyone.
Danielle: And also they way they kept randomly killing people. It seemed too easy. Perhaps I am naïve, but if this is historical… the stage violence was so awkward too!
Allyson: Back to plot land, would it be better to have streamlined some element of that whole plot?
Danielle: Totally! I think they wanted to establish an environment, a world that was okay and working and then Helen (Lisa Ryder) came to mix it up. But the way it ended up everything was weighted equally - it was all the same. [Allyson: I agree.] I wonder if this is a challenge with historical fiction. I imagine it can be weighted too equally. They're trying too hard to give everyone a voice. But it is really Canadian, y'know... Give everyone a chance. We were pulled in too many directions...
Allyson: In contrast to filmmaker John Sayles... His work is phenomenal in the treatment of complex characters.
Danielle: This had a really strong atmosphere. They did that really well. The acting was too stagy for me - if it was a black and white movie it would have worked better. I think a film would have been stronger. Or as a proper theatre piece with visual highlights. That said, the acting in this was stronger than I expected from the Arts Club - and I loved the concept. It was more interesting than I expected it to be.
Allyson: I say weirdly mediocre.
Danielle: No - a near miss. Between good and great - because trying new things.
Allyson: But no imagination.
Danielle: Not enough.
Allyson: Near the end I started to understand the story of what I was watching. But it was a long way in.
Danielle: Yeah – for me maybe halfway in.
Allyson: It took me longer.
Danielle: We learn from looking at what might have worked, what they were trying for, not just what didn't.
Allyson: I think that sometimes less is more. Ok though - what WAS beautiful?
Danielle: Costumes and lighting of the film, the scrim (the idea of it), atmospheric close-ups (example: feet walking down the street)... I wanted more of different images not repeating the same. In close-up, you can be in the psychology - yet it's hard to find truth in this style of acting (evocative of film noir).
Allyson: I liked seeing what the characters saw on the "big screen" such as with Mary and Rose in one scene... and when Percy (Nicholas Lea) was standing onstage by a door and seemed to walk through it on the projected screen. [Danielle: Unlike when Helen mimed the door onstage. I cringed.] I wanted to see beautiful images but I mostly thought it was a rock concert. Reminded me of going to Hedley at an arena.
Danielle: Or a hockey game! It's not necessary in this size of theatre. [Allyson: Good point.] I'd rather see the actors onstage most of the time - save the film elements for extreme close-ups and adding establishing exterior shots.
Allyson: One more beautiful thing - I saw the outline of a picture frame projected which seemed to be on the front of the room so I was looking in. A true fourth wall.
Danielle: I missed that. That’s cool! The shots were definitely interesting in terms of composition - they NAILED that. It was gorgeous. BUT you can do that on film. Don’t need live actors or live feed for that. Although I imagine it takes a lot more skill and planning live.
Allyson: I hate to say - I want more.
Danielle: Me too. It's interesting but not enough - slapped on top - really good idea though.
Allyson: It's fascinating to watch the layers of what's happening - there are three layers really. First, the live action actors, second the live video feed of the live actors and third the constructed backgrounds. It's very complex.
Danielle: Not really - just well-choreographed green screen. The actors are hitting their marks and it looks great.
Allyson: I feel that they created this as a technical challenge not as a play.
Danielle: That's not a good enough reason for a play. It needs to serve the story. Might have been better if they'd just cut the live feed - cheaper and more effective. [Allyson: But the goal was to be innovative - to create a multimedia experience.] I think the alternative was to cut the live feed most of the time and keep some overlapping and angled shots which would enhance the key actions and the climaxes. And also keep the exterior shots to establish the set - so there's still a minimal onstage set. I've seen that kinda thing done incredibly well at Vancouver Opera.
Allyson: There was an integration of film and theatre production but this ending up being neither. It's kinda like eating a bowl of icing (much much special effects).
Danielle: Yes. But where's the cake?