The Last Gig of Lenny Breau - Music to my ears

It’s Lenny Breau’s birthday. It’s also the last day of his life. We pass through 24 hours in 60 minutes  during this show and as day turns to night, the music feeds us Lenny’s life.

Colin Godbout plays the masterful fingertyles of Lenny Breau in The Last Gig of Lenny Breau, accompanied by Gerry Charlebois on percussion. Charlebois doubles as Chet Atkins, though the distinction isn’t made clear in the play, and it leaves you wondering when Atkins took up the drums.

If you’re there for the music (as anyone going to a Lenny Breau play is), you’re in the right place. Godbout’s playing leaves you wanting to start seeing live music in Victoria (where Godbout resides). With variety as open as his tunings, Godbout delivers the full range of Breau’s talent.

The play as an idea has potential, but Godbout needs more writing experience. Charlebois’ stage presence leaves you thinking: “Dammit Colin, he’s a percussionist, not an actor!” Godbout moves the plot along by having Charlebois point out the significance of all of the symbols onstage. Take this line of dialogue: “Look Lenny, I got you this book of impressionist paintings for your birthday – I know how you like impressionists.” This is meant to draw our attention to the fact that Breau was influenced by impressionism, and it’s too blunt. If fewer lines were given to Charlebois, we could avoid the jarring interruptions to Godbout’s playing.

There is hope, however. Put a guitar in Godbout’s hand, drop the prose and let him wax poetic, and he shows that he does have some writing skills. The play is well worth a viewing, and like all good coffee shop performances, you can even pick up the cd after the show.

Produced by: Attunement Productions
Performers:  Colin Godbout, Gerry Charlebois

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