Love is a Poverty You Can Sell: rubbing elbows with the conductor

Soup Can Theatre selects a 1920’s Berlin cabaret as the setting for their contribution to the Toronto Fringe Festival, Love is a Poverty You Can Sell, a musical revue focusing on the legacy of composer Kurt Weill. Space gets a little tight in Bread & Circus with a ten piece orchestra providing accompaniment, but rubbing elbows with the conductor does cultivate the atmosphere of the underground cabarets of old.

The repertoire is comprised of works both composed by Weill, such as The Threepenny Opera, as well as those that were inspired by his legacy, a la Sweeny Todd and Chicago. Nine performers move through the selections with rotating pathos and energy, though some voices stand out stronger than others - Arthur Wright in particular dominates the small space with operatic ease. Guilty of some minor show stealing are Ryan Anning and Scott Dermody as the hosts, whose manic energy ensure the show’s momentum never wanes.

Love is a Poverty You Can Sell continues until July 11th as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival. For more information check out the Fringe website.