Partners in Rhyme

Playwrights Cleo Halls and Kristina Hunszinger have updated the buddy story with this musical performance featuring lots of rhyming (as you’d expect) with new lyrics set to old and new compositions, augmented by YouTube videos and questionable montages.  I’m guessing that no animals actually went missing.

Much was made through careful blocking on this tiny but cozy stage with the two young women meeting at the employment office,  sharing a tent they call home and performing on the stage of the talent competition.  Both women have interesting singing voices with character and strength.  And there’s some mean ukelele playing, too.

The songs and dialogue explore themes of loneliness, optimism versus pessimism, confidence and self doubt, competition, collaboration, and the love of the feeling of the pen on the page.  It’s a lot of ground to cover for a couple of unemployed 22 year-olds and a guitar guy (who’s also the light guy).

I’m sure we’ll be seeing more from legitimate theatre company and I’m looking forward to what they develop next.

NOTE: The Toast venue is quite hard to find as it’s on a bit of Kingsway that’s broken up by East. 15th Avenue and the theatre entrance is in the back alley.  Best to go in off East 15th.