WHO IS THE
CRIMINAL?
By Violetta
Lapinski
CRIMINAL by Elizabeth Dancoes
Director: Peter Hinton
Arts Club Revue Theatre
November 7th-23rd
Tickets: 687-1644, 685-6228
or Ticketmaster at 280-3311
Spanning over 200 years and 11 generations, 4 performers metamorphise through
24 character changes, telling the powerful and painful story of a woman searching
for her identity, her roots, her purpose.
Set on an ethereal early American Gothic stage, Criminal pulls focus
in shades of heaven and hell. Coloured blotted in gauzy whites, celestial
blues and accented by deep blood red, the stage performs magic with its ensemble
cast using the four elements of Mother Earth: fire, earth, water and air.
The actors rage with and against the social politics of religion, equality,
domestic violence, motherhood, generation gaps, ownership, sense of duty,
belonging. A poignant and dreamy musical score curls through the beautifully-lit
scenes of dappled sunlight, flames and twilight by Alan Brodie. Light and
gossamer costume designs by Karen Matthews complement the spiritual aura
of the play.
A captivating cast kindles the audience’s emotional senses evoking sorrow,
anger and frustration. Brenda Robins, Tamsin Kelsey, Wendy Van Riesen and
Donald Adams are deeply connected to the material and create vivid personality
textures with grace and sensitivity.
This handsomely crafted play by Elizabeth Dancoes may not be understood by
all, yet it leaves one to question, wonder, emphasize,
feel. An accomplishment by all
standards.