Review: How the West Was One
by Laurie McConnell, Editor/Publisher
As a proud member of the GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Just Plain Queer) Community on the Sunshine Coast, I attended the Premiere showing of the Leaping Thespian’s 2011 production, “How the West Was One”. You can read more about the Leaping Thespians below this review.
A crowd of approximately 45 people were seated row-style facing the stage, with a typical wagon wheel light above the floor. The Roberts Creek Hall stage had been transformed into ‘Miss Kitty’s Saloon’ via a minimalist set of two wall panels, a small bar and an even smaller table. A space between the two walls signified a set of swinging doors and the forefront of the stage became the main street down which all the horses and riders rode.
Here’s what I loved about the show:
- the use of the space for the saloon hall doors rather than hanging hokey cardboard doors was brilliant. It meant each character created their own sound effects for creaking doors, for totally unique characterizations.
- the sound effect for the Outlaw quite surprisingly never got old
- women loved each other, in all of the ways humans do – fall instantly in love, inflamed with passion, ready to chuck it all for the new gal in town; love from afar, sure and steady, unable to articulate our feelings or confess our love to the object of our affections; seeking recognition, understanding, affirmation.
- I enjoyed the shock of seeing a production that was limited to women-only relationships, in a setting in which men typically dominate and where women almost always act as playthings, foils, incidental plot points. Instead it was women kissing, caressing, complaining, crying, storming off, forgiving, not forgiving… a good stretch for any theatre lover to see.
- Nancy Painter as The Prospector was so good it was hard to think of her as an actor. I think I’d be surprised if I ran into her and didn’t find her with slouch hat and poke of gold for blackjack.
- Deloris Piper, who played Gillian, can really ride a wooden horse!
- Terry Lynn Boyle – though less than gripping as the Working Girl, my heart went pitter patter at her transformation into the Outlaw. Fantastic body language of languid nonchalance and supreme confidence, which made the collapse of the outlaw into needy bickering even funnier.
The best moments for the crowd was when couples fell into timeworn routines of couple arguments: you don’t notice me, why can’t things go my way some of the time, you never talk to me anymore. Fall into stereotypical womanly complaints, and everyone gets it, whether we’re gay, straight, queer or just don’t care.
A couple of missed lines pointed to the need for more rehearsals, and I wished throughout that along with the campiness the script had dug a bit deeper and done more with the thread of relationships and communication and made the connection a bit more to some of the urban myths about lesbians; it took me a while to figure out Ramona and Gillian’s instant, heady relationship was the Western equivalent of a U-Haul joke (“What does a lesbian bring on a second date…?).
If you missed it, this production will be playing at the East Van Cultural Centre (The Cultch) on Venables the end of the month
March 23 – 26, March 30 – April 2nd, 2011
*March 30th performance is interpreted into ASL*
*March 23rd performance is 2 for 1 tickets*
The CULTCH, 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver
Showtime 8pm. Warning Adult Content
Tickets: 604-251-1363
HISTORY OF LEAPING THESPIANS
Leaping Thespians originated in Nelson BC (a sister community to the Coast if there ever was one) way back in the 1990s. They perform throughout British Columbia and present original work that nurtures emerging talents.
The world premiere of their new show, “How the West Was One – An original western comedy soap opera” hits the Roberts Creek Hall this Saturday, March 12th with an 8pm showtime. There is a warning about Adult Content, but that jes’ wets the whistle some!
The excerpt posted on the company’s web site gives a glimpse into the evening’s cultural glories:
The year is sometime around 1860. The small dusty town is a fictional Bridesville, named after the real Bridesville outside of Osoyoos, BC. Copper, silver and gold were in the hills all around these parts – as Prospector, the regular at the town saloon, will tell you. Miss Kitty, the saloon owner, plans a blackjack game with plans to swindle enough money to pursue her dreams of finally making Bridesville a speck on the map. All is turned upside down when her foundling daughter falls in love with a fair dame who comes to town. The blackjack game draws many unexpected guests, with many guns, and a whole lot of stink eye. Get out your chaps for this original Western comedy!
As a proud member of the GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Just Plain Queer) Community on the Sunshine Coast, I will be there on behalf of Bigpacific.com and to represent for the Coast.
