Hope, hate and combat boots by Julia Gerke
Prejudices are everywhere, but put a Jewish lawyer and a raging skinhead in the same room and you have an explosive combination. David Gow does exactly that in his evocative play Cherry Docs, presented by Persephone productions at the Théâtre Ste. Catherine.
Directed by Persephone's artistic director Gabrielle Soskin, the actors get serious about themes such as love, hate, tolerance, prejudice and spirituality. The two-person play develops a fine-tuned dynamic between the characters, propelling the story forward with remarkable intensity and insight into the human mind. Sean Carney plays Danny Dunkelman, the English-Irish-Scottish-Belgian Jew and a "real Canuck" who likes living in his multi-cultural neighbourhood. He's also a liberal legal-aid lawyer and has been assigned to defend the young skinhead Mike, who is accused of attacking and killing a South Asian man without provocation. Improv actor Dan Jeanotte is unrecognisable and miles away from his familiar punchline environment, sporting a shaved head and false tattoos. In his opening monologue as mike, the audience learns about his racist views and why he wears the steel-toed cherry-coloured Doc Martens combat boots, which he calls "the perfect line of footwear" and a great weapon. Mike is angry and tense and wants to be tried as an individual rather than a skinhead to protect the movement. Despite his racist views, he doesn't seem to mind that Danny is Jewish, but Danny himself can hardly contain the contempt he feels for Mike. He wants the skinhead to come up with his own defence strategy and forces Mike to think about his views and actions. Over the course of the play, Danny and Mike forge an uneasy connection and the little insights into their thoughts and lives make this 90-minute play simply fly by. The set and lighting design ny Mee Youn makes use of the theatre's rustic space. Two chairs, a table and a simple briefcase in front of a black background and the exposed brick wall are all that is needed to set up a dull prison environment. A digital projector introduces each new scene with a title of spiritual significance.
Persephone Productions is known for ensemble pieces, but with this play they prove that they can do it all. Cherry Docs is an excellent production that merits a visit.
The Suburban
April 22, 2009
Directed by Persephone's artistic director Gabrielle Soskin, the actors get serious about themes such as love, hate, tolerance, prejudice and spirituality. The two-person play develops a fine-tuned dynamic between the characters, propelling the story forward with remarkable intensity and insight into the human mind. Sean Carney plays Danny Dunkelman, the English-Irish-Scottish-Belgian Jew and a "real Canuck" who likes living in his multi-cultural neighbourhood. He's also a liberal legal-aid lawyer and has been assigned to defend the young skinhead Mike, who is accused of attacking and killing a South Asian man without provocation. Improv actor Dan Jeanotte is unrecognisable and miles away from his familiar punchline environment, sporting a shaved head and false tattoos. In his opening monologue as mike, the audience learns about his racist views and why he wears the steel-toed cherry-coloured Doc Martens combat boots, which he calls "the perfect line of footwear" and a great weapon. Mike is angry and tense and wants to be tried as an individual rather than a skinhead to protect the movement. Despite his racist views, he doesn't seem to mind that Danny is Jewish, but Danny himself can hardly contain the contempt he feels for Mike. He wants the skinhead to come up with his own defence strategy and forces Mike to think about his views and actions. Over the course of the play, Danny and Mike forge an uneasy connection and the little insights into their thoughts and lives make this 90-minute play simply fly by. The set and lighting design ny Mee Youn makes use of the theatre's rustic space. Two chairs, a table and a simple briefcase in front of a black background and the exposed brick wall are all that is needed to set up a dull prison environment. A digital projector introduces each new scene with a title of spiritual significance.
Persephone Productions is known for ensemble pieces, but with this play they prove that they can do it all. Cherry Docs is an excellent production that merits a visit.
The Suburban
April 22, 2009
