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Full Houses and a Flush at Tarragon
The Tarragon Theatre’s got a couple of winners on its stages right now. In the Mainspace, David S. Young’s adaptation of Alistair MacLeod’s epic novel No Great Mischief is playing to well-deserved sold-out houses. Even on a Tuesday night this Torontoist theatregoer and his fake date had trouble finding seats next to each other, so do arrive early if you want a good placement.
The reviews haven’t been very kind to the show about the misfortunate MacDonald clan of Cape Breton. “No great truth or inspiration” went the headline in The Globe and Mail, which pretty much sums up the overall critical reaction. This Torontoist theatregoer (TTT), however, thinks that it’s the best play to grace a Toronto stage so far this season, full of joyous soaring musical moments and soul-scritch-scratching quiet ones. R.H. Thompson is particularly fine as Alexander MacDonald, the play’s narrator-dentist. There’s also not one, but two fabulous performances by an actor named Jody Richardson as Alexander’s grandfather and California cousin. If the Torontoist were on the Dora jury, we’d be pushing for a nomination for this Richardson fellah who is making his Tarragon debut.
Meanwhile, in the Tarragon’s Extra Space, the remount of Carole Fréchette’s Helen’s Necklace continues to pack ‘em in. To this show the critics have been too kind. The Globe’s Kamal Al-Solaylee calls it “exquisite” and a “perfectly measured, still-transcendent production.” Having seen the show in French one week and English the next, TTT has had a chance to consider the play in depth and has been calling it “self-satisfied” and “frustrating navel-gazery” to his friends, but will acknowledge that director Eda Holmes and actors Susan Coyne and Raoul Bhaneja have done a wonderful job with the material. TTT will also acknowledge that he is on the higher and lonelier side of the teeter-totter of public opinion on this one.
The Torontoist would also like to remind local penny pinchers that Tarragon features Pay-What-You-Can performances for most of its plays on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Call the box office at 416.531.1827 for the low down.