The play “The Last 15 Seconds” is the story of Syrian-American filmmaker Mustapha Akkad adn his daughter, who were killed in terrorist attacks in 2005. The play was performed at the Metro Studio, 1411 Quadra Street, Victoria. Hernande’z patron, Janis La Couvee attended, wrote the following and sent it to us at www.hernandezcocina.com to publish as a “non evaluative review” for our culture generation promotion.
Below is the review from our own Janis LaCouvee:
Visually and stylistically this is a beautiful play. It starts with the back wall of the theatre draped in row upon row of laundry drying, we presume, in the sun. This one simple device allows us to imagine the chaos of far away lands.
To my mind, there are many references to ancient Japanese and Chinese plays, with repetitive and ritualistic movements, and the slow motion of the actual suicide bombing scene. Vocalizing by two of the actresses evokes the tragedy of many operas.
The cast of 5 is split into two families; each of the women plays two roles. This split is again, stylistically reflected in the staging. I particularly enjoyed the gamine-ness of the “grandmother” – her joie de vivre; you could tell in her day she was a scamp. She is far removed from her much more “traditional” granddaughter, the other suicide bomber, in her approach to life.
The acting is superb. The story – compelling. Theatre goers will leave with an appreciation for the complexity that is life in the Middle East currently. There are no easy answers.
Janis La Couvée
UPDATE: I received a couple of emails from Janis after this review was posted! Please read on:
Received April 2, 2011:
Tamara:
I thought you would like to know this. The review that you so kindly posted on your site was picked up and referenced by another theatre goer who saw “The Last 15 Seconds” in Vancouver.
Thank you! I’m sure the company appreciates it, since this reviewer mentions in her review that she could find almost nothing online as to reviews!
Here’s the link – she normally never writes about the arts, but was so moved that she had to post this review.
http://bikesbirdsnbeasts.blogspot.com/2011/03/last-15-seconds.html
And how did I find it?? A friend mentioned to me in an email this morning that she had watched a YouTube video of a talk I gave, I googled my name and video and this link showed up. Amazing.
Based on this blog post, I will now be more actively pursuing, with my twitter friend Sterling Lynch in Ottawa, the idea of a national arts blog where touring shows and the audiences who see them could post “non-evaluative” reviews and enthusiastic shout-outs so that people could be encouraged to attend.
This already happens to some extent with the Fringe – buzz from one city follows a show to the next. Why can’t it happen for any small touring company? The big ones have the benefit of major publicity. More and more today, the heart of the arts-goer is won by personal recommendation from trusted sources – family, friends, social media contacts – and it’s won individually, heart by heart. People are becoming very wary of being “marketed” to!
Thank you again!
Janis
Received April 12, 2011:
The Last 15 Seconds closes this Saturday.
Don’t miss out!
“Warning: It runs a mere 10 days at Passe Muraille, having recently completed a tour that included Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Time is short and this is one you have to see: The Last 15 Seconds actually lasts 75 minutes but the beauty and truthfulness of its images will linger many years.”
-Bob Crew, The Toronto Star
“Rarely does a piece of theatre come along that accomplishes so much.”
-John Coulbourn, Toronto Sun
“The Last 15 Seconds is a harrowing, gut-wrenching story to be sure, but it is told with such artful elegance and vivid imagination by MT Space Theatre, that it is both compelling and incredibly moving.”
-Lynn SLotkin, The Slotkin Letter
“It is the type of show that honours its genre as well as its young co-creators, while daring to confront the subject of Muslim terrorism with a generosity of understanding that is steeped in hard-edged realism and stinging condemnation.”
-Keith Garebian, StageandPage.com
“The acting is superb. The story – compelling. Theatre goers will leave with an appreciation for the complexity that is life in the Middle East currently. There are no easy answers.”
-Janis La Couvee, hernandezcocina.com
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April 18th at 6:30
16 Ryerson Ave
Join us in for an exciting evening of uncompromising and radical comedy with our very special host, Mary Walsh. You may not know this, but Mary got her start at Passe Muraille. In the early 70’s TPM gave her (and a few other Newfoundlanders) the support they needed to create the CodCo theatre
troupe, which soon became nationally famous. She is perhaps best known for her time on This Hour has 22 Minutes. Mary will be our host and our live auctioneer.
Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, silent auctions, live auctions and balloon popping for prizes!
Don’t miss this very special night!
TICKETS: $100
Please contact Heather Ervin at gala@passemuraille.on.ca
or 416.504.7529 x 2140 for any questions
or click here to buy tickets!
Registered Charity # 11921-4344-RR001.
All proceeds raised will go to support Theatre Passe Muraille, a charitable
organization that promotes theatre, our diverse community and the emerging talents within. If you are unable to attend, please consider making a tax-deductible donation, or sending a proxy bidder! Donations may be made by phone or online. Thank-you! |
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From April 11-15, 2011, Luminato invites you to purchase your tickets to the spectacular array of 2011 Festival events before they go on sale to the general public on April 16. Buy your tickets today, and receive early access to tickets for the extraordinary lineup of theatre, dance, music, literature, magic and other events, including the world premiere of One Thousand and One Nights, dance performances TAJ and Confluence, the plays Tout Comme Elle(Just Like Her) and Andromache, and musical performances from Kronos Quartet and Ron Sexsmith.
Plus—save up to 15% when you purchase 3 or more shows!
Pre-sale begins Monday, April 11 at 12:00 PM EST. To purchase tickets,
visit luminato.com/2011/ticketed, call 416-368-4TIX (4849) or email tickets@luminato.com.
Please use the code ARTSLUM when ordering your tickets.
CLICK HERE
TO VIEW LUMINATO’S EVENT LISTING &
TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Offer is valid from 12:00 PM EST on April 11, 2011 to 11:59 PM on April 15, 2011. All artists, dates, venues, and ticket prices for the 2011 Luminato Festival are subject to change and availability. Certain Festival events may be excluded from pre-sale.
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