Heroes “moving and uproarious”
Theatre review by Jared Davidson
A suicide of a friend, rampant paranoia and loneliness punctuated by naughty comments from dirty old men – make no mistake, Heroes is a comedy. But there is more than a quick laugh to be had at Lise Ann Johnson’s production of this translated French play. At its core, the play contemplates suffering, life and death. It follows three old men as they attempt to escape their veteran’s group home while dealing with the consequences of the first world war and their growing disconnection from the world.
At the same time, it delivers some of the best laughs available anywhere. Truly, the effective delivery of such a funny script is an achievement in itself, but Peter Froehlich, John Koensgen and Paul Rainville go above and beyond in their interpretation of the characters. Each of them wonderfully portrays a different portion of the spectrum of aging. They never resort to stereotypes; their characters are well-rounded, realistic old men. It is their performances that make the play as engaging and hilarious as it is. Their control of the audience is remarkable; they skilfully guide the audience through the quick turns in the emotion of the play so that the play moves fluidly from laughter to sorrow and back again, which would be jarring were it not done so well.
The production contains strong themes of disconnection and friendship. The majority of the play involves three friends working together to achieve their goal: to reach the poplars outside the grounds of the veteran’s home. Brian Smith’s set design is beautifully engineered to capture these themes. It is as bare as the heroes lives. Three chairs and a stone dog are all that sit upon the cold stone stage. But even its is simplicity, there is great care taken, especially with regard to the design of the chairs, which are as unique as the characters who sit upon them. Behind the chairs, a wall. Behind the wall, the poplars, out of reach. The result is to contrast the drab experiences of the old men with the vibrant colours of the trees. It is very effective. As the characters gaze with longing at the poplars above the audience, the audience’s vision is drawn to the same trees behind the performers. The set as a whole adds greatly to the experience of the play.
The stone dog (the role is credited to the affectionately named Champion Granite of Mutability) deserves more than a passing mention. The dog very nearly steals the show. This is a testament to the actors’ ability to create a believable character out of granite, but it is also an example of the light-hearted hilarity with which Heroes underscores its heavy subject matter. Under excellent direction from Lise Ann Johnson, the show is at once moving and uproarious. The actors are a joy to watch, and it is hard to imagine better casting for the roles. There is nothing simple about this comedy. Though I recommend this show for the laughter it will provide, I could recommend it again for the discussion it begins.
“Heroes” directed by Lise-Ann Johnson plays the main stage of the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre through June 27; consult the Great Canadian Theatre Company for showtimes and tickets
Photo of poplar grove near Arras, France, by OliBac
