Sneak Preview Review: THE REAL WORLD?

by Lynn on May 3, 2012

in The Passionate Playgoer

At Tarragon Theatre Mainspace until June 3. Written by Michel Tremblay. Translated by John Van Burek and Bill Glassco. Directed by Richard Rose. Designed by Charlotte Dean. Lighting by Kevin Fraser. Music and sound by Emily Porter.

Produced by Tarragon Theatre.

The life of a playwright is never easy and certainly not in the emotionally charged world of The Real World? by Michel Tremblay. In it Claude, sensitive and watchful, has written a play about his dysfunctional family, and in particular his parents. His mother has read it at his request and is appalled. She tells him that he has not written the truth. Claude says he has written what he considers to be the truth.

The world of Claude’s play and the world of his family play-out at the same time and collide. Which is the real world? The play debuted 25 years ago and it is as emotionally charged, as fraught today as it was then.

Richard Rose has directed a production that both takes us into that family and has us look at it from a distance. The performances are terrific, especially Matthew Edison as Claude.

Full review will be broadcast on CIUT MONDAY MORNING on Friday, May 4 from 9 am to 10 am. CIUT 89.5 FM.

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