Ottawa Fringe: a Masterclass in Good Theatring- an Intriguing premise but uneven formula
photo Andrew Alexander
Nicholas Arnott’s one-man performance of ARNOTT: A Masterclass in Good Theatring, is laudable in his ability to craft a convincing, though entirely fabricated, personality. Donning the accent of a half-English, half-German actor called Niklaus Arnott, the masterclass begins as an unorthodox lesson in theatre technique. Each performance focuses on a different aspect of theatre; the one I went to featured “Proper Yelling”. The session starts out light-hearted enough, with the actor appearing nude before the audience (spectator warning) and speaking matter-of-factly about how “the lessons of acting can be harsh.” The plausibility concerning one’s identity is also discussed in this opening monologue.
Following this discussion of background and identity, a clothed Arnott leads the audience in a series of relaxation exercises to help them “release their inner demons”. (In)voluntary participation onstage is a part of the performance, so if you’re a bit shyer, avoid sitting in the front rows. Funny moments are had during these exercises, most notably a Chewbacca-like yell that Arnott leads a spectator onstage in practicing.
As the play progresses, however, it’s made clear that there is a darker side to the artful persona of Arnott as well as his wisdom about performance. The real-life actor of Aymott comes out in intervals, with the lights to dimmed to symbolize his presence, to remind us of the truths and deceit that can be hidden through acting. The character of Niklaus is eventually revealed to be concealing an unsavoury secret of his own, though the transition from comedic theatre lesson to the dangers of deception feels a bit abrupt overall. While there is something clever in the idea of deconstructing a fabricated persona, the combination of frivolous acting exercises and a serious questioning of the secrets and faults we potentially hide makes for an uneven dramatic product overall.
ARNOTT: A Masterclass in Good Theatring continues until June 22 at Studio 1201 in OAG as part of the Ottawa Fringe Festival. For information and tickets, see https://ottawafringe.com/shows/arnott-a-masterclass-in-good-theatring/