Production and performance light Matchstick’s fire at the GCTC.

Photo: Electric Umbrella Images

The first incarnation of this fairytale with a difference was primarily a love story that turned into a depiction of wife abuse. The picture of the initially charming and caring suitor becoming the controller and removing his victim from familiar territory, friends and family to gain greater control by isolating her was clear.

That was the version of Matchstick presented at the Ottawa Fringe in 2013. The current expanded version shifts focus from being the fictionalized story of “the life of the wife of one of the most hated men in the world” to become steadily darker and far more direct about its historical context.

Matchstick begins as a rustic fairy story about a young girl living in “an undesirable country.” Cast out by her father and courted by assorted suitors, she is swept off her feet by a charmer from the “land of freedom and opportunity.”

It is after their marriage and journey to the new land that the lightness of the first segment is drowned out by a complete change of tone — almost giving the sense that the rewrite had too many cooks having a hand in re-creating the Matchstick broth.

As directed by Kristen Holfeuer, the stylized performances and versatile musicianship from Lauren Holfeuer (also the designer of the excellent costumes) and playwright Nathan Howe are terrific. The precise timing of the presentation, including the charming backdrops and effective projections, offers much to enjoy, but the clutter in the new script creates some problems. For example, the details of the historical background of the villain of the piece, including the names of his wife and mother, are accurate but the name he is given remains the fictional version of the original. Greater clarity would be achieved through consistent reality.

Despite some awkwardness in aspects of the material, production and performance certainly light Matchstick’s fire.

Matchstick continues at GCTC to January 31.

Director; Kristen Holfeuer

Set: David Granger

Lighting: Bill McDermott

Projections: Jessica Gabriel and Chloe Ziner

Costumes: Lauren Holfeuer

Cast;

Matchstick……………………………Lauren Holfeuer

Alik…………………………………..Nathan Howe