In The Eyes of Stone Dogs. A problematic staging of Daniel Danis translated into English.
The adventurous and talented Christopher Bedford has chosen one of the most difficult playwrights currently in vogue in Quebec, to give a group of students from the Ottawa Theatre School, professional experience on stage. The project is in itself a perilous exercise as we have already seen with Third Wall Theatre which fell soundly on its face when they used a mixed cast of professionals and students in their version of Tartuffe several years ago, in spite of David Whitely’s excellent translation. Last year, Andy Massingham staged a magnificent version of Shakespeare,s Twelfth Night using students from the Ottawa Theatre School as well as seasoned professionals but he had the good taste to give all the main roles to professionals. As a result, that performance worked beautifully. Added to the cast was the very brilliant Greg Kramer as Malvolio who created a performance we will never forget.
Daniel Danis is another kettle of fish…so to speak.