by Beat Rice
Wow, anything played on the banjo really does sound good. Add a full band, some actors with strong voices and a stage, and you’ve got The Ballad of Weedy Peetstraw, a 90 minute bluegrass musical. It identifies itself as an opera although most of the storytelling is done through song with some text in between. The cast of 10, with four live musicians, create some really big sound in the cavernous Passe Muraille. The music is really what it’s all about, from slow ballads, to stomping banjo battles, it’s done so well it allows for us to overlook some of the cheese in the story.
Weedy Peetstraw (Jamie Mac), is a restless young man from a farming family whose dream is to be a famous banjo player. His recently widowed mother, (Nicole Robert), abhors this idea as well as the girl he loves, Jeeva, (Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster). As the story goes on we meet Mr. Fleas (Chris Stanton) and his Hell Hound, (Randi Helmers). Both work for the Devil and need to collect souls for their employer, starting with Weedy Peetstraw.
Every member of the cast has a strong resounding and versatile voice, although some songs sounded as though there were a little bit outside of the actor's voice range. There were a few obvious stumbles but it was opening, and they all put on a great show.
Running Time: 90 minutes
It's a glorious, enjoyable mess of a show. The songs and singing and band are very good. The hellish poetry just right. And the huge plot illogicality (our hero has already demonstrated excellent proficiency on the banjo before his pact with the devil) is forgivable for Fringe but not for any greater successes which this show deserves. The other feature needing mending is tone: the cartoon characters don't mix so well with realistic ones. Company: Call me for a full review and workshopping.
ReplyDeleteAndrew 416 766 5379
Greatest comment ever! Thank you and thanks for the other comments too! (GLC)
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