Alberta Theatre Projects latest production "Stones In His Pockets" is as dynamic as actors Christopher Hunt and Shaun Smyth. Between the two of them, they portray 15 characters, fluidly metamorphosing from the main characters Charlie and Jake, to a frustrated director, snooty assistant, crotchety old-timer, glamorous actress, and many more.
The story takes place on a film shoot in the Irish countryside. Charlie and Jake meet as extras and they must deal with their own dreams as well as experiencing a slow change of their views of fame and the Hollywood scene. Written by Marie Jones (who played Sarah Conlon in the film "In The Name of the Father"), the play is hysterically funny but at the same time has a great deal of substance and heart. You’ll end up feeling attached to the characters, even though it’s the same two people playing them.
The fact that the play works so well speaks to the tremendous talent of actors Hunt and Smyth, as you literally witness the transformation in their voice, posture and mannerisms. At some points it seems like there is a stage full of people, and the elaborate dance sequence has to be seen to be believed. It’s not a play that many actors could successfully pull off, but Hunt and Smyth do it flawlessly.
It wasn’t easy however, as the actors explained during a question and answer session after the show (an ATP staple of Tuesday Nights). Surprisingly, the play was put together in only three weeks, but filled with 8-hour to 9-hour days of hard labor. Both actors worked with a coach who recently moved to Calgary from Belfast, Ireland, in order to get down the dialect and speech patterns and research the various slang terms used in the production. Director Maja Ardal has been to Ireland and worked with the theatre group that did the original production, and even after the show began, small tweaks were made based on audience reaction. Both men described how satisfying it is to perform the piece, but stated that at times, the rehearsal process was a nightmare. It’s understandable when you see the material, but the finished product is tremendous.
"Stones In His Pocket" contains adult language and isn’t recommended for children. It runs at the Martha Cohen Theatre at the EPCOR Centre for Performing Arts until October 9th. ATP offers a variety of options to fit your budget for an evening out at the theatre. Tickets range from $14.00 to $72.00 and are available at the box office or ticketmaster.
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Contributor
Jason Clevett |
Locale
Calgary |
Topic
Alberta Theatre Projects |
Theatre |
