hriI love Chantal Perron’s face.

As Bev, the most grounded of the four characters in Ground Zero Theatre and Hit & Myth Productions The Money Shot, Perron captures the audience’s feelings with a simple look (usually incredulous) that had me being very much in the shoes of her character as she took in the madness around her.

Bev, who works behind the scenes in the movie biz, is the partner of Karen (Daniela Vlaskalic), an actress who has seen her career nose-dive since coming out. The couple have invited actor Steve (Joel Cochrane) and his young wife Missy (Brianna Johnston) over to discuss a proposition from the director of the film they are working on – to have actual sex on screen. Both actors, on the downside of their career, are desperate for a hit leading to the meeting to discuss ‘the situation’.

Written by playwright and screenwriter Neil Labute – known for films like Your Friends & Neighbors and Death at a Funeral, among many other screen and theatre credits – The Money Shot is a brash and brutal look at Hollywood. Quoted in director Ron Jenkin’s notes in the program, Labute says: having stood on a few studio back lots with a few actors and directors and production executives – you can’t make this shit up. We as the "public" often wonder about what actors can be like off screen, and we often see the bad behaviour in some of the more outlandish celebrities. The play reflects back on actors like Mel Gibson, who have fallen from grace, and you can’t help but think that this is a real reflection of some in Hollywood, and it is not a positive one.

The piece is a full ensemble and the actors tackle their incredibly unlikeable characters with gusto. Joel Cochrane brings the ignorance, sexism and general idiocy of Steve that the character needs. It takes a strong actor to be able to tap into a character and make him so unlikeable – and root for Bev to give him his comeuppance. The character of Karen, played excellently by Vlaskalic, has aspects that are connectable with, despite her facade of fame. Brianna Johnston’s Missy, the stereotype of the young bride of an aging actor, takes it all in. As stated previously, Perron’s Bev is the character that the audience most empathizes with, seemingly drawn into the world without actually wanting to be part of it.

It all works. The Money Shot is as funny as it is jaw-dropping-ly shocking at times. There are so many subtle things going on – from facial expressions to small things happening in the background –while your focus is on one character, and it all comes together in a brutal look at Hollywood types and the human desire to do anything to win.

If you are a fan of GZT/H&M then you know already the quality of shows that the company produces. If you are a fan of Labute, you will see his trademarks all over the piece and, if you don’t know who he is, it is quite the introduction to his work.