Toronto Review - 'Another Brick in the Wall: The Opera' at Meridian Hall
Joe Szekeres, Chief Toronto Critic
NOTE: I hold no formal training or background in operatic studies. Instead, I will comment on the theatrical presentation of ‘Another Brick in the Wall’: The Opera.
For some apparent reason, (which I am still trying to decipher), Roger Waters’ (Pink Floyd bassist) 1979 concept album ‘The Wall’ has seemed to withstand the passing of time and changes in music style and scene. This puzzles me because I don’t understand how. I would consider the album The Who’s ‘Tommy’ still to be relevant today more so than ‘The Wall’. Yet, I wasn’t going to let this deter my enjoyment of this opening night Toronto premiere.
According to the press release, Montreal’s Productions Concept Opera MP sets the poetic lyrics of British rock legend Roger Waters to a bold new lyrical score by award-winning Montreal-based composer Julien Bilodeau. The buzz around Toronto before the opening was a positive, energetic one. I have a cousin whose wife worked in costumes for this production, and I was hearing positive things about this show when I was in Montreal a few weeks ago. Interest was certainly building on my part.
Much to my surprise I entered the auditorium only to be told there was no programme. Quickly, I had to pull out my phone and look at the press information sent to me. Character names were not listed beside the bios, but only whether he or she was a soprano or tenor. Frustration.
I did glance at the press kit earlier but didn’t really pay much attention. I always like to read the who’s who in the programme, any notes from director/artistic director or any comments/background information before the performance begins. I won’t make this error again.
Now, I understand fully the importance of being eco-friendly and support it wholeheartedly regarding the recycling of the programme. Yet if the operatic community wants to appeal to the wide variety of the theatre going public who may never have attended a production before, it would most certainly be prudent to have some information ready at hand for the viewer. Yes, there was the electronic sign out in the lobby listing names but let’s be honest. From what I could see, very few people were stopping before hand to look at the sign.
This was not starting off well, but I did not want to let it deter me.
‘Another Brick in the Wall’s’ story concerns jaded rock star Pink who undergoes tremendous personal changes in his life and in his mind after he spews water on a concert goer who wanted to get on the stage with him. Pink passes out at this concert and the audience travels back into his mind. We find out Pink’s father leaves him to go fight in World War 2 where he is killed. Pink’s mother raised her son alone and this is where he begins to build the wall around him. We also meet an abusive and tyrannical teacher during Pink’s younger years which solidifies even further this wall built around him. Pink’s failed marriage continues to build and cement further bricks in the wall. The proverbial kick in the teeth came for me in the juxtaposition of the elder and younger Pink on the stage at the same time with the older forlornly looking at his youthful self. Yes, there is a hopeful ending in the second act through Pink’s self realization of who he has become.
And what of this Toronto premiere production? For me, it was hit and miss. I so desperately wanted to feel a thorough connection for the two hours, but I didn’t.
The strong hits for me are the gorgeous vocalizations in the solos and in the choral numbers. Beautiful and captivating arrangements of a musical score where I simply closed my eyes periodically just to listen. As the depressed Pink, Nathan Keoughan’s vocalization strongly epitomized a man who totters on the edge of self destruction. There is an extreme sadness in his eyes as he eyes his younger self at the top of Act 2. Pink’s mother and father, France Bellemare and Jean-Michel Richer are just as strong vocally as Mr. Keoughan. There is a very strong moment in the first act when Mr. Richer after a tender song marches off to war and leaves his loved ones behind. Very powerful scene especially as I looked at Mr. Richer’s eyes. Then when the unthinkable happens, the looks in the eyes of Mr. Keoughan and Ms. Bellemare matched extreme anguish and horror. Nicely handled.
Johnny Ranger’s highly attractive visual and video projections throughout both acts riveted my attention and is one of the reasons why you should see the production. These projections heightened much of the tension and excitement and immersed me right in the moment especially when Pink suffers at the hands of the tyrannical teacher (wonderful work by Dominic Lorange) in ‘We Don’t Need No Education’.
The big miss for me came in Suzanne Crooker’s Toronto stage direction. During the first act, direction was very tight right up to the moment when Pink’s father goes off to war. For me, the direction faltered immediately after that and I lost interest for the remainder of the first act. I couldn’t maintain important connections with Pink especially in his relationships with other people. At the interval I could hear many patrons around me saying they didn’t care much for the first half.
Now, during the second act, Ms. Crooker’s direction became tighter again as there were several moments that helped me to understand Pink in his transformation. I especially liked the moment where Pink’s father comes alive in his son’s mind as Vera Lynn (Stephanie Pothier) lovingly sings to the soldiers. The mock trial at the end was also quite amusing to watch.
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL
Production continues November 16, 17 and 23 at 8 pm (with a 2 pm on November 17) at the Meridian Hall (formerly Sony Centre, Hummingbird Centre, O’Keefe Centre), 1 Front Street East, Toronto. Visit www. ticketmaster.ca for tickets and www.anotherbrickopera.com for further information about the production.
Photo credit to Yves Renaud.