Review: 'Janet and Louise' as part of Stratford Ontario's HERE FOR NOW NEW WORKS Festival
This world premiere of Deanna Kruger’s engrossing story with a conclusion that I did not see coming left me wordless for a few seconds.
I’m still trying to decipher how I could have missed those clues.
With remarkably minute attention paid to unravelling character detail and perceptively handled by Peggy Coffey and Brigit Wilson, this world premiere of ‘Janet and Louise’ is one you must try to get to see this summer to watch two ladies (three when I include Jeannette Lambermont-Morey’s intelligently smart direction) who truly showed me that live performance has gloriously returned, and how much I have missed it.
We meet Janet (Peggy Coffey) who has been prescribed by her doctor to take art lessons for her rather mysterious and odd symptoms and ailments so she can keep her job as a custodian at the elementary school. Art teacher Louise (Brigit Wilson) battles her own afflictions and issues. For one, her thorny disposition as an educator who believes ‘creation is everything’ ironically put her at odds with many of her former students who did not return. Janet’s art studio is also on the verge of collapsing, and the endless roadwork outside is just another falling domino.
The adage ‘Less is More’ applies to the design of this production. Again, I’m impressed at how placement of few props and furniture on stage conveyed a depth of Louise’s studio space in my mind. Upon entering the tent to look at the stage design, what first struck my sense of hearing was the sound of wind chimes. I love hearing wind chimes as they just mysteriously seem to settle me down.
There are many pieces of tree branches which line the front of the rectangular stage. Hanging on the back scrim in the middle were a few branches with what looked to be driftwood. There is a rectangular fold away table just up centre stage with some art props. Two-fold away chairs are present: one is open and angled stage right while the other is folded and leans against the other side of the table. A blue box and white garbage pail are found underneath the table. There is a mat on the far up stage right of the playing space which is the entrance for Louise’s art studio.
Ms. Wilson is dressed in earth tone colours of a faded blue top, comfy olivey-green looking slacks, and light brown slippers. Ms. Coffey wears a dark blue t shirt and cargo shorts with running shoes. There is a gauze on her forehead and her right wrist is covered with a tensor bandage to indicate she has sprained her wrist.
Blocking and movement of the actors appears naturally believable and realistic. It was intriguing to watch how Ms. Wilson and Coffey adroitly handled the ‘who’s got the power in the moment’ and how that power control seamlessly flowed back and forth as the plot unfolded. A momentary line call from Ms. Coffey brought me out of the scene for a split second, but I was able to get myself back into the solidly paced dialogue that found those emotional peaks and valleys of these two characters who appeared initially to me as diametrically opposed in nature, but by the end who are indeed very similar.
Final Comments: A most unusual and cleverly written script with a knockout of the seat ending, this world premiere of ‘Janet and Louise’ becomes a definite must see.
‘Janet and Louise’ plays on the back lawn of the Bruce Hotel, 89 Parkview Drive, Stratford, Ontario until August 15, 2021.
For further information regarding performance dates and times, visit www.herefornowtheatre.com.
Logo provided by Here for Now website.
‘Janet and Louise’ by Deanna Kruger
World Premiere directed by Jeannette Lambermont-Morey
Performers: Peggy Coffey as Janet and Brigit Wilson as Louise
Technical Director: Wendy Ewert