harper regan a fascinating tale in a jarring production: review

Harper reggenby Simon Stephens
Directed by Matthew Jocelyn.
Until March 22, at Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front Street. E. canadianstage. com or 416-368-
3110 it\'s good to have something solid to catch when you\'re in a hurricane.
This is how I feel about Molly Parker\'s performance in Harper Reagan\'s title role, and Harper Reagan is the Canadian stage work that opens Thursday night at Bluma Appel theater.
Simon Stephens\'s 2008 plays about a British housewife
When she returned home to visit her dead father, she found that her whole life had changed dramatically.
It seems that ordinary events suddenly become skewed, and nothing seems to be.
As the night continues, we also find that seemingly harmless relationships have a darker side.
There is a fascinating legend here that Stephens has drawn attention by writing in a striking dark style, but director Matthew Jocelyn has given us a work of discord, let\'s have doubts about Stephens\'s intentions. More stars.
COM: 2 Tony winner part of the new Mirvish season defective Tower 1970 comedy classic old imitation Bluma Appel\'s vast stage space is hung bare with only some random curtains and lighting to fill the gap.
The front of the stage was lowered to the height of the audience, providing a bear pit for the many encounters and confrontation scenes of the play, while the actors who did not participate sat on the stage to watch. The hyper-
The dazzling lights and deafening sounds highlight the drama that breaks the end of each scene.
Jocelyn chose to double many characters and stage the play with 7 actors instead of 11 British actors, causing additional confusion.
The fact that some actors try to sort doesn\'t help things --
A British accent, while others are clearly North American, or some performers (Vivian Endicott
Douglas and hardy T. Lineham)
Widespread performance, while others (
IZAK Smith and Alex PodgeGoldin)
Very subtle, one (Philip Riccio)
Very strange.
And Molly Parker.
She started with a dangerous low profile, but we soon realized that these calm waters were very deep.
When she finally relaxed at the end of a tense and uncomfortable bar pickup scene, Riccio at his most horrible time, you start to see how things are going.
Her hair fell over her shoulder and put on a leather jacket she stole from another character, and all of a sudden we were happy to follow her on a mysterious journey.
The darker Parker is, the more interested we are, the more focused we are.
But Jocelyn ultimately seems to be more interested in providing us with jagged pieces, rather than any coherent journey, and it\'s hard to figure out the intent of the long, idyllic final act. This envisions a happy life for the seemingly unacceptable Reagan family.
Harper Reagan ended up attracting us without really attracting us, although there were moments --
Especially Parker and Smith had a weird tracker. ish courtship —
They weave things that are real emotions.
And the alternative charm of Poch.
Golding and Parker bring an online
The temptation of hotel rooms arranged in the second act also had a strange romance that touched people\'s hearts.
But Harper Reagan\'s film often fumbles for the ball just a few inches from the post.
It aspires to be naked, compelling and universal, and it manages to become empty with disappointment.
You will most likely leave the Bluma Appel theater and appreciate the talent of some of the actors, but want to know, \"Why did they tell me the story?