WHO HAS SEEN THE WIND?
Alberta Theatre Projects
Starring Joel Smith, Kevin Rothery, Trevor Leigh, Karen Johnson-Diamond and Jarvis Hall
Directed by Bob White
Runs until December 22
Martha Cohen Theatre (CPA)
The first local production of a new adaptation of W.O. Mitchell’s best-loved book is sending ripples through the city’s theatre scene.
Supported by an energetic ensemble and faithful to the content of the novel, Alberta Theatre Projects’ production of Who Has Seen the Wind? will be enjoyed by W.O. fans, and will serve as a good introduction for those about to become fans of his work.
Brian O’Connal’s childhood adventures in Depression-era, small-town Saskatchewan amounts to a comfortable nostalgia trip. Recent Mount Royal College grad Joel Smith has the plum role of Brian, the thoroughly likable but sometimes ornery youngster at the centre of the show.
Director Bob White keeps the action moving as the other 10 actors in the show create the entire population of the small town. With the exception of Smith, everyone plays more than one character: Trevor Leigh is a pleasure as Brian’s dad and his earthy Uncle Sean; Karen Johnson-Diamond is an affectionate mom for Brian and his heart of gold teacher; Jarvis Hall has a welcome comic turn as the starched Rev. Powelly and the outrageous town drunk, Old Ben.
The show is highly episodic as we are swept from scene to scene in an open staging that is almost cinematic. We are easily carried along by the overlapping of scenes, and thanks to the efforts of Kevin Rothery’s casual homespun turn as the Narrator, the audience remains involved in Brian’s journey.
Lee MacDougall’s highly poetic adaptation of Who Has Seen the Wind? faithfully covers the novel. All of the best bits of the book are here, including Brian’s struggles at school, Old Ben’s exploding still, the busybody school board, and a death in Brian’s family. Structurally, the result is a little too fragmented, the focus on Brian weakened in favour of touching on nearly everything in the novel. But this is a minor failing in a show that is easily the best of the current offerings for family holiday theatre fare. |
