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ARMENIAN AND RWANDAN GENOCIDES SHARE CENTRE STAGE
Montral Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Armenian+Rwandan+genocides+share+centre+stage/6334167/story.html
March 21 2012
Canada
Playwright Rahul Varma's decision to juxtapose the Armenian massacre,
which occurred during the First World War, and the Rwandan genocide
of 1994 in his new play, State of Denial, makes for a doubly sobering
evening of educational drama.
Most of us aren't well-informed about what happened to more than 1
million Armenians within the Ottoman Empire while the rest of the
world (and its media) was preoccupied with the Great War. Although
many films have been made about the genocide, including Atom Egoyan's
2002 movie Ararat, this is the first play I have seen on the subject.
(A quick Internet search turned up Joyce Van Dyke's Deported /a dream
play, now playing in Boston.)
The current Turkish government remains in a state of official denial
about the massacre, which Hitler once boasted no one would remember.
In contrast, news of the Rwandan genocide spread quickly around
the world once the killing began, along with horrifying images on
television screens.
In order to bring both tragedies into his story, Varma shows a young
Rwandan-born Canadian documentary filmmaker named Odette (played by
Helen Koya) pursuing the life story of a Muslim woman named Sahana
(Rachelle Glait). Sahana has devoted her life to helping female
Armenian massacre survivors in Turkey overcome the aftermath of the
genocide. On her deathbed, she reveals a hidden past, leaving Odette
to connect the dots of the diaspora to Sahana's Canadian granddaughter
(portrayed by Natalie Tannous).
Odette is clearly pursuing this story as part of her own healing
process after losing family members in the Rwandan massacre.
Because this is agitprop, the characters have a cardboard feel,
often left to deliver somewhat wooden messages rather than nuances
of meaning. The cast members - who also include Davide Chiazzese as
an unsympathetic Turkish official, Olivier Lamarche as the Canadian
diplomat Reid Cooper, and Matthew Kabwe as the Turkish good guy - all
strive valiantly to render themselves credible within multiple roles.
Glait plays her cards with a seasoned hand. But neophyte director
Deborah Forde offers little support, which makes for some odd moments.
The McCord Museum lecture theatre lends itself well to the use of
projections that set the backdrop for each scene.
The Armenian ambassador to Canada, Armen Yeganian, attended opening
night and said a few words, remarking that the play spoke for itself.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about State of Denial is that it
was written by a playwright born in India and features a multicultural
cast, none of whom are of Armenian background. This makes it admirably
we-are-the-world earnest. But by definition, it lacks cultural
authenticity, as well as artistic expertise.
Still, State of Denial provides an important teaching moment about
genocide. File it under "highly worthwhile." Teesri Duniya is a
theatre company like no other on the planet. You have to love it for
its idealistic intentions.
There will be panel discussions on Sunday and April 1, following the
2 p.m. matinees. The play runs two hours, including intermission.
State of Denial, by Rahul Varma, continues at the McCord Museum, 690
Sherbrooke St. W., through April 1. Tickets cost $22; $20 for seniors;
$12 for students. Call 514-848-0238 or visit teesriduniya.com.
On a more cheerful note, the 60-year-old Hudson Music Club, which
presented a terrific production of The Drowsy Chaperone last year
in Vaudreuil-Dorion, is now offering another Broadway musical, 42nd
Street. Anyone who enjoys hearing old, familiar songs like Lullaby of
Broadway and watching splashy tap-dance numbers within a quintessential
backstage story won't want to miss this one.
Corey Castle, a consummate pro, directs this company of dedicated
amateurs who rehearse for months on end in order to put on shows
whose profits are donated to charity. Sheila Engel Katz is the
musical director, Amy Cooper the choreographer. Jean-Claude Olivier
has designed the New York City sets.
As Peggy Sawyer, the understudy who gets to be the star, Sophie
Protopoulos brightens up the stage with her perky presence, great
voice and dancing feet. Gail Marchand as Maggie, Philippe Gorbeille
as Julian Marsh and Nadia Verrucci as Anytime Annie are also standouts
within a high-energy cast.
42nd Street continues at Theātre Paul-Emile Meloche, 400
St. Charles St., in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Call 1-866-967-8167 or visit
hudsonmusicclub.com.
Montral Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Armenian+Rwandan+genocides+share+centre+stage/6334167/story.html
March 21 2012
Canada
Playwright Rahul Varma's decision to juxtapose the Armenian massacre,
which occurred during the First World War, and the Rwandan genocide
of 1994 in his new play, State of Denial, makes for a doubly sobering
evening of educational drama.
Most of us aren't well-informed about what happened to more than 1
million Armenians within the Ottoman Empire while the rest of the
world (and its media) was preoccupied with the Great War. Although
many films have been made about the genocide, including Atom Egoyan's
2002 movie Ararat, this is the first play I have seen on the subject.
(A quick Internet search turned up Joyce Van Dyke's Deported /a dream
play, now playing in Boston.)
The current Turkish government remains in a state of official denial
about the massacre, which Hitler once boasted no one would remember.
In contrast, news of the Rwandan genocide spread quickly around
the world once the killing began, along with horrifying images on
television screens.
In order to bring both tragedies into his story, Varma shows a young
Rwandan-born Canadian documentary filmmaker named Odette (played by
Helen Koya) pursuing the life story of a Muslim woman named Sahana
(Rachelle Glait). Sahana has devoted her life to helping female
Armenian massacre survivors in Turkey overcome the aftermath of the
genocide. On her deathbed, she reveals a hidden past, leaving Odette
to connect the dots of the diaspora to Sahana's Canadian granddaughter
(portrayed by Natalie Tannous).
Odette is clearly pursuing this story as part of her own healing
process after losing family members in the Rwandan massacre.
Because this is agitprop, the characters have a cardboard feel,
often left to deliver somewhat wooden messages rather than nuances
of meaning. The cast members - who also include Davide Chiazzese as
an unsympathetic Turkish official, Olivier Lamarche as the Canadian
diplomat Reid Cooper, and Matthew Kabwe as the Turkish good guy - all
strive valiantly to render themselves credible within multiple roles.
Glait plays her cards with a seasoned hand. But neophyte director
Deborah Forde offers little support, which makes for some odd moments.
The McCord Museum lecture theatre lends itself well to the use of
projections that set the backdrop for each scene.
The Armenian ambassador to Canada, Armen Yeganian, attended opening
night and said a few words, remarking that the play spoke for itself.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about State of Denial is that it
was written by a playwright born in India and features a multicultural
cast, none of whom are of Armenian background. This makes it admirably
we-are-the-world earnest. But by definition, it lacks cultural
authenticity, as well as artistic expertise.
Still, State of Denial provides an important teaching moment about
genocide. File it under "highly worthwhile." Teesri Duniya is a
theatre company like no other on the planet. You have to love it for
its idealistic intentions.
There will be panel discussions on Sunday and April 1, following the
2 p.m. matinees. The play runs two hours, including intermission.
State of Denial, by Rahul Varma, continues at the McCord Museum, 690
Sherbrooke St. W., through April 1. Tickets cost $22; $20 for seniors;
$12 for students. Call 514-848-0238 or visit teesriduniya.com.
On a more cheerful note, the 60-year-old Hudson Music Club, which
presented a terrific production of The Drowsy Chaperone last year
in Vaudreuil-Dorion, is now offering another Broadway musical, 42nd
Street. Anyone who enjoys hearing old, familiar songs like Lullaby of
Broadway and watching splashy tap-dance numbers within a quintessential
backstage story won't want to miss this one.
Corey Castle, a consummate pro, directs this company of dedicated
amateurs who rehearse for months on end in order to put on shows
whose profits are donated to charity. Sheila Engel Katz is the
musical director, Amy Cooper the choreographer. Jean-Claude Olivier
has designed the New York City sets.
As Peggy Sawyer, the understudy who gets to be the star, Sophie
Protopoulos brightens up the stage with her perky presence, great
voice and dancing feet. Gail Marchand as Maggie, Philippe Gorbeille
as Julian Marsh and Nadia Verrucci as Anytime Annie are also standouts
within a high-energy cast.
42nd Street continues at Theātre Paul-Emile Meloche, 400
St. Charles St., in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Call 1-866-967-8167 or visit
hudsonmusicclub.com.