Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Underbelly
The beat goes on in fringe magnet Jayson McDonald’s homage to junkie wordslinger William S. Burroughs.
The London, Ont., writer-performer’s rambling, hallucinogenic circle tour of Burroughs’ life is an artfully conceived 60-minute tangent that incorporates a skilful cut-up of biographical notes, along with cameos from beat contemporaries Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.
Rife with visceral imagery — “The baby erupts from her womb like a cork from a champagne bottle” — and poetic virtuosity, it packs an impressive cerebral punch.
If only the performance connected on a gut level, this drama would be unbeatable.
— Pat St. Germain
From the Fringe program:
Willy is a pharmaceutical astronaut in search of the whats and the wherefores, cutting and pasting narrative over a backdrop of urban decay and suburban clot, and mapping the Underbelly for future malcontents.
A fevered hallucination inspired by the life and work of William S. Burroughs and The Beats from the creator of "Giant Invisible Robot", "Boat Load" and "Gunpowder".
Recommended For: Mature Audience
Length: 60 min
Tickets: $10
Under 16 not admitted.
Warnings: Subject Matter, Language
History
Updated on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 12:39 PM CDT:
Adds review
- Back to Top
- Return to Fringe Show Reviews
Poll
Ads by Google











You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.