Commedia!

Skyline Theatre / Winnipeg, MB

By: Moliere Posted: 9:18 PM CDT Sunday, Jul. 18, 2010

In two scenes from the plays of French satirist Molière, Winnipeg's Skyline Theatre dishes up a theatrical history lesson.

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In two scenes from the plays of French satirist Molière, Winnipeg's Skyline Theatre dishes up a theatrical history lesson.

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In two scenes from the plays of French satirist Molière, Winnipeg’s Skyline Theatre dishes up a theatrical history lesson.

The audience is served both the 16th-century style of masked comedy called Commedia dell’Arte as well as a look at the origins of farce, slapstick — and soap operas.

The runaway star of the show is Colin Conner, playing a manservant ordered to impersonate a learned doctor in the first scene, and a real doctor who can’t stop bragging about himself in the second. With his lanky frame, boundless energy (he must repeatedly scale ladders and jump from balconies) and great facial expressions, the guy is made for comedy. He’s quick, too — when his wig came off, he instantly worked it right into the story.

The first act is rollicking fun, the second slightly weaker, but the intermission performance, despite some lovely singing, just slows the pace and seems to serve no purpose. There were also some flubbed lines, but with so much going on, you get your money’s worth.

— Janice Sawka

From the official Fringe Festival program:

Two hilarious pieces in Commedia style from Molière, played back to back. We’ve got it all: marital disputes, love intrigues, balcony scenes, servants fooling masters, slapstick, masks and more.