Banana Man

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 5/7/2018 (845 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s 1964. Silent film star Buster Keaton (Allan Scheirer) and playwright Samuel Beckett (Ken Woodley) are discussing an experimental film, penned by Beckett, in which Keaton will star. The humour comes from contrasting Keaton’s down-to-earth take on life against Beckett’s "artsy" viewpoint, which frequently confounds Keaton into exclaiming, "What the hell is that about?"

 The breezy, likeable comedy turns surprisingly deep: when Beckett describes peoples’ "struggle to be perceived, even by themselves in a mirror," Keaton sadly replies, "I’m the invisible man. I don’t have a reflection anymore."

And then a spunky waitress (Mackenzie Kolton), who has been verbally sparring with the men, recognizes Keaton and relates a lovely theory of his films, nicely uniting the two viewpoints. It’s as charming as a conversation you overhear in public that’s so damn interesting you can’t help but listen.

There’s only one shortfall: for a story set in a specific year, there’s nothing in the costuming or hairstyles to reflect the era (particularly for the female character). A little vintage would go a long way to make this theatrical experience complete.  

— Janice Sawka