SummerWorks 2014: Thus Spoke… Review

Thus Spoke

Thus Spoke…

National Series

A potent and vibrant mix of dance, movement, performance art, and monologuing, Thus Spoke… makes its English language debut in Toronto by way of its original staging in Montreal.

Two men (Frédérick Gravel, Frédérick Lavallée, with Gravel also serving as the artistic director, choreographer, co-creator, and lighting designer) and two women (Marilyn Perreault, Anne Thériault) dance, move, and emote like philosophical rock stars in this avant garde show about the nature of privilege in society. Sometimes satirical, sometimes sexualized, and always fascinating the quartet talk about everything from the nature of language to political assassinations to cultural criticism in brief, loosely connected bursts.

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All four actors are as magnetic as spoken word artists as they are dancers, bravely sacrificing ego for the sake of the material. It comes with a sort of anarchic nonchalance that makes what the actors are saying all the more vital. One could argue about the likability of the characters, but that only add depth to the material. It’s also not nearly as weird as this description makes it sound.

Remaining performances at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen Street West):

Tuesday August 12, 7:00pm
Wednesday August 13, 9:30pm
Thursday August 14, 5:00pm
Friday August 15, 7:30pm
Saturday August 16, 9:00pm



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