Needs tidying up ...

To start with, I need to state that one can like a show AND still have criticism. Very few pieces are perfect, and if we just let things go and laude every production because we know the people in it (which is what happens not only at the Fringe, but in Montreal in general) we can never progress as artists or as members of our cultural milieux. That said, I enjoyed Suspended Pieces.

The cast of this show is teaming with professional actors. I find the mother to be a little miscast, and while she is obviously a good actress (and teacher), it was like she was acting in another show. Her style would fit better in a larger venue (ie. Centaur or Segal), but just didn't fit with the rest of the cast here, who were acting for the size of the more intimate setting. In the Club Espanol many of her moments felt a little bit over the top and slightly incongruous with the rest of the show, which unfortunately took me out of it at times.

The play itself goes on a little too long for a Fringe show. It could have used a little cutting, because the amount of material here forced the director(s) to have the actors rushing through the play with some awkward and quick transitions. A few less scenes, a lot less dialogue and letting the characters really live in the moments with some silence would have been nice. We still would have gotten the message of the play, but would have been able to breathe it a little more. It also would have been nice to have the song in the show be a LITTLE bit more polished. Also, the "mobile" motif could have been incorporated into the show a little more fully, since it was an interesting visual metaphor.

The story itself is one that is important to tell. A family dealing with the shit that comes with being in a family. I just feel that the story could move a little faster with a little less repetition. The result would most likely be stunning. As it is, the show is certainly worth seeing.