The House of Yes

Rating:

Company:Half Empty

Genre: Play - Dramedy

Venue: 6- Tom Hendry Warehouse

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You cannot say no toThe House of Yes.

• Winnipeg Fringe 2017: read our reviews

Wendy Macleod's 1996 black comedy tells the tale of an ill-fated Thanksgiving when Marty brings his fiance home to meet the family. Trapped by a hurricane, cut off from power, the Pascal family falls back on well-worn, well-scripted mind games to pass the time.

A truly magnificent script filled with witty one-liners, TheHouse of Yesdeserves a stellar cast and director George Toles delivers. Susanne Leslie as Mrs. Pascal is wonderfully fuzzy around the edges, playing her like she is cocooned in cotton. Kevin Ramberran's Anthony is puppy like in his desperate need to please. Heather Roberts as Jackie-O is wonderfully frenetic and weird.

Stephanie Moroz's fiance Lesly is particularly compelling. Her sensible steadfastness provides a strong counterpoint to Jackie-O's mania. And Thomas Toles as Marty is affable and agreeable to the point of neurosis. His oddly laconic tempo cleverly juxtaposes against the quick wittedness of his twin sister.

You cannot say no toThe House of Yes.- Michelle Palansky

Lacking in this production is a strong sexual chemistry between Marty and his twin sister. Without it, the incest becomes academic, a curiosity rather than a horror, which take a bit of the bite out of the piece.