Calgary Eyeopener Theatre Review: Isolde at Theatre Junction Grand

The Calgary Eyeopener's Jennifer Keene and Jonathan Love review Theatre Junction Grand's touring production of "Isolde," by New York City Players.

The play runs Feb. 10 to 13.

The legend of Tristan and Isolde has circulated as literature, art, theatre, and music since medieval times.

Now aretelling is on stage at Calgary's Theatre Junction Grand.

It's a touring production from New York City Players, written and directed by Richard Maxwell.

Jennifer Keene and Jonathan Love saw its Calgary premiere on Wednesday night.

They gave their review on the Calgary Eyeopener.

The Plot

Maxwell's play uses the plot of the original myth, but sets the story in the present day.

There is a love triangle between Isolde, an aging actress who is losing her memory, her husbandan older, successful building contractor,and Massimo, a younger architect the couple has hired to design a house.

The Meanings

Reviewer Jennifer Keene zeroed in on the play's metaphors, including the idea of a house as love.

"Massimo is brought in to imagine the perfect house," she said.

"Her husband, of course, doesn't believe there is such a thing as the perfect house, he's a pragmatist."

Jonathan Love agreed, adding "Isolde and Massimo have this beautiful design, but it can't possibly happen."

"There's a lot of layers of meaning in this show," said Keene, adding that the character's memory loss raises questions about "memory and the role it plays in identity."

Should yousee it?

Richard Maxwell, the writer and director of this play, has solid theatre credentials.

He came from the famous Steppenwolf theatre in Chicago and is a recipient of several Obie [off-Broadway theatre] awards.

What will most interest audiences in this production is the unique acting style of Maxwell and his actors.

"He's got a bit of a house style that he's become known for," said Keene, "where the actors deliver their lines in a kind of flat, neutral way."

It's not for everyone, but if you want to see the next step in the evolution of stage acting, I think this is a clinic in it.- Jonathan Love

That acting style worked for Keene.

"It sort of makes the lines and the writing come to the forefront ... I think the idea is that somehow the audience projects more onto the actors rather than the actors giving it all to you."

Love wasn't so sure. "A woman losing her memory and going through a love triangle, it should be heightened and elevated in emotion, you kind of want to see that from the actor, and I think the style undercuts it."

Keene acknowledged not all theatre goers would appreciate Maxwell's approach. "It's thinky theatre."