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CETM Inc. Next Wave Festival: “A Song of Fiction: A New Musical”

Does real life inspire fiction or is it the other way around? The musical “A Song of Fiction” is a tender and humourous story about the agonies of the creative process and where the inspiration can arise. It is a musical-within-a-musical as the characters play out in simultaneously in two different settings.

Set in an apartment in Montréal, Max (Lee Clapp) and Aaron (David Noel) are friends who are writing a musical under a 30-day deadline. Their show is about a young gay man, Mason (a wonderful Sean Colby), who begins an affair with Jesse (the marvelous Jonathan Patterson), a waiter from the Village. Max sits behind his keyboard writing his music and lyrics. Aaron is frantically trying to piece together the book and lyrics. They bicker and disagree about the show’s story and motives of the characters. Mason and Jesse perform the songs and action as the writers work out several versions. The results are very funny, touching, and endearing. As the writers toil away, their own furtive and unrequited story emerges and becomes reflected in their work. There are some terrific scenes involving Mason and Jesse that show how characters can have a life of their own and are not always beholden to their creators.

The performances are realistic and the singing is very, very good. Mr. Clapp is lovely as the practical Max; Mr. Noel brings just the right amount of anxiety as Aaron. Mr. Colby and Mr. Patterson are wonderful at performing the joy of creating the art the writers are trying to achieve. The original songs are catchy and fluid as the writers change the material as they go. The sets are on point and reminded me of every Mile End/Plateau apartment I’ve ever visited.

Inspiration for art can come from so many sources and experiences. But art can also inspire real life to move forward in unexpected ways. A little advice for writers: be careful not to leave your characters unsupervised!

Photo credits Miss Lady Andi

“A Song of Fiction: A New Musical”: Presented by Kaleidoscope Theatre Montreal at Centre for Education and Theatre in Montreal Next Wave Festival. Directed by Trevor Barrette. Music, lyrics, and book by Trevor Barrette. Show runs September 15th and 16th at 9:00 pm at Salle Paul Buissonneau, 3819 Calixa Lavallée Ave., Montréal. Tickets $20 to $18. For tickets call 514-504-9339 or go to [email protected]

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