Montreal Theatre

Thinking of YU

Photo by Ricardo CellereBy Sharman Yarnell for Curtains Up

Have you ever left a play unable to stop thinking about the production, the subject matter and the acting?

Originally written in french by Carole Frechette and translated into english by John Murrell (beautifully translated), ‘Thinking of YU’ is playing in the small theatre at Centaur.

I attended a performance last week and I cannot shake off this profound piece of work by Imago Theatre. It left me thinking about where I was in July, 1989, about the young man who stood in defiance in front of the tanks in Tienamen Square, about how easy it is to squelch media coverage and thus the minds of a nation – and about how lucky we are to voice peaceful protestations without being tortured or thrown into the depths of prison and forgotten, about how we all deal with injustice in our lives differently.

The direction by Micheline Chevrier is unique in that it plays great detail to the absolute truths of performance, script and intent, to the point of such agonizing exactitude it leaves one with a healthily scarred imagination and a mirror to face the truths we all seem to ignore, or hide from and do nothing about as time goes by.

The performances of  Shiong-En Chan, Danielle Desormeaux and Kwasi  Songui are all examples of perfection in the exploration of the inner depths of their very souls as projected to an audience fascinated by their truths that emerge.

The lighting of mood and suggestion, with minimal props and set pieces moved about to establish ensuing scenes, are both simple and effective in underlying the actors intent. This play is an example of a playwright perhaps knowing us better than we know ourselves. It is illuminating, rewarding and troubling.

BRAVO!

The play ends Sunday – do see it.

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