Gruppo Rubato

EYE Weekly Review, July 12 2007

// July 12th, 2007 // Comments Off // Reviews

From EYE Weekly, Toronto:

This satire of the Canadian military has some of the funniest comic set pieces of the Fringe, but loses points for a meandering script. Patrick Gauthier and Kris Joseph perform roles they wrote for themselves, and it shows, as the characters are finely drawn and well suited to the actors. Sadly, the script lacks the bite and focus of a strong satire and features an ill-conceived twist ending that provides confusion rather than closure. Still, as an acting showcase, it succeeds admirably. Joseph’s brilliant turn as an insane army officer steals the show, while Gauthier proves himself by not being blown off the stage by Joseph’s bombastic performance. It’s a shame that the script was not put through the extra draft or two it would have taken to elevate it to the next level.

Ottawa Citizen Review

// June 16th, 2007 // No Comments » // Reviews

What if they’re shipping Afghan prisoners to Churchill, Man.? And interrogating them in the polar bear jail? It would be one hell of a story, that’s what.

A Citizen reporter, hot on the trail of a scoop, travels to Churchill for a clandestine meeting with the mysterious Col. Ronson. That’s the set-up for The Churchill Protocol, a loopy, entertaining and sometimes biting satire on Canada’s military and our national squeamishness about warfare.

The two actors, Pat Gauthier and Kris Joseph, are also the co-writers. Opening a brand new play at the Fringe Festival is a gutsy move, but their company, Gruppo Rubato, has done it successfully several times

The Churchill Protocol is another success. Smartly directed by Natalie-Joy Quesnel, it plays cat and mouse with the audience. For the longest time it appears as if Col. Ronson (a wacked-out Joseph) is insane. A ray gun that causes diarrhea and killer goats are on his agenda.

Towards the end, it becomes a bit of a talk-fest, but throughout most of its 60 minutes, Protocol is funny, smart theatre. The Churchill Protocol continues to June 24 at Studio Leonard-Beaulne.

By Catherine Lawson; published in the Ottawa Citizen on June 16, 2007.