Vancouver, B.C. Online Review: 'Topsy Turvy 2: A Reimagined Disney Cabaret'
Joe Szekeres, Chief Toronto Critic
Daniel MacIvor, guest visitor who briefly spoke words of encouragement to Fabulist Theatre’s cabaret presentation, made an interesting comment that resonated with me after I watched this online performance.
“The performing artist walks a tight rope all the time when the decision is made to have a career in the performing arts.”
At this time of the worldwide pandemic, many Canadians also walk that same tight rope along with the performing artist. I’ve been compiling a number of profiles regarding those professional live artists who have lost their work or upcoming work when the theatres closed. Many Canadians also lost their jobs or have been laid off when people were sent home.
If anything, the title of this cabaret fits this presentation extremely well. For many Canadians, life has become topsy turvy. The world has been turned upside down and we’re having to be part of this new life.
And yet, many of the artists whom I have profiled have spoken of the fact that they will survive this topsy turvy world because they fervently believe their profession will survive. Right now, many Canadians turn to the arts to help them survive – whether it be song, dance, performance, comedy – and it is the arts that will help us thrive within this new reality.
I applaud Fabulist Theatre’s opportunity to showcase the talent of these young people. The company promotes inclusivity and re-imagination. Every member of this company gets a chance to tell their story. The performers who were involved got a chance to tell their ‘Disneyfied’ story.
This online presentation accomplished two important tasks successfully:
a) They selflessly raised money for the Actors Fund of Canada to help those artists who have been hit extremely hard by this pandemic. I have no idea how much money was raised, and I do hope it was a lot for the AFC.
b) Guest visitor Jayme Armstrong (from CBC’s ‘How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?’) encouraged all artists to get their work out there. Let it shine. Many of the artists whom I’ve profiled for ‘The Self-Isolated Artist’ series have also agreed to get the art out there, good and bad.
However, as one begins or hopes to pursue a career in the precariousness of the arts, the upcoming performer (and even the seasoned or amateur/community artist) must also learn to deal with constructive feedback from time to time. Some may call this constructive criticism.
Personally, I like to call it constructive feedback.
In other words, this is what I saw. Is this what you, the artist, intended me to see because this is what came across to me.
One of the drawbacks behind watching streamed productions is the realization that I am not watching anything live. For me, I’m watching a film, a movie or television program. Live theatre and live presentations make the work exciting when an audience gathers as a community. That doesn’t occur in a streamed production.
Hats off to Damon Jang for his tireless computer-generated graphics and information to help the audience string some cohesion from one presentation to the next. The enormous amount of time spent at the computer screen is a massive undertaking. Nevertheless, because there were so many individuals to watch, the pacing dragged periodically from segment to segment.
There were so many performers, and yes it’s important to showcase these people who have worked so hard. But the pace of a cabaret must keep moving along. At times, the online presentation halts especially when we must read information from the slides to set the focus for the next young artist.
I loved the opening presentation and showcasing of the fact that some have taken the corona virus and have begun a slant towards anti Asian racism propaganda. A terrible thing to even consider since we need to fight the virus and not the people. There was a powerful yet simple line that came clear: “Nobody gets left behind.” We all must help one another.
What was also effective was the showcasing of the invited guests as encouragement for the young artists. It was nice to hear special guest Vance Avery sing. I had seen him perform in Toronto’s production of ‘Joseph’ many years ago.
A very touching moment was the presentation of ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ between father and daughter. Lovely moment between the two. I could feel the respect between the two. I also liked what I’m calling the ‘animation action’ near the end of the presentation where many of the animation drawings assumed a life of their own in pattern and movement. Very effectively staged. Some clever moments as well. I liked the ‘Amy Winehouse’ homage. I was very respectful of the Indigenous perspective and the young lady who played the piano.
For the most part, most of the singers and dancers shone with pride and hope. I consider a few of them upcoming talent that I will watch for on stages in the future. I will be honest and say that I’m not a fan of lip synching at all. I understand the two artists at this time wanted to work on the delivery of the song, but I had difficulty maintaining focus during these two songs. Kudos to the young man who played all the parts in ‘Beauty and the Beast’. That’s a massive amount of work you gave yourself. Some of the transitions to the characters could have been a tad sharper than they were.
Final comments: I liked John Tartaglia’s message to these young artists. He spoke of his seeing his first Broadway show and how it moved him because that moment was so powerful. Tartaglia spoke of the fact that live theatre has the capacity to move people.
These young people who presented tonight did work hard for their moment to shine. Let’s now get them, and all of us, back to the theatre.