It Doesn't Make The Cut
New Play By Jim Millan Pokes Fun At The Canadian Movie Industry
Blurring the line between film styles and theatrical conventions, Millan's new play, entitled Directors Cut opened recently at the Factory Studio Theatre in Toronto.
When you talk about Canadian culture, we are known for our music, our novels, and our coffee. If you mention Canadian cinema, most people just roll their eyes. the biggest film hit we've had is, drumroll please...Porky's. Strange but true.
In Jim Millan's new play, Directors Cut, the plot centres around the Canadian film industry, and while not coming out and making fun of it, does a pretty good job at stereotyping the struggle that filmmakers north of the border experience - lack of funding, lack of star power, and frankly lack of interest from anyone.
Jeff MacBride is one of those filmmakers, who with his film's editor, steal some footage to put together a behind-the-scenes documentary about how and why the film went so horribly wrong.
Through a series of flashbacks and cut aways, we see MacBride struggle to keep his vision intact, ultimately choosing to give in to the wishes of his producer and starlet, and seeing his film turn into a chaotic mess.
The play is an interesting concept, and the performances are strong. Gord Rand as MacBride uses the right amount of anxt and frustration to bring the most out of his character. Chris Earle is solid as Derek Krantz, the film's editor, and Amy Rutherford has some very funny moments as the rising young starlet Miranda Baker. She seemed to be merging impressions of Drew Barrymore and Paris Hilton, but it worked. The supporting roles played by Ron White, Ryan McVittie and Michelle Latimer are done well, but we never really know enough about them to fully engage in their characters.
The play is co-directed by Jim Millan and Jillian Keiley, and they have paced the show quickly, using the cut aways and flashbacks nicely.
The fault in this show doesn't lie in the performances, direction or dialogue. It is a genuinely interesting concept, but because we don't find out until the final scene that it's a "behind the scenes" documentary about the making of the film, we are left wondering what is exactly going on, and why the scenes between the actors end and then quickly rush into commentary. It's all a little baffling, but then at the end, it all makes sense, leaving you going "Ohhhhh! I get it now".
This would have been a fascinating documentary/commentary about a real film, and is cut together beautifully, but on stage, it just doesn't work all that well.
Directors Cut
By Jim Millan
Starring Gord Rand, Chris Earle and Amy Rutherford
Now playing at the Factory Studio until December 10th, 2006.
For ticket and show information, click here.
*** (out of five)
