I’d like to see Soup Can Theatre’s Love is a Poverty You Can Sell done in a proper cabaret set up.  I mean, it’s meant to be an old-style cabaret, so it would be nice to see it in that kind of a setting (I didn’t get to see it when it was at the now-defunct Bread and Circus).  During Next Stage it’s in the “Ante-Chamber” otherwise known as the small bar at Factory Theatre.

The piece was a nice half hour interlude, including antics from the hosts of the cabaret, and lovely singing in between.  If it were longer in that space I don’t think I would have liked it.  The way the room is set up the voices can’t blend the way I wanted them to except on the rare occasions when both actors were facing me.  Plus, the space is very small and crammed with a number of people, so it’s quite warm.

But half an hour was a good amount of time for this type of work in this venue.  I’m definitely glad I went.  There was a lot of talent in the room, but I was blown away by Christian Jeffries’ rendition of ‘Streets of Berlin’.  It was a wonderful combination of a powerful voice and great acting.  I loved it.  I wish I’d seen more of Jeffries in this piece.

Really, what I want though, is to see a full production of this piece done honest-to-goodness cabaret-style.  I guess these days your options for that kind of venue are limited in this city, but The Flying Beaver comes to mind, or perhaps even the Cameron House.

My recommendation?  Check it out here, get a teaser taste of the piece, and see if you’ll be into a full length version if they perform it somewhere else.

Oh, and, I try to avoid spoilers, but just as a word of warning: If you’re the kind of person who CAN’T STAND audience participation, avoid the front row, just in case…
Details:
– All Next Stage Theatre Festival performances are being held at Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst)
– Tickets for all shows are $15 for Evening Performances (7:00 and after start time), $12 for Afternoon Performances (6:59 or before start time) and $10 for Ante-chamber performances
– Showtimes for Love is a Poverty You Can Sell are:
JAN 5 / 6:30
JAN 7 / 4:00
JAN 7 / 6:30
JAN 8 / 8:45
JAN 10 / 7:15
JAN 14 / 8:15
JAN 15 / 4:15
JAN 15 / 6:15

Photo of Christian Jeffries