All posts by George Perry

George has always been passionate about theatre, but didn’t know it. As a young boy he was mesmerized by professional wrestling. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was an early role model. Shortly thereafter, the explosive histrionics of Pete Townshend would supersede this Canadian icon. George’s attention later turned to American theatre. Jello Biafra became a seminal influence. The “Do It Yourself” ethic was firmly embraced by Perry, and he ventured into the vast repetoire of artists like Paul Westerberg and Steve Albini. As a young adult, he was re-introduced to the works of Townshend. His then girlfriend, Michelle, was hugely impressed by the theatrical production of The Who’s “Tommy”. He meandered through factories, schools, border towns and Michigan for a very long time afterwards. He eventually landed in Toronto. All these influences were brought together in one kettle when George discovered Mooney on Theatre. He understands and personifies that theatre is indeed for everyone. To further this end goal, he contributes.

Arthur Milner’s Facts (Facts Assembly) 2012 SummerWorks Review

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Arthur Milner, Alex Poch-Goldin, Richard Greenblatt and Sam Kalilieh in Facts

When you enter Factory Theatre for Facts, interesting Middle Eastern music is playing. Right away, you feel as if you have left SummerWorks and entered the West Bank.

Facts is the story of two detectives investigating a murder. One detective is Israeli, the other Palestinian. The victim is an American archaeologist teaching in the West Bank.

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One/Un (Orange Noyée) 2012 SummerWorks Review

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Mani Soleymanlou in One/Un

The stage of The Theatre Centre can barely contain the huge cast of One/Un. Mani Soleymanlou and 35 folding chairs is likely SummerWorks’ largest cast.

It sounds odd to call props cast members. However, the hugely talented Mani Soleymanlou brings them to life. He uses them to create classrooms. He uses them as a stage to turn himself into a rockstar or people praying. Some chairs become family members or girlfriends.

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Terre Haute (Ecce Homo) 2012 SummerWorks Review

Terre HauteTerre Haute is a city in Indiana. The city is home to a Federal Penitentiary with a “Special Confinement Unit for inmates serving Federal death sentences”. Terre Haute is also a play written by America’s preeminent gay writer, Edmund White.  Lower Ossington Theatre is currently home to the play as part of SummerWorks.

Timothy McVeigh was a US soldier who served in the first war in Iraq. The full extent of his insanity before enlisting isn’t clear. After returning home, he eventually rented a truck and used fertilizer and racing fuel to turn the truck into a rolling bomb.  On April 19, 1995, McVeigh detonated the bomb outside of a building in Oklahoma City. He killed 168 people, including 19 children, and wounded 450 others. He pushed insanity to its full extent.
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