SCENES FROM PLAYS I NEVER WROTE by Greta Papageorgiu. Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace. July 3 at 1:45 pm, July 4 at 7 pm, July 6 at 9:15 pm, July 7 at noon, July 8 at 4 pm, July 9 at 11 pm. Buy tickets. Rating: NN
Writer/director Greta Papageorgiu’s show about a playwright grappling with writer’s block is a clever idea. But ironically, the show’s own script could use a few more drafts.
The entire hour takes place inside Katherine’s head. For years, she’s struggled to complete a script because of a devilish internal critic called Juice (Ayesha Mansur Gonsalves, a highlight in this role). As Katherine (Brittney A. Filek-Gibson) puts words to pages, two actors (Arlen Aguayo Stewart and Mat Valois) perform the scenes Katherine is writing.
The main themes in the play don’t come out until the end. There are, however, some smart staging choices, such as the decision to sit Juice behind a teacher’s desk, where she bellows insults and insecurities at Katherine through a microphone. An exaggerated fight scene is also a hilarious representation of battling that voice in your head. These elements, however, feel overshadowed by clunky, complicated storytelling.
