MAPLEMAN: CANUCK CRUSADER
Factory Theatre Mainspace (125 Bathurst)
Rating: NNN
Aug 11 at 4:15 pm, Aug 15 at 4:45 pm. 1-888-328-8384, summerworks.ca.
This cute Canadian-themed musical comedy comes to the SummerWorks Youth program by way of the Sears Drama Festival.
Written, directed, and performed by students from The Woodlands School in Mississauga, the show features a plot that you might expect: a caped crusader decked out in red tights, white undies and a Team Canada Jersey gets abducted by a ruthless billionaire called The Broker, who’s intent on plundering the nation’s resources.
The superhero shtick is by-the-numbers, but the script is loaded with funny one-liners aimed at the usual aspects of Canadiana, as well as tongue-in-cheek references to Drake and Rob Ford. Clever lyrics by writer Nam Nguyen (who also penned the script and music) are the standout they pack in loads of ideas, and show lots of promise.
