THE LOST
BOYS written and performed by
R.H. Thomson, directed by Jonas Jurasas.
Presented by CanStage at the Berkeley
Street Theatre (26 Berkeley). Runs to
March 9, Monday-Saturday 8 pm,
matinees Wednesday 1:30 and Saturday
2 pm. $20-$46, limited Monday pwyc and
same-day half-price rush. 416-368-3110.
Rating: NNN Rating: NNN
a trunkful of letters from the first world war is a potential dramatic gold mine in The Lost Boys. Writer R.H. Thomson unearths some of the precious material, but R.H. Thomson the performer squanders more of it.There’s fascinating stuff here in the letters of Thomson’s own great-uncles, five of whom went off to the Great War. It’s also the tale of Thomson’s own growing up into a realization of the legacy of family and history, though at times this part of the show feels contrived despite the intelligent writing.
Its main flaw, though, is the persistent coolness of Thomson’s and director Jonas Jurasas’s approach to the material. The sound effects (designed by Duncan Morgan) and the projections — striking work by Martin Conboy — on Astrid Janson’s earthen set arouse more emotion than Thomson’s performance. His scenes are overshadowed even more by the quiet passion of Nancy Palk’s taped voice as the mother of the young soldiers, most of whom died in the war.JKglenns@nowtoronto.com
jonkap@nowtoronto.com
