A WAKE (Penelope Buitenhuis). 93 minutes. Opens Friday (February 18). For movie times, theatres, and trailers see Movies. Rating: NN
How’s this for a premise? Power-tripping theatre director Gabor (Nicholas Campbell) makes a deathbed request of his wife (a very forbearing Tara Nicodemo) about his wake. He wants six members of his company to gather and reveal exactly how they feel about him while they read Hamlet, a play the troupe never got to mount.
And he wants to put it all on film.
And he wants that movie shown at a public memorial.
Huh? Why would people agree to expose themselves in this way, figuratively and literally. (There’s a camera in the bathroom, too!)
Six unhinged people, I’d say, and that doesn’t include Gabor’s son, who conveniently appears out of nowhere to direct – bully, actually – these sad creatures.
The actors, an assortment of Canada’s best stage artists, do show some energy. Sarain Boylan as a coke-addicted sex kitten has a disturbing edge. And as the board member with a secret crush on Gabor, Martha Burns arouses sympathy.
But the situation and the dialogue – invented by the cast itself – are so ludicrous that they make even the brilliant Graham Abbey, as the only actor among them who made it to L.A., a bore.
And what’s with Raj (Raoul Bhaneja), the closeted actor? Afraid to be gay? In the theatre world? You can’t be serious.
Unfortunately, A Wake is.
