jewishindependent.ca\/oldsite\/archives\/feb12\/archives12feb10-02.html<\/a>) and did not think anything could make it better but, after a cross-country tour and 400 performances, like a fine wine, it has improved with age. Half of the original cast returns to reprise their roles and they, too, have only become better with time. Power does triple duty as she choreographs, acts and directs, while Charles is musical director\/arranger and musician\/actor.<\/p>\nThe sung-through musical revolves around a tortured writer (Adrian Glynn McMorran) shuttered up in a shabby room in New York\u2019s Chelsea Hotel trying to forget his past so that he can be creative again. The show opens with him outstretched on a bed towering with crumpled paper, a metaphor for his cluttered mind. Each time he writes something down and throws it away, we feel his existential angst as he searches for inspiration from his life\u2019s memories. Five actors, playing multiple characters, move in and out of his various visions, reminding him of his past romantic entanglements and indiscretions through songs like \u201cSuzanne,\u201d \u201cTake this Waltz,\u201d \u201cFirst We Take Manhattan,\u201d \u201cTower of Song,\u201d \u201cDance Me to the End of Earth,\u201d \u201cBird on a Wire\u201d and, of course, \u201cHallelujah.\u201d<\/p>\n
All the scenes play out in the Writer\u2019s mind \u2013 illusions in a carnival-like setting guided by a Jokeresque bellhop (a terrific Jack Garton) who pops in and out of the set as he manipulates the Writer\u2019s memories and thoughts.<\/p>\n
This truly ensemble production is a fusion of dance, music and theatre, with the multi-talented cast of six all triple threats \u2013 each capable of singing, dancing and playing the myriad instruments used in the show, ranging from the traditional \u2013 guitar, violin, keyboards and drums \u2013 to the more unconventional \u2013 banjo, ukulele, accordion and even a kazoo (showcased in the very erotic \u201cI\u2019m Your Man\u201d number).<\/p>\n
McMorran is sensational as the Writer. His vocals run the gamut from softly crooned ballads to frenetic rock \u2019n\u2019 roll numbers. Power, Marlene Ginader and Michelle Bouey play the lovers and the muses, moving through the various vignettes in dreamlike, ethereal fashion. Ginader, in her blue raincoat, is touching in her portrayal of the jilted lover trying to get back into the Writer\u2019s heart. Hovering quietly in the shadowy background, Charles switches effortlessly from instrument to instrument, until he emerges front and centre stage to sing a poignant \u201cFamous Blue Raincoat.\u201d<\/p>\n
The staging is sublime. Kudos to set and costume designer Drew Facey for his fragile, paper-like set and simple costumes. John Webber\u2019s mood lighting completes the surreal atmosphere.<\/p>\n
As you unwrap the layers of this performance, so ably packaged by this wonderful cast, the pleasure only increases. There is so much to like in this production \u2013 don\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n
As a bonus, on Feb. 23, the theatre is holding a special event, Endless Love, toasting the legacy of Cohen, which includes pre- and post-show receptions, cast mingling and, of course, the show. Tickets can be purchased at firehallartscentre.ca<\/a> or by calling the box office at 604-689-0926.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTova Kornfeld<\/b> is a Vancouver freelance writer and lawyer.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jack Garton, playing a Jokeresque bellhop, manipulates the memories and thoughts of the Writer, played by Adrian Glynn McMorran. (Sarah Race Photography) In Paper Thin Hotel, Leonard Cohen writes, \u201cIt is written on the walls of this hotel, you go to heaven once you\u2019ve been to hell.\u201d Heaven is where you will be if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":43598,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[785],"tags":[22992,1203,8039,6585],"class_list":["post-43596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-performing-arts","tag-chelsea-hotel","tag-firehall-arts-centre","tag-fundraiser","tag-leonard-cohen"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43596"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43596\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}