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The Laramie Project does Vancouver proud
Back by popular demand, and for good reason

By Chloé Bach, Arts Editor

he Laramie Project chronicles

a series of journal entries

and interviews conducted in
Laramie, Wyoming in 1998 through
1999 after the infamous and brutal

murder of a young homosexual student,

Matthew Shepard. Shepard was found
barely breathing, beaten and tied to a
fence on the outskirts of a small town.
In 1998, members of the Techtonic
Theatre Project traveled from New
York to Laramie, Wyoming to conduct
these interviews with the members of
a small community in absolute turmoil
ultimately translating their accounts
into an original play. While the media
sensationalized the crime, Moses
Kaufman and Techtonic have artfully
transcended the brute facts of this story
and transformed it into a narrative

that appeals to all voices and aspects
involved.

Now, Vancouver’s own Fighting
Chance Productions and director Ryan
Mooney are presenting their discerning
account of The Laramie Project once
again after a sold out, heated run in
2008 (for those of you who don’t recall,
this initial run drew the attention of

the all-too-notorious Fred Phelps and
his extreme Westboro Baptist Church).
While I didn’t have the opportunity

to attend the initial run I did have the
privilege of seeing it this past Saturday,
and what a privilege it was.

Hats off to everyone involved; not was
the play thoroughly enjoyable for the
entertainment value of the storyline but
the whole production was masterfully
done to say the least.

The Havana Theatre is a 60-seat
theatre which lends itself perfectly to
the intimacy of this script. The set is
simple without being underdone; the
extremities of the theatre are solid
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upon which sit a few chairs and a side
table.

Since the entire cast remains on stage
for the full three acts and portray
several different characters the costume
changes are naturally minute but well
thought out all the same. Changes were
as simple as hats, suspenders, and head
bands, hair up, hair down, an additional
sweater, one less sweater and so forth.
Along with these costume changes
the.cast members switch between

their characters seamlessly. In my
experience these character transitions
are not often very well achieved in live
theatre; this cast, however, has proven
to be an exception to my judgments.
Each actor and actress adjusted well-
practiced accents and linguistic patterns
in their portrayals where necessary.
Adjustments in body language between
depictions were a more interactive

and visual way of illustrating each and
every transformation.

 

Notable in many aspects is Matthew
MacCaull. MacCaull exudes a
prominent stage-presence as well as
adaptability between distinctly different
characters. His interpretations are
remarkably natural, believable and
polished. In addition, he sings and
plays several instruments: the piano,
the guitar, and the harmonica. Talk
about well-rounded.

That said, each and every cast member
is truly a standout in their own right;
itis obvious that all eight of them are
extremely well-accomplished in many
regards.

This play is heartfelt, stimulating and
thoughtfully done. It draws unexpected
conclusions and explores the untapped
shame that the close-knit community
of Laramie experiences, all of which
make The Laramie Project well worth
the watch.

The Laramie Project will be showing this week from January 27" until the

31". Tickets are $18 for students and $21 dollars for adults. To purchase

tickets visit http://www.fightingchanceproductions.com