BWW Reviews: TNC's Based on a True Story is Exactly How it Sounds

Some say that the choices we make are what define us. Everyone makes separate decisions that affect their lives in separate ways. These decisions colour the way we look at the world and see the people around us.

Created and written by the 5-person cast, crew, and director, Based on a True Story is exactly what it sounds like. Presented by McGill's Tuesday Night Café Theatre, the show critically examines the lives and choices of the people the rest of world forgot to care about.

The show does not aim to preach, but rather reflect and retell lives that go deeper than what we see on the surface. Based on a True Story is a snapshot of five different lives that intertwine with each other to show what "society" means from separate perspectives. Danny (Justin Lazarus), a punk and heroin addict, introduces his world to his girlfriend Camille (Kim Drapack). Along with his best friend Stevie (Cara Krisman), the three live on the fringes of society under the constant plague of the police. Officer Davis (Michael Ruderman) and Judge Charlotte Parks (Emily Doyle) are portrayed as the abusive, biased law-keepers as they struggle to keep "order" in society.

Lazarus, playing Danny, makes you fall in love with his drug-addicted, charismatic character. His intensity did not waver, and overall he gave an extremely enjoyable and animated performance that provided for some of the peak moments throughout the show. The chemistry he had with Drapack, playing Camille, was unmistakable. Drapack's struggle with her love for Danny and the life she has been submerged in was portrayed well as the emotions tore her in different directions.

Krisman, playing Stevie, brought the comedic element the show requires. Ruderman and Doyle, portraying the justice side of society, excellently posed the problem of the law doing too much and at the same time not doing enough for society. The scene in which Ruderman loses control provided for a particularly telling and intense scene that comments on police brutality.

Director Isaac Robinson should be commended for taking on such a project and producing such a meditative show. The writing can, at times, be a bit repetitive, but overall the show is a well-written piece of theatre.

The set design, done by David Costello, was simple yet imaginative. The small space was used to its full potential. The two sides of life were portrayed with a rundown punk-esque apartment on one side and a clean, crisp office on the other.

The end message is clear, people are people. In the end, everyone has their own problems. So take a trip down to Anywheresville, USA and see for yourself what life can look like.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY plays at Tuesday Night Café Theatre (bottom floor, 3485 rue McTavish) at McGill University from March 13-16 and 20-23 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 for students and $10 for the general public. For more information, click here.

Photo credit: Victor Tangermann

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