Review: Rebecca Northan's 'Blind Date'

I am in love. After seeing Rebecca Northan's Blind Date, I now believe in a new and profound kind of love. I believe in the possibility of a love without borders, prejudice or games. I say this because while at this wildly entertaining show, I found myself falling in love with the lovely Ms. Northan as well as her blind date. I felt honoured to be a part of this unique piece of theatre, and by the end of the evening felt connected on a deep and meaningful level to Ms. Northan's character Mimi, as well as to the brave gentleman who stood up and became her date for the evening.

Blind Date just wrapped a sold-out three week run at The Brigantine Room in Toronto's Harbourfront Centre, and after seeing the show, it is easy to see why it was so popular. The premise is actually quite simple - Ms. Northan stars as Mimi, a Parisian woman stood up while waiting for her blind date in a French café along The Seine. When she realizes her date won't be arriving, she turns to the audience and plucks a young man out of the crowd to fill in as her suitor for the evening. What ensues is a hilarious and touching piece of improv theatre, which is both terrifying and enlightening at the same time. Credit must be given to the brave men who partake in the show each night - these guys have no idea what they are getting themselves into when they go up on stage to be romanced for ninety minutes in front of a crowd of 250 people.

When I interviewed Ms. Northan prior to the show's opening, she told me about how she always finds something to love about each and every guy she does the show with, and I remember scoffing at the very idea. Perhaps I have become pessimistic due to the dreary dating scene with which I have become accustomed, but I found it hard to believe that she legitimately found something to love about all these different guys who are complete strangers to her at the beginning of the night. Moreover, I found it impossible to believe that the guys themselves lasted the whole ninety minutes and that she had never been turned down.

Perhaps it was the French setting, or the beautiful lights, or the accordion player dancing around the room - but within five minutes, I realized that my pessimistic outlook was going to be put to the test. And indeed it was. Ms. Northan is so careful, charming, respectful and funny - you can't help but fall in love with her. She "bobs and weaves" along with her suitor to keep the date going, all the while drawing the selected man out of his shell and getting him to share personal details about himself. And it is in these moments that the audience has the chance to truly fall in love with the guy. When he lets his guard down and finally opens up to "Mimi" he is in fact, opening up to himself and the entire audience, and it is a beautiful thing. It is also a true testimonial to Ms. Northan's comedic ability and sense of personal interaction, as not many people would be able to keep a frightened man on stage for a "date" for ninety minutes and have it turn out positively in the end.

Blind Date was truly the most fun I have had at the theatre in a very long time, and to an extent, it restored my faith in the opposite sex. The vulnerability that these men exhibit and the truth and honesty that comes out when they do finally let "Mimi" in goes to show that there really is something to love about everyone out there. Each person is unique and has something to offer, something to teach, and something to love.

It is my humble opinion that this show is going to be one to watch, and I sincerely hope that we soon see Mimi lighting up the Great White Way with her unique blend of humour, wit and bravery. If that is the case, I urge New Yorkers to consider making a date with Blind Date. Ms. Northan could end up being Canada's Carrie Bradshaw.

Additional Information:

Follow Mimi's adventures via her facebook page. She updates the page each night after the performances: facebook.com/blind.date.mimi

For more information on Harbourfront's WorldStage programming, visit their website: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage0910/

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