Review: The Pillowman

Katurian, the central character in The Pillowman describes himself as a storyteller.

The Canadian Stage Company has chosen Martin McDonagh's play about this particular storyteller and his disturbing stories as their first production of the season.

Disturbing is the best way to describe this play. Add to that fascinating, riveting yet at times difficult to watch because of its brutality and you begin to scratch the surface of the effect this powerful piece of theatre can have on you.

It's set in an un-named totalitarian state where the writer is being interrogated by two brutish detectives about a series of murders that seem to be taken right from his shockingly violent stories. We soon learn that Katurian's younger and mentally defective brother is responsible for acting out the stories. 

It is these gruesome pieces of fiction that create the horror of this piece as well as its thought-provoking subtext. Some audience members in London and New York found it too much to take and walked out.

The Pillowman is indeed a thought provoking play, and McDonagh script is full of surprising twists and turns. He also asks the viewer to think about governmental censorship and the responsibility carried by artists. When is a story more than just a story?

The artists presenting this play, under the taught direction of David Ferry, take their responsibilities very seriously.  Oliver Becker and Richard Macmillan play the interrogating detectives with frightening intensity. Paul Fauteaux as the young brother who acts out takes Katurian's stories brings to the role a childlike innocence that makes his actions almost …. almost understandable.

Best of all Shaun Smyth is mesmerizing as Katurian. Onstage for virtually the entire play, he gives a performance of shattering intensity. Katurian insists he is just a storyteller. It's just that his stories happen to be disturbingly gruesome.

The Pillowman continues at the Berkley Street theatre until October 27. Performances are Monday thru Saturday at 8 PM with matinees Wednesday and Saturday. For tickets or moor information visit canstage.com or call (416) 368-3110.

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