THE SEVEN LIVES OF LOUIS RIEL
Reviews from the 2009 Winnipeg Fringe Festival
Louis Riel is an historical figure that inspires a ton of different
interpretations of his life and character. This production examines
the man and the myth by telling seven separate stories about Riel, each
taking a different view of him.
The idea is as brilliant as the execution is funny.
In one story, he is Riel the martyr, sent down from heaven by God himself
(who is a blue handpuppet, incidentally) to die for our sins and found
a new religious order. In another story, he's Riel the madman, living
in an insane asylum. In still another story, he's Riel the evil bison
riding super villain, cast opposite the "heroic" Doc Schulz.
In the end, Ryan Gladstone brought it all together in a manner that
provoked a surprisingly emotional response from me, considering that
moments before I had been laughing my butt off.
Between each vignette, Gladstone does a Q & A with the audience
to help clarify what was historically accurate and what was fictionalized.
He seems to have done his research, but the way he mispronounces "Batoche"
undermines his credibility a bit. I would love to go to this show again
with a serious Riel scholar to see how right on Gladstone is with his
facts.
This show is a must see. Go line up right now, because it will sell
out!
Reviewed by: Wab Kinew - CBC - 5 stars
The life story of Louis Riel isn’t exactly a comedy gold mine,
especially in these parts. But fringe veteran Ryan Gladstone strikes
an unlikely motherlode in this one-man show.
Having mined history for recent productions, the Vancouver-based Gladstone
explains that in this case, his research failed to turn up a definitive
portrait of the Manitoban legend. In fact, Riel was such a tough nut
to crack, Gladstone claims he finished writing the script just three
days before opening night, which found him calling on a friend for the
occasional prompt.
The Seven Lives of Louis Riel
And he still killed, spinning a story from seven different perspectives
inspired by seven books that paint Riel variously as a hero, outlaw,
murderer, mad man, traitor and prophet.
Playing a multitude of characters, including a bison and a dangerous
dame named Dominica — Dominica Canada — Gladstone goes a
step further and adapts the tale to seven different movie genres, from
western to horror and noir.
In one segment, Riel is a fey comic supervillain in the vein of Batman’s
Joker, riding a pet buffalo and dining on "a meal of fresh puppy."
In another, he’s an action hero who hooks up with Gabriel Dumont
— a.k.a. Mr. D of the May-team. And just for good measure, we
get a wisecracking God and one particularly sparkling moment of bleeping
profanity.
Irreverent? You bet. But tempered with a massive dose of salty humour,
Gladstone’s play is, ultimately, a tribute. And a terrifically
funny one at that.
— Pat St. Germain - Winnipeg Free Press - 4 stars.
NAPOLEON'S SECRET DIARY
Reviews from the Winnipeg Fringe Festival
Monster Theatre's one-man show, Napoleon's Secret Diary, is everything
a history lesson usually isn't. Oozing with a sexy French accent, writer
and performer Ryan Gladstone delivers an interactive and entertaining
show as he takes us through a humorous and quirky recall of the life,
love and battles of famed leader Napoleon. Known for creative, exciting
and comedic productions -- Jesus Christ: The Lost Years, Confessions
of a Class Clown -- Monster Theatre once again delivers a comedic performance
that will be a Fringe favourite. Laugh-out-loud drama, complete with
a streamlined set design, simple props and Gladstone's interpretation
of Napoleon makes for an original and entertaining history lesson.
Sun Rating: 4 out of 5
Tineke Buiskool-Leeuwma - Winnipeg Sun
So why did Napoleon keep his hand tucked in his jacket like that?
Apparently, to hide his secret diary - the one where he reveals he was
just a timid guy who wanted to be left alone, but blundered into military
genius. Okay, so maybe this show isn’It completely historically
accurate, but Napoleon's Secret Diary is one of the most sure-fire hours
of fun you'll find at the Fringe. Following Napoleon from childhood
to his final days, we see Napoleon go from the pursuit of “life,
liberty, and long, skinny loaves of bread” to “life, liberty,
and world domination.” Writer/performer Ryan Gladstone plays the
little general with vulnerability, total charm, and dead-on comic chops
(his Napoleon comes off as the love child of Inspector Clouseau and
Andy Kaufman's Latka from Taxi). He's silly enough for the kids to enjoy,
skilled enough for the grown-ups to appreciate. And yes, though it's
played (to great effect) for laughs, if you're not careful, you actually
will learn history and stuff. From start to a surprisingly touching
ending, this hour flies by. Go, and pass this secret on to your friends
- they’'ll thank you for it.
CBC Rating: Five Bars Reviewed by: Joff Schmidt
Napoleon’s Secret Diary
EYE WEEKLY's Review
The stage design consists of red, white and blue drapes symbolizing
the French flag, yet the five-foot-nothing of a conqueror — performed
by the energetic Ryan Gladstone in a 19th-century militaristic Napoleon
costume, complete with black knee-high boots — works wonders in
this minimalist setting. Gladstone’s delivery in this extremely
funny period-pop piece infuses imagination, laughter and a strong vision
into an entertaining giant performance. Napoleon’s Secret Diary
is high energy, full of panache, puns, some dirty French humour and
everything in between that makes this once-hated dictator into a lovable
goon. Chris Jai Centeno
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