The Woodcutter

Show – The Woodcutter

Playwright/s – Don Hannah

Production Company/Theatre space – Portal Theatre Collective at the Motel Theatre in the Arts Commons

Length – 1 hour 55 minutes (no intermission)

Genre/s – Tragedy

Premise – A man, abandoned and abused as a child, spares his children intergenerational trauma and pain.

Why this play? Why now? – The content of the play is more important than the writing and execution. Like every action with a bad outcome, I’m sure it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Curiosities – How did this happen? I wondered if the U of C teaches MFA students in directing how to schedule. I also wondered if a director says in the pre-show chat that he is to blame for the lack of rehearsal and the actor not being off book, why still open the show? Why not call it a staged reading instead? How does this happen in a show that has three Equity artists? How can you ask us for money to contribute to your theatre when I’m not sure you should be charging admission.

Notable Moment – The ending.

Notable writing – The playwright forgoes the concept of “show” business and gives us “tell” business. The backstory is convoluted with unnecessary details that establish the character’s horrendous childhood with clumsy metaphors of Hansel and Gretel. We skip over some parts that would seem to be important, “I did bad things and went to prison but then…” The climax is unexpected and abrupt. It is unclear if the character is talking out loud or if this is a manifestation of a stream of consciousness. I understand why the ending is the way it is, but this makes the protagonist not only a monster but a coward. The title of the play doesn’t make sense.

Notable performances – Telly James is not without talent. He has range and elicits a certain empathy. What he is doing is living the actor’s nightmare i.e., a show not being ready, not knowing where you are, what you’re supposed to be doing, calling “line” 10 times, and reading your script for the last third of the show.

Notable design/Production – Minimal. Graham Frampton is the Production Designer providing designs for sound, costume, and lights. These three elements at least supported the narrative.

Notable direction – I have seen shows that would benefit from two more hours of tech and occasionally shows that needed two more days rehearsal, but never one that needed two more weeks. John Knight serves up theatre like a sushi chef plating live fish and uncooked rice.

One reason to see this show – It will give you nightmares.