32 - Wednesday, November 21 , 1990 - North Shore News Plot, not detective, is invisible in play HE ONLY mystery in The Invisible Detective is in the minds of the audience: what the hell is this play about? The underlying idea, (if there is one) seems to be that of a post- modern spoof on the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. But the satire is abandoned after a few references to Baker Street and Holmes’s ar- ch-rival Moriarty. The program boldly states that the playwright, Peter Eliot Weiss, “thas abolished the traditions of linear plot and story line in favor of an interplay between conscious and subconscious.” But Weiss’s abolition of tradi- tional substance is followed by nothing more revolutionary than a bag full of theatrical tricks and gimmicks. A more apt title for the play would have been The Invisible Plot. The play starts off with all the fervor of a vaudeville revue, com- plete with flippant songs and a self-playing piano. But its gusto hever supports an original con- cept; it merely degenerates into a contused mixture of dramatic styles. For instance, the interplay of conscious and subconscious is not introduced until the end of the play, at which time we are in- formed that the two “evil’’ char- acters are actually just the dark side of two other characters. Be- fore Freud, this would have been an original idea. Or again, the play’s self- conscious references to itself — such as ‘‘What were you doing in there, reading the plot? Don’t bother’ — amuse rather than engage. Characters blithely comment about goud prevailing in the world, but it is never clear whether the comments are satir- ical or serious. One potentially interesting device is to have the taciturn Mr. Fingers (a pseudo Dr. Watson played by Ken MacDonald) draw details of the set on black walls as the action progresses. But again, this device remains gratuitous — it only emphasizes the sketchy nature of the plot. The second act, in a more serious mood, attempts to say something about history being contemporaneous and sentimen- talizes about the horrors of war. By this time Morris Panych’s ghoulish antics have become tedious. On the bright side, some songs Ginistmas Sale ON ALL KINDS OF FASHION AND STYLES FROM $38-$85 neck a order 9 ol Gift aes avaii b= CUSTOM SHIRTMAKERS ONLY 1 STORE IN TOWN 2531 Granville St. at Broadway FREE parking at rear 731-9190 The Responsibility is Yours. 1-800-663-1441 were clever, such as the Mindless Song, the song ot the Invisible Detective and the Cherry Song. Ken MacDonald obviously has a knack for writing catchy tunes. Overall, the talent of the actors, ‘as that time before Christmas When all through the sereet Everybody is asking BARBARA i # BLACK theatre review Wendy Noel, David Hay and Panych is wasted on this produc- tion. The Invisible Detective con- tinues at the Firehall Arts Centre to ————— na nd am Where's the best place to meet? You people, all nestled so snug in your beds While visions of seafood dance round in your heads The Boathouse is planning a party for you To welcome the season — with fifty ... or two! Just give us a phone call and we'll do the rest Fine food and great service, we promise the best Come celebiate Christmas the great BOATHCUSE Way ... @eeWe'l bring you glad tidings on your special day! THAT'S RIGHT ALL LUNCH SPECIALS Pasta * Shrimp Fettucine Only * Tortellini Alfredo * Fettucine Alfredo © Rotini & Chicken Croissants © Roast Beef * Vegetarian Delight o BLT « Corned Beef of Rye * Black Forest Ham « Dagwood Hoagy © Turkey 425 East 2nd St., NVan. 99 Grill Specials « Beer Battered Holibu? & Chips * Teriyaki-Chicken Stirfry ¢ Steak sandwich ¢ Shrimp & Chios Buffet FRIDAY ONLY TIL 4 PM. ¢ Roast Baron of Beef Stit Fry Vegetables © Garlic Toast « Cheers’ Sours & Salad Bar 985-9492 | CAPIL 1 LYNN VALLEY CENTRE ~ CHRISTMAS IS COMING! BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE STILL A FEW CHOICE DATES LEFT, SO HURRY! coach houseinn 700 LILLOOET RD. HX CALL EILEEN HEAL AT 985-3111 GREAT COMPACT GIFT IDEAS RIGOL L-20 Ultrer Compact 35mm © Auto Load ° Auto Flash © Auto Wind and Rewind “OF TRIPODS ARE ONS ARE Reg. Price 24.99 to 179.99 Sales Price 19-139” ~.; Develop.a Smile\® 5 _Japan Camera 987-0780 oon 984-0100 Se ANO MALL HHOUR PIIOTOFINISIIING AT ALL 170 LOCATIONS COAST TO COAST CHRISTMAS FAIRS COMING SOON! Tie? VONES OF WONTN AwO wi ET vars OUVEN north : Rec STARTING NOV. 2 IN CLASSIFIEDS To Advertise Cali Linda Goodsell Eich adhd 986-6222, local 214 Bas eae eee ee eee