theatre ‘WOW, Wednesday, January 9, 1991 - North Shore News - 27 Hosanna not fully developed OMETIMES THE way to judge a play is by its lingering effect. Although my first impression of the Vancouver layhouse’s Hosanna was that it was entertaining, my lasting impression was that it entertained at the expense of its more sober dramatic content. Moifat’s character study of an aging drag queen, however, was remarkable. Aside from his less than hourglass figure and slipping bra straps (wrong size, John!) he portrayed an increasingly convinc- ing transvestite tortured by gender confusion. The success of the play lies more with Moffat’s exhaustive characterization than with the director's conveying the univer- sality of Hosanna’s struggle for self-acceptance. The theme of personal transfor- mation as a result of an identity crisis wasn’t fully developed in this Playhouse production. One unfor- tunate element was the intrusive mood music; it distracted, distanc- ing the audience from the action and imbuing scenes with a false importance. Between the music and the lack of attention to sheer dramatic detail, t felt denied full access to Hosanna’s tortured soul, con- And save 35% when you buy 4! 90,000 km wearout warranty". Get yours today. #92000 series. Plus 15% off Guardsman LTR with a dependable all-season tread pattern. #87000 series. 25% off RoadHandler’ Tredloc ‘H’ pertormance tire with all-season tread design. #48000 series. 20% off Guardsman performance tire. Ali-season tread pattern. Shop and save now. #42900 series. tDetais in store For saizty do not me eagials with other tre types theatre review demned only to glimpses in be- tween the otherwise chatty, catty recounting of her moment of hu- miliation in which her private fan- tasy of being Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra is brutally exposed to an unsympathetic, sniggering public. In fact, | don’t remember the All Sears oew tres have Road Hazard Warranty' Free Installation’ play being as funny as this version by director Peter Hinton. Admit- tedly, some lines are 4 scream. But, while Hinton says the play concerns the struggle against sex- ual marginalization he appears to have killed his own messenger. The audience often laughs at Hosanna’s expense. The first hint that this play is not steeped in naturalism is the set — an ingenious scaffold reaching into the rafters, filled with the kind of tluffy fantasy gowns that would costume a Hollywood princess. Although large in scale the set conveyed a kind of claustrophobia, a refuge infested by illusion. The stench of perfume invaded the audience’s nostrils. But the “stench” of life’s illu- sions exposed was not strong enough. Moifat showed convincingly Hosanna’s struggle to love another person without being divested of her/his own identity. But Victor Ertmanis’ Cuirette remained one dimensional. What was his imagi- nary persona and did it crumble? Cuirette’s nude posturing alter- nately as male and genital-less male while Hosanna slogged through the perils of human sex- uality provided a startling counterpoint. And at times the ac- tors’ voices echoed as if they were in a vault or a memory warp. But the non-naturalist touches, while at times interesting, detracted from the human element. Still, it is worth seeing Moffat’s fine performance, especially in Act Two, and worth getting jarred out of your cozy world by rank sex- uality and the indignities of love. Hosanna continues to Jan. 26 at the Vancouver Playhouse. Phone 872-6622 for ticket information. when you buy two RoadHandler I! al!-season radials Size Old reg. P155/80SR13 P165/80SR13 P175/80SR13 P185/80SR13 P185/75SR14, P195/75SR14 P205/75SR14 P205/75SR15 P215/78SR1S P225/75SR15 P235/75SA1SXL P175/70SR13 P185/70SR13 P185/70SR14 P195/70SR14 P205/70SR14 P225/70SA14 P225/70SR15 New reg.* 92.19 ea. 97.99 ea. 102.67 ea. 107.34 ea. 111.19 ea. 115.02 ea. 118.83 ea. 121.75 ea. 127.52 ea, 134.20 ea. 143.69 ea. 104.83 ea. 107.61 ea. 111.43 ea. **Savings on multiples based on single unit prices Reg pnces stated are Sears prices SALE PRICES END SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1991 OR WHERE SEARS IS OPEN, SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 1991 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, WHILE QUANTITIES LAST. SEARS 0 Praen nent eg eS een, your money's worth...and more NORTH VANCOUVER, Capilano Mall, open daily 9:30-5:30, Thurs. and Fri. till 9, Sun. noon to 5 p.m., phone 985-7722 Sears Canada nc Satisfaction guatanteed or money refunded “Reg” and “Was” refer to Sears Canada inc prices There's a Sears store near you... shop today at: Burnaby 433-3211, Richmond 278-5542; Surrey 588-0811; Monday. Tuesday and Saturday 9.30 am to 5.30 9m Wednesday, Thursday and Friday tll 9.00 om Shop Sunday trom 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. Capilano Matl 985-7722. Shop Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 9 30 am. to 530 pm Thursday and Friday till 9.00 pm Shep Sunday from 12 noon to 5.00 pm Pome