Comprehensive coverage of Ottawa’s Fringe Festival
The concept underlying the script of Mercutio and Ophelia is that these 2 characters, drawn from two quite different Shakespeare plays, have run away from their destinies and met in a tavern in Rome. He hits on her, she rebuffs him, they parry words for awhile, and gradually fall in love with each other. Clever. Clever, too, is the interweaving of Shakespearean dialogue and lines straight from the young folks in the 21st century pub upstairs from this venue.
In Waves is rhythmic, with Allingham’s storytelling (and often his body) rising and falling like the very sea it is set upon. Set to a soft, haunting soundtrack by Lewis Caunter, evocative of Siren mythology, Allingham proves he can engage the audience with his voice, eye contact, and movement. A simple backdrop makes for dramatic light-and-shadow play. Though the backdrop gradually fell apart throughout the duration of the play, it seems fitting, considering the turbulent, emotional dive of the protagonist.
