Centaur’s Bed and Breakfast has 22 Reasons to Visit
Bed and Breakfast, now playing at the Centaur Theatre, was cleverly written by Toronto playwright/actor Mark Crawford, and covers the gamut of gay existence in a bitingly funny face-paced play. The best part of this production is that playwright Mark Crawford gets to be actor Mark Crawford in this gay-partner duo, along with his real life partner actor/playwright Paul Dunn. What a powerhouse these two are.
The couple are thrust into small town Canada as gay pioneers when Crawford, as Brett, inherits his Aunt Maggie’s house. With their design and hospitality industry skills, they decide to turn it into a B & B. Chameleons Crawford and Dunn re-make themselves brilliantly and surprisingly not confusingly into 22 local characters. Dunn, as Drew, manages to twist himself into characters so well that no explanations are needed as he switches back and forth instantly from one person to another.
Set and costume designer Dana Osborne performed miracles with the most minimal of sets – one platform bed with a magician’s worth of drawers and storage. As for costumes, I don’t think I’ve seen so many combinations of pants, shirts and sweaters taken on and off since my last girlfriends’ shopping spree.
The story flings through everything from homophobia to hate crimes to anonymous phone calls, to coming out, to gay teens and relationship with parents, along with latte orders, choosing bathroom tiles and Santa Claus parades. Loved the line about how impossible it was to organize gay parades in Toronto since gays will never “line up straight”.
Location: 453 St-Francois Xavier
corner: Notre-Dame
Tel: 514-288-3161
Dates: til May 21
Prices $39-51 (deals for students and seniors)
www.centaurtheatre.com
Metro: Place d’Armes