Reviews - Fringe 2017

Fringe 2017 Review: Someone Between

By Bryan Boodhoo
Published July 28, 2017

Chantria Tram offers a one-woman, second generation coming-of-age story. In what I assume is a mostly autobiographical piece, Chantria navigates her story and the pressures placed on her by her Khmer (Cambodian) mother. She plays both roles masterfully, in part through change of voice, on stage change of costumes and very subtle but very effective choreography.

The conflicts in the play are a little bit predictable: a daughter struggling against the perhaps unreasonable and unrealistic expectations of her mother. There are some unexpected surprises. And for those unfamiliar with the atrocities in Cambodia, it gives a very personal view to a notorious military conflict.

What drives the show is Tram's connection and commitment to the material. She has been in quite a number of notable film and television pieces in the past. The show is very well polished for a Fringe show.

I thought, as I was watching, that the show could have been at Soulpepper or Taragon in Toronto. In fact, the show's development included a festival staged reading hosted by Soulpepper, to which Tram was invited Ins Choi of Kim's Convenience fame.

This show is a lovely piece that was years in the making. The attention to detail, in all elements, shows.

Someone Between
Someone Between

Bryan Boodhoo is a Hamilton-based playwright, director, short fiction writer and lawyer. His plays have been produced in Edmonton, Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton. He is also part of the Theatre Aquarius Playwright's Unit. His most recent play, "G-Star Live's Notes from IKEA Burlington" is playing at Evergreen Hamilton Community Storefront (294 James St. North) as part of the 2018 Hamilton Fringe Gallery series.

0 Comments

View Comments: Nested | Flat

Post a Comment

You must be logged in to comment.

Events Calendar

There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?

Recent Articles

Article Archives

Blog Archives

Site Tools

Feeds