MOTHER COURAGE - REVIEWS

“Running into the arms of Mother Courage”
The Morning Star, July 2008

When the war was over, Mother Courage was the last one standing. When the play was over, the entire audience was standing.

On the opening night Thursday of its summer production, Mother Courage and Her Children, the crowd gathered at 4886 Salmon River Road witnessed what Caravan Farm Theatre has been working on the last 30 years: greatness.

In April, as teamsters and musicians met to work out the logistics of this Clydesdale-carried play — an anti-war story told brilliantly by Bertolt Brecht and translated by Eric Bentley — director Estelle Shook said without Mother Courage, there is no Mother Courage. She was right.

Nicole Robert, who performed at Caravan as another Brecht heroine 20 years ago, embodied the woman trying to help her children survive and then profit from the Thirty Years War with exactitude.

It was in the hands on her hips, the way her fingers spread when she sang, and in the way she glared.

From the first glimpse of her blue eyes, cold and cutting as she protects her sons and daughter, Robert was more maternal than any bear.
Though her character carried her family, you can’t say Robert carried the play, set in Sweden in the 1600s, for although her performance was formidable, so was that of the company she keeps. The cast was outstanding.

Helping their mother pull the wagon on which she sells her wares is Eilif, the son who becomes a soldier, played by Ryan Wilkie; and the “honest” (slow) son, Swiss Cheese, played by Kyle Jesperson and portrayed so well with wincing eyes and hands gripping at his ears.
With not a single line, Samantha Madely, in the role of mute daughter Kattrin, gave a breathtaking performance. When the soldiers ransacked the wagon and took her brother, we could feel how her throat must have vibrated as she screamed, lips sealed.

In another light and with every hip shimmy and red-cheeked smirk, Karin Randoja, as soldier-chasing Yvette, was stunning.

Not to be out-shined, though, by Martin Julien, as sergeant and chaplain, Paul Braunstein as recruiting officer and cook, or the handful of other actors who, if not talented enough in two roles, took on three.
Almost everyone switched hats at least once, including David Rhymer, composer of a new score for Caravan’s Mother Courage and playing The Old Colonel.

On the wagon where his band was perched, Rhymer played piano and when the song didn’t call for the instrument, stood and stomped his foot by it, a boot abducted by the music.

His music sounded strings of desperation, there was an urgency in every chord and, playing to the characters’ plight, agony hung in the air with the work of Ajineen Sagal (violin), Cameron Shook (bass), John Millard (banjo), and a handful taking turns on drums.

Together, their violin-led arrangements offered the soul of something East Coast and the heart of folk music — the songs of the play, and somehow, the songs of the woods.

In an effort to help the audience think objectively about the play, written in 1938, Brecht uses narration and placards to set scenes and “alienate” as well as provide audiences with a multi-sensory experience, which couldn’t be carried out better than at Caravan.
And, in the company’s tradition, set, technical and costume design (down to soiled skirts, stilt roofs and feathered poultry) were exceptional.

A drum pounds, a shot gun fires, and Mother Courage stands alone.
The North Okanagan is damn lucky to have these sounds echoing through Armstrong this summer.

Mother Courage and Her Children is on stage at 7:30 p.m. now until Aug 24. except Mondays and Aug. 5 at Caravan Farm Theatre, located 11 kilometres northwest of Armstrong.

Tickets are $27 for adults, $20 for students and seniors and $15 for children 12 and under.

For reservations and more information, call the box office at 1-866-546-8533.



MOTHER COURAGE - REVIEWS “Running into the arms of Mother Courage” The Morning Star, July 2008 When the war was over, Mother Courage was the last one standing. When the play was over, the entire audience was standing. On the opening night Thursday of its summer production, Mother Courage and Her Children, the crowd gathered at 4886 Salmon River Road witnessed what Caravan Farm Theatre has been working on the last 30 years: greatness. In April, as teamsters and musicians met to work out the logistics of this Clydesdale-carried play — an anti-war story told brilliantly by Bertolt Brecht and translated by Eric Bentley — director Estelle Shook said without Mother Courage, there is no Mother Courage. She was right. Nicole Robert, who performed at Caravan as another Brecht heroine 20 years ago, embodied the woman trying to help her children survive and then profit from the Thirty Years War with exactitude. It was in the hands on her hips, the way her fingers spread when she sang, and in the way she glared. From the first glimpse of her blue eyes, cold and cutting as she protects her sons and daughter, Robert was more maternal than any bear. Though her character carried her family, you can’t say Robert carried the play, set in Sweden in the 1600s, for although her performance was formidable, so was that of the company she keeps. The cast was outstanding. Helping their mother pull the wagon on which she sells her wares is Eilif, the son who becomes a soldier, played by Ryan Wilkie; and the “honest” (slow) son, Swiss Cheese, played by Kyle Jesperson and portrayed so well with wincing eyes and hands gripping at his ears. With not a single line, Samantha Madely, in the role of mute daughter Kattrin, gave a breathtaking performance. When the soldiers ransacked the wagon and took her brother, we could feel how her throat must have vibrated as she screamed, lips sealed. In another light and with every hip shimmy and red-cheeked smirk, Karin Randoja, as soldier-chasing Yvette, was stunning. Not to be out-shined, though, by Martin Julien, as sergeant and chaplain, Paul Braunstein as recruiting officer and cook, or the handful of other actors who, if not talented enough in two roles, took on three. Almost everyone switched hats at least once, including David Rhymer, composer of a new score for Caravan’s Mother Courage and playing The Old Colonel. On the wagon where his band was perched, Rhymer played piano and when the song didn’t call for the instrument, stood and stomped his foot by it, a boot abducted by the music. His music sounded strings of desperation, there was an urgency in every chord and, playing to the characters’ plight, agony hung in the air with the work of Ajineen Sagal (violin), Cameron Shook (bass), John Millard (banjo), and a handful taking turns on drums. Together, their violin-led arrangements offered the soul of something East Coast and the heart of folk music — the songs of the play, and somehow, the songs of the woods. In an effort to help the audience think objectively about the play, written in 1938, Brecht uses narration and placards to set scenes and “alienate” as well as provide audiences with a multi-sensory experience, which couldn’t be carried out better than at Caravan. And, in the company’s tradition, set, technical and costume design (down to soiled skirts, stilt roofs and feathered poultry) were exceptional. A drum pounds, a shot gun fires, and Mother Courage stands alone. The North Okanagan is damn lucky to have these sounds echoing through Armstrong this summer. Mother Courage and Her Children is on stage at 7:30 p.m. now until Aug 24. except Mondays and Aug. 5 at Caravan Farm Theatre, located 11 kilometres northwest of Armstrong. Tickets are $27 for adults, $20 for students and seniors and $15 for children 12 and under. For reservations and more information, call the box office at 1-866-546-8533.