THE BLUE HORSE

A New Comedy by Peter Anderson
Music by John Millard

REVIEWS

Head to the farm for a night of equine magic
Vancouver Courier

My Kingdom for a Blue Horse
The Morning Star

Many equine myths exist with the winged Pegasus, the water-borne Kelpie and Norse hoofer Gulltoppr. And now taking place in a wooded forest near you, Caravan Farm Theatre regular Peter Anderson has created a new fable straight from the stable with The Blue Horse.

The mastermind behind Caravan’s The Ballad of Weedy Peetstraw and The Coyotes (among five other plays he’s penned for the Armstrong area outdoor theatre), Anderson has written a story that intertwines poetic fairy-tale with comedic farce complete with a jazzy, at times haunting, score courtesy of composer John Millard.

If this sounds “out there”, well that’s the point. This isn’t your run-of-the mill story about man, or in this case, woman’s relationship with a horse. Those expecting a tale along the lines of The Black Stallion, National Velvet and Seabiscuit should throw their equestrian notions away, as this horse is embodied by a spiritual and human entity.

Heading the field is angst-ridden 16-year-old Sooz (a superb Sasa Brown with a laugh any horse would envy), who addresses the audience as a hesitant narrator and stars in the story.

Sooz’s “shrink” has encouraged her to pen her innermost thoughts down in a journal. Between bitching about her nasty ex-boss, land owner Mrs. Husak (the absolutely hilarious scene-stealing Tanja Jacobs), sergeant-like stepfather (Dave Allan, a cross between a leprechaun and oompa band leader) and mother (Camille Gingras, who floats effortlessly around like a butterfly,) Sooz writes about a recurring dream she has of a blue horse.

Enter The Man (encapsulated with whinny by actor Paul Braunstein, who does a great Allen Ginsberg impression reciting a poem at the start of Act Two. Think Bray instead of Howl.)

This mysterious, disheveled stranger is part Starman, part Sid Vicious (I don’t know why, but he reminded me of a cross between Jeff Bridge’s character from the aforementioned sci-fi film and Gary Oldman from Sid and Nancy – must have been the jerky moves and monosyllabic muttering.) As Sooz tries to figure out who The Man is, while escaping from the grasp of her family, an even more mysterious blue horse – to gasps from the audience – appears in the woods.

Comedic relief comes in the form of Mrs. Husak, who hears about the blue horse and wants to add it to her collection of 100 steeds (one for each of her years), and her buffoon assistant Palmer (a limber Mike Rinaldi), who prays for Sooz’ affections.

They enlist the help of the pedalling, piano-playing crying cop (the always spot on Caravan vet David Petersen) to catch the horse. In the meantime, the boozy lot down at The Rumour Mill (a masked mob consisting of Gingras, Jacobs, Rinaldi and Allen) are told by the Man who Sits and Never Says Anything (Petersen) that the blue horse has been sent down to earth by aliens. This, of course, sends them out on a witch, uh, horse hunt.

All this culminates into a love story, that really when you think about it, could be considered a bit beastly. But instead, it is beautifully rendered and done in a way that makes you laugh and gaze at the stars at the same time.

I don’t want to give too much away, but seeing Gem (an actual horse) and Sooz’s gorgeously choreographed sequence in Act Two is worth the admission alone.

Also worth the admission is Millard’s music - played by talented trio Jay Burr on tuba, Tim Ting on muted trombone and marimba master/percussionist Eric Woolston, who never missed a beat despite dropping his sticks a few times. He must have been as enthralled with the play as I was.

The Blue Horse continues at Caravan Farm Theatre nightly (except Mondays and July 31) until Aug. 26. Call the farm’s box office at 1-866-546-8533 to reserve tickets.

Kristin Froneman
The Morning Star

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THE BLUE HORSE A New Comedy by Peter Anderson Music by John Millard REVIEWS Head to the farm for a night of equine magic Vancouver Courier My Kingdom for a Blue Horse The Morning Star Many equine myths exist with the winged Pegasus, the water-borne Kelpie and Norse hoofer Gulltoppr. And now taking place in a wooded forest near you, Caravan Farm Theatre regular Peter Anderson has created a new fable straight from the stable with The Blue Horse. The mastermind behind Caravan’s The Ballad of Weedy Peetstraw and The Coyotes (among five other plays he’s penned for the Armstrong area outdoor theatre), Anderson has written a story that intertwines poetic fairy-tale with comedic farce complete with a jazzy, at times haunting, score courtesy of composer John Millard. If this sounds “out there”, well that’s the point. This isn’t your run-of-the mill story about man, or in this case, woman’s relationship with a horse. Those expecting a tale along the lines of The Black Stallion, National Velvet and Seabiscuit should throw their equestrian notions away, as this horse is embodied by a spiritual and human entity. Heading the field is angst-ridden 16-year-old Sooz (a superb Sasa Brown with a laugh any horse would envy), who addresses the audience as a hesitant narrator and stars in the story. Sooz’s “shrink” has encouraged her to pen her innermost thoughts down in a journal. Between bitching about her nasty ex-boss, land owner Mrs. Husak (the absolutely hilarious scene-stealing Tanja Jacobs), sergeant-like stepfather (Dave Allan, a cross between a leprechaun and oompa band leader) and mother (Camille Gingras, who floats effortlessly around like a butterfly,) Sooz writes about a recurring dream she has of a blue horse. Enter The Man (encapsulated with whinny by actor Paul Braunstein, who does a great Allen Ginsberg impression reciting a poem at the start of Act Two. Think Bray instead of Howl.) This mysterious, disheveled stranger is part Starman, part Sid Vicious (I don’t know why, but he reminded me of a cross between Jeff Bridge’s character from the aforementioned sci-fi film and Gary Oldman from Sid and Nancy – must have been the jerky moves and monosyllabic muttering.) As Sooz tries to figure out who The Man is, while escaping from the grasp of her family, an even more mysterious blue horse – to gasps from the audience – appears in the woods. Comedic relief comes in the form of Mrs. Husak, who hears about the blue horse and wants to add it to her collection of 100 steeds (one for each of her years), and her buffoon assistant Palmer (a limber Mike Rinaldi), who prays for Sooz’ affections. They enlist the help of the pedalling, piano-playing crying cop (the always spot on Caravan vet David Petersen) to catch the horse. In the meantime, the boozy lot down at The Rumour Mill (a masked mob consisting of Gingras, Jacobs, Rinaldi and Allen) are told by the Man who Sits and Never Says Anything (Petersen) that the blue horse has been sent down to earth by aliens. This, of course, sends them out on a witch, uh, horse hunt. All this culminates into a love story, that really when you think about it, could be considered a bit beastly. But instead, it is beautifully rendered and done in a way that makes you laugh and gaze at the stars at the same time. I don’t want to give too much away, but seeing Gem (an actual horse) and Sooz’s gorgeously choreographed sequence in Act Two is worth the admission alone. Also worth the admission is Millard’s music - played by talented trio Jay Burr on tuba, Tim Ting on muted trombone and marimba master/percussionist Eric Woolston, who never missed a beat despite dropping his sticks a few times. He must have been as enthralled with the play as I was. The Blue Horse continues at Caravan Farm Theatre nightly (except Mondays and July 31) until Aug. 26. Call the farm’s box office at 1-866-546-8533 to reserve tickets. Kristin Froneman The Morning Star << BACK