Frederick Gravel and Etienne Lepage present Thus Spoke… This performance piece combines dance, spoken word, comedy and rock n’ roll at the Canada Hub on South Clerk Street.
Thus Spoke… doesn’t exactly begin, it eases into existence. The performers greet the audience as they enter the theatre and tell us that the show has not started yet. The house lights are gradually turned down in an unassuming manner, whilst one of the performers grasps the microphone and starts to gently fall to the floor. Before we know it the show has started and the hard rock blues of Jimi Hendrix sounds out over the P.A. The four performers dance around the a stage in an expressive manner and Thus Spoke… is clearly in full effect. There is one microphone to the centre of the stage. Each of the four performers (Frederic Lavallee, Marilyn Perreault, David Strasbourg and Anne Theriault) get a chance to take to this microphone to deliver their thoughts and philosophies. We hear off a hatred for Donald Trump, the joys of being an asshole and what the act of back-spacing is (it is essentially walking backwards). These sections are well delivered and the talented cast are evidently great performers and can spurt out diatribes and monologues with ease. It is the dance sections that work best though. Here the music of Jimi Hendrix is the star of the show and experiencing this music at a high volume is joyful and expressive in its own right. But it does not matter how good a dancer or performer you are, you will always be in the shadow of the genius that is Jimi Hendrix.
Thus Spoke… is a fine performance with lots to say. Visually it is appealing with a lot going on during the performance. At times it is difficult to keep track of where the four performers are, as they continually meander around the stage and wait for their turn on the microphone. This creates a feeling of spontaneity where anything can happen. However, the show is slightly let down by the length. It comes in at over an hour and the final ten minutes felt like a drag and as if Thus Spoke… had already given all it needed to.