Review of More Amore by Arts East!
More Amore!
March
21, 2012
The
Company House, Halifax
By
way of songs that are both “sentimental and semi-mental”, the dynamic-duo of
Stuart Hiseler and Karen Myatt leave no side of love unscathed in More Amore, a two-hour, two-set comical
cabaret that covers the chronological gamut of romance.
From
the trying teen-years to the awkward amblings of old age – and from the
profound to the profane - the work succeeds at exploring themes of longing,
belonging and identity in a light and lyrical manner.
Opening
with a mixed medley of modern and mid-century popular chansons, Hiseler and Myatt soon set into a series of sexy, saucy
and sassy duets and solo pieces.
Highlights
of the performance included the clever two-piece Moving Right Along, and the upbeat, quick-witted Cubicle of Love, which showcased the
couple’s sure on-stage chemistry. The brilliant (and gut-busting) We’re Breaking up and Lady Part are worth the price of
admission alone.
The
in-between bantering worked well also, particularly Myatt’s recounting of an
online dating experience with a young man who sends her a photo of himself
posing as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader.
Certainly
strong as an ensemble, each entertainer had their moments to shine separately;
Hiseler’s manic antics during Stalker
were so eerily on-target that I am re-considering my decision to add him as a
friend on Facebook. Myatt’s rousing rendition of I’m Not Pregnant, I’m Just Fat was a moving mélange of burlesque,
blues, gospel and soul, all-dolled-up in a pretty package.
Aside
from the mandatory opening-night jitters, and a few minor wardrobe malfunctions
(the nipple slip!), the festivities were fresh, fluid and funny.
And
though both couple and crowd seemed comfortable with the informal environment,
the performance perhaps appeared out-of-place on Gottingen St.
While
The Company House might be a fine venue for emerging artists of all arrays, a
production of this sort deserves a more fitting fate and would be better served
at the Neptune Theatre or the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.
As
such, Hiseler and Myatt - each vocal protégés of Halifax-based diva/soprano
Janice Jackson - are well on their way to bigger and better things, both in
their individual careers and as a pair extraordinaire. That said, be sure to
see and them now while you still can. ~ artseast.ca
