Barbaric Cultural Practices: The Musical
ONE STAR | What could be a smart satire quickly takes on an ugly tone
Rating: ★
Company: Quondam Dreams, Winnipeg
Genre: Musical
Venue: 12 — Asper Centre for Theatre and Film, University of Winnipeg
There's some irony in the fact a piece decrying intolerance becomes so bogged down in its own vitriol and nastiness.
Deejay Dayton's musical begins with the premise the Conservatives won the 2015 election. And with Stephen Harper on his way to becoming prime minister for life, we follow the machinations of the head of the Office of Barbaric Cultural Practices (Dayton) and his own fairly barbaric family.
What could be a smart satire, though, quickly takes on an ugly tone. The concept of Quebec as a penal colony for "enemies of the state" like Margaret Atwood is funny. Multiple rapes, the sexual enslavement of Muslims, and incest? Less so.
Not recommended for Conservatives — or anyone else.- Joff Schmidt
Of course, it's not all intended to be laughed at. Dayton's message is that intolerance is the true barbarism, and that comes through. But it's made too artlessly to be effective.
Not recommended for Conservatives — or anyone else.
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