Jonno
TWO STARS | A fictitious dramatization of the Ghomeshi trial, Jonno fails to move the conversation forward
Rating: ★★
Company: ECHO Theatre, Winnipeg
Genre: Play — Comedy
Venue: 6 — Tom Hendry Theatre
Playwright Alix Sobler is angry. Angry about the way society treats women. Angry about the way that women treat each other. And really angry about Jian Ghomeshi. And now I'm angry too, but I'm angry at Alix.
Jonno is a fictitious, at times surrealistic dramatization of the Jian Ghomeshi fiasco/trial. Purportedly an investigation into the mystery of a man who is both a feminist and a violent misogynist, no mystery is ever brought to stage. Jonno starts out as a monster and a monster he remains.
Violence against women is epidemic and discourse is crucial, but where a brick may stun a feather might tease out the truth.- Michelle Palansky
Because the audience is never allowed to be seduced by Jonno's charms, it is impossible to understand how anyone was manipulated by this media darling.
Where I sought nuanced exploration, I found soapboxes. Looking for complicated character development, I found dialectical talking heads.
Violence against women is epidemic and discourse is crucial, but where a brick may stun a feather might tease out the truth.
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