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Let's hear it for the boy >> Sin 4 Productions goes Looking for Romeo
by AMY BARRATT Photo by Kirk Wight
The idea of doing a play for Pride seems to have come to Joseph Khaiata of Sin 4 productions and Divers/Cité simultaneously. "I approached the organizers just to tell them that we were planning on doing a show during Pride," says Khaiata. "They already had this idea to start a cultural festival, so they said why don't we collaborate?" Khaiata's play (he is the writer, director, producer and acts in it), Looking for Romeo, is being performed at the MAI theatre, alongside a visual art exhibit in the gallery that's also associated with Divers/Cité. The story deals with a young gay man named Romeo who is kicked out of the house by his homophobic father and goes missing. So, literally, the other characters in the play are "looking for Romeo." The title also, of course, works on a metaphorical level, with Romeo representing a romantic ideal. Sin 4 Productions has been associated with openly gay theatre since its inception in 1993. Its previous two productions, Deus Meus (1994) and Planeteria (1996), which Khaiata also directed and performed in, were collective creations. Looking for Romeo is the first play that Khaiata has written solo. Khaiata, yet another happenin' Dome graduate, has a soft spot for contemporary, experimental theatre. In addition to his own company, he has appeared with Dummies Theatre (Go Weast) and The Other Theatre, most recently in Human Collision/Atomic Reaction (part of the Festival de Théâtre des Amériques). Another distinguishing characteristic of the company's work is that it's bilingual. According to Khaiata, that wasn't so much a conscious choice as something that "just happened" with the first production. Sin 4 productions have always included as many French-speaking as English-speaking actors and, especially with collective creations, it just made sense to let people use whatever language they were most comfortable in. Audiences in Montreal tend to be very bilingual, Khaiata notes, and even for those who are not, the text is written in such a way that you can still follow the story. Also, Sin 4 shows don't rely entirely on text to convey meaning. "The visual aspects are very important," says Khaiata. "A lot is conveyed through movement." In addition to Khaiata, Looking for Romeo stars Daniel C. Brochu, Antoine Mongrain and Peter D. Thom. Set and costumes are by the always innovative Eo Sharp, and lighting is by David Perreault-Ninacs, both of who also worked on Human Collision/Atomic Reaction. Now if only we could get some lesbian theatre going. Are you listening girls? Start thinking about it now, and be sure to contact Divers/Cité early to be involved in Pride 2000. Meanwhile, I'll be marching Sunday with the lesbian mums. See you there!
Looking for Romeo, through August 15, except Mondays, at the MAI, 8:30pm, $15, $12 students. Info: 989-1360
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Gay pride and theatre: they seem like such a natural combination. The Pride parade itself, with its bright colours, pounding music and general exuberance, has always been great street theatre. But 1999 is the first year that Divers/Cité, the producer of Montreal's Pride celebrations, has included a play--straight gay theatre, if you will--in the festivities.