Daniel, a recently divorced humour columnist, ultimately grasps that he is comatose following a traffic accident. Or was it an accident? Will he choose to return? Coma Unplugged is a witty and touching look inside Daniel's mind.
McGill Tribune : "Coma Unplugged makes the most out of its discombobulation. The voyage through Daniel's fracturing mind is one fraught with side-splitting laughter and deep introspection: in other words, a perfect night out."— Chris Liu, 2011‑10‑21.
Text / Texte : Pierre-Michel Tremblay;
Translator / Traduction : Micheline Chevrier;
Director / Mise en scène : Zach Fraser.
Daniel, a recently divorced humour columnist, ultimately grasps that he is comatose following a traffic accident. Or was it an accident? Will he choose to return? Coma Unplugged is a witty and touching look inside Daniel's mind.
Daniel : Éloi ArchamBaudoin;
Marjorie : Glenda Braganza;
Madeleine : Susan Glover;
Ishouad : Chimwemwe Miller;
Roger : Donovan Reiter.
Set / Décor : Lyne Paquette;
Costumes / Costume : Fruzsina Lanyi;
Lighting / Éclairage : David Perreault Ninacs;
Sound / Son : Matthew Waddell.
The Gazette : "Fraser and company have tuned in to Tremblay's wacky wavelength in a way that makes Coma Unplugged hilarious as well as timely, intelligent and provocative. [...] At about one hour and 45 minutes, Coma Unplugged could use some trimming. But make no mistake: Talisman Theatre has a hit on its hands. Get your tickets now."— Pat Donnelly, 2011‑10‑21. More / Plus...
The Concordian : "Talisman Theatre's new production is "hilarious and poignant... ArchamBaudoin deftly handles the embittered Daniel... Braganza summons Marjorie's desperation, rage and frustrated love with ease, burning brilliantly... Glover gives a flawless performance as a doting, talkative mother... Chimwemwe Miller gives a solid performance... The hilarity of Donovan Reiter's character belies a wounded, frustrated divorcee... Perhaps most notable is the elaborate set designed by Lyne Paquette. ...Coma Unplugged is a contemporary jewel." — Pat Case, 2011‑10‑26. More / Plus...
RoverArts : "The acting was flawless. Eloi Archambaudoin was riveting as Daniel. ...Glenda Braganza was spectacular as Marjorie and her performance made the play come alive. ...Susan Glover gets comedy, and ...was manic to within an inch of credibility and understood with great instinct the need for 'set up and delivery'. ...Chimwemwe Miller had the thankless part of Ishouad, the Twarek [sic] warrior, but his physical presence was enormously charming and worth watching. ...Donovan Reiter ... played his macho gazpacho part with great energy. ...The set was terrific ...Furthermore, the lighting and sound were great and the costumes worked very well. ...Talisman should be congratulated for their efforts, especially on the fantastic cast."— Anna Fuerstenberg, 2011‑10‑21. More / Plus...
PLEIN ESPACE : "All in all, Talisman Theatre's production respects the author's vision. Tremblay suggested that the action take place in Daniel's apartment, a setting "not realistic, rather cubist, surreal in vanishing point, post-traumatic, slightly apocalyptic", a suggestion that the design team respects to the letter. The set, an imposing, anarchic structure, allows for surprising and comically unusual entrances. The details of the props and costumes are delightful, worked out with a clear concern to create a universe "coherent with Daniel Martin's unconscious", according to the author's summation."— Marilou Craft, 2011‑10‑21. More / Plus...
McGill Tribune : "It's a terrible thing to watch a mind go to waste. Yet Pierre-Michel Tremblay's Coma Unplugged makes it so infectiously fun... Talisman Theatre's latest production is proof that when you mix a sharply written script with a cast whose energy knows no bounds, magic occurs. [...] Coma Unplugged makes the most out of its discombobulation. The voyage through Daniel's fracturing mind is one fraught with side-splitting laughter and deep introspection: in other words, a perfect night out."— Chris Liu, 2011‑10‑21. More / Plus...
Voir.ca : "Am I a failure?' This is the existential question that Daniel Martin (Éloi ArchamBaudoin) must answer before deciding whether or not to return to Life. ...I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Éloi ArchamBaudoin's superb performance. ...Having seen both versions of Coma Unplugged, I can say that this one took me more to the heart of the drama. I really enjoyed it. It's safe to say that "this show is not a failure"."— Bernard Wheeley, 2011‑10‑21. More / Plus...
The Charlebois Post : "Director Zach Fraser sees breaking the boundaries of reality as an opportunity to present a story both comic and potentially tragic. [...] A reflective play with more depth than we would initially expect - humourous with an underlying edge - touches on meaningful issues without hitting you over the head with a message. [...] Kudos to Éloi ArchamBaudoin for eloquently embodying the role of Daniel Martin."— Estelle Rosen, 2011‑10‑26. More / Plus...
Bloody Underrated : "From the moment I walked into the room, I loved what I saw. Lyne Paquette did a great job with this set... This space was used incredibly well throughout the play... They put on a great show, brought huge amounts of energy to the room, and made this 95 minute play feel like it took place in about 20. ...Tickets are 25$... and they're definitely worth every penny. This is one of my favourite plays of the year, easily, and I hope you all go see it."— Al Lafrance, 2011‑10‑21. More / Plus...
