Review: A Thousand Words (SummerWorks)

Clinton Walker (photo credit: Shira Leuchter)

Picture Perfect

by Jason Booker

Nothing in this review can capture the essence of A Thousand Words.  Only an image will do.

Taking its title from the cliché, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words – which it debunks the origin of during the captivating opening monologue – this play is efficient and effective.  Staged using a burlap backdrop with projections and some utilitarian wooden chairs, the four actors involved with the show weave such a compelling tale that the audience remains riveted.

Well-paced and thoughtful, A Thousand Words catches us off-guard then challenges what you think you already know. Expediently and cleverly written and directed by Chris Hanratty, the piece tells the story of three Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and what happens when photos surface online that call into question the actions of those soldiers while guarding a checkpoint.  Adding to the dilemma, two of the soldiers are deceased, the images are leaked anonymously onto a blog that criticises the military and a legal inquiry must be undertaken.

Opening with a captivating monologue, Clinton Walker as the Interrogator magnificently anchors this show.  While his character often remains enigmatic, the Interrogator drives the action brilliantly while navigating interviews with the wife of a deceased soldier (Shira Leuchter), the surviving soldier (Byron Abalos) and the blogger who posts the photos (Lindsey Clark).

A Thousand Words – as the title would imply – is a talky play but contains lots of clean and clear writing, fraught with tension, where each of the characters is given a monologue that helps the audience understand each perspective without simply turning the show into a parade of solo turns.  However, the masterful Interrogator controls this piece and betrays his character’s lawyer origins with his direct eloquence.

This fascinating play explores the fine line between truth and illusion, particularly in the digital age when almost any evidence can be manipulated through misdirection or refocusing.  A Thousand Words employs Rebecca Vandevelde’s straightforward but deliberate projections and Ronald Tsang’s live digital art (very smart touch!) to excellent purpose.

A Thousand Words is a hidden gem at SummerWorks and deserves further development – taut and tight and thought-provoking.

A Thousand Words is at SummerWorks