Theatre Passe Muraille – Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow’s BASH’d

reviewed by Paula Citron
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BASH’d
Theatre Passe Muraille
Written and performed by Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow
Directed by Ron Jenkins
At Theatre Passe Muraille until Oct. 31
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BASH’d is a gay rap opera. Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow are from Alberta and were particularly alarmed at the increase in gay bashing during the gay marriage debate in that macho man province. That’s why the notoriously homophobic rap is the medium of their message.

As gay rap artists T-Bag and Feminem, they tell the story about suburban, conservative Dillon who comes out of the closet and meets sophisticated Jack, a big city gay guy, and the adopted son of two dads. They fall in love and get married, but their happily ever after is destroyed when Jack is violently gay-bashed. Only tragedy can follow.

The men tell us at the beginning to tune our ears to rap as to Shakespeare, and in fact, one gets used to the cleverly rhymed couplets set against the pounding beat of Aaron Macri’s music. Director Ron Jenkins keeps things lively, and the choreography is a hoot.

BASH’d continues at Theatre Passe Muraille until Oct. 31.