National Arts Centre/DV8 Physical Theatre – To Be Straight with You

reviewed by Paula Citron
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To Be Straight with You
DV8 Physical Theatre
Conceived and choreographed by Lloyd Newson
National Arts Centre, Ottawa
At the Fleck Dance Theatre, Toronto, Dec. 2 to 5
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Choreographer Lloyd Newson is the revered artistic director of Britain’s hard hitting DV8 Physical Theatre. His show To Be Straight with You takes a tough, uncompromising look at ethnic and religious intolerance against gays and lesbians.

The text, much of which is performed to some kind of physicality, is taken straight from interviews. Newson’s shows are always on the cutting edge of technology, and the interaction between live action and animation is truly a marvel.

The strong eight-member multicultural cast strikes a chord whether depicting the victims or their tormentors. The stories are infuriating or harrowing by turn. The use of music is superb and the technology is dazzling.

This show should be playing to high school students where it can impact attitudes. The prolonged applause that greeted To Be Straight with You in Ottawa was one of affirmation, not one of change.

DV8 Physical Theatre appears in Toronto at the Fleck Dance Theatre, Dec. 2 to 5, as part of Harbourfront World Stage.