On one of the colder nights this month, an abrupt hit of fall after a summerlike hot streak, the warmth of Pearle Harbour’s white tent is alluring, a quiet hideaway set up inside the mainspace of Theatre Passe Muraille (production den by Joe Pagnan). And, as Pearle, Miller can turn on the soothing croons right after trembling about the evils and stresses that wait outside of the tent — this isn’t her first Chautauqua, and at the performance I was at, her followers were putty in her hand. As enjoyable as Pearle is as our sermon leader, Chautauqua does feel like it could use a clearer guide to take us through the whole experience — a greater sense of purpose so that when things stray from her plan, we notice. It’s not clear what exactly a Chautauqua is, or what Pearle Harbour is preaching in it, but it’s fun to watch her do it. Carly Maga is a Toronto-based theatre critic and a freelance contributor for the Star.

Source: thestar October 16, 2018 16:52 UTC