Fool For Love

And so we welcome a brand new theatre company making its brave debut here in Vancouver! How lucky are we to have a talented new theatre group to look forward to producing some quality theatre in the city, adding to the thriving arts scene? Clockwork Theatre is currently bestowing on us its inaugural show over at the Havana Cafe, a mounting of Fool For Love by renowned Pulitzer-prize winning American playwright Sam Shepard.

It's an intimate show in an intimate space. Focusing around a young couple, May and Eddie, who meet up in a squalid motel and try to work out their relationship. May tries to make Eddie jealous but at the same time doesn't want him to leave, while he attempts at trying to appease her and only getting frustrated and angry by her confusing motives. I didn't see the twist that came midway through the play, which definitely had me intrigued. And who exactly is the old man sitting in the corner? You can only find out if you come see Fool For Love!

Joel Butler plays the egotistical cowboy who goes from nurturing to scary on the flip of a dime. Kaitlin Williams is the emotionally torn May, while Patrick Dodd cameos as Martin, who reminded me of a gentle giant of a man, a la Lennie from Of Mice and Men. Steve James plays the old man in the rocking chair, whose purpose isn't quite clear until well into the show, but is guaranteed to be worth the wait.

Get ready for some high melodrama mixed in with a dose of shock value and top notes of a psychological thriller! For their first outing, Clockwork Theatre has shown they are going to be a force to be reckoned with! Let's hope they continue to bring noteworthy and sometimes controversial plays and productions to Vancouver audiences.

Fool For Love is on now at the Havana Cafe on Commercial Drive until May 16. Check out their website for more info.