In her solo show, In Spite of the Booze, multi-talented local performer Anne Marie Lindell acted, sang, danced, screened a film clip, told jokes, whisked through costume changes and thoroughly entertained in a Word of Mouth production at the Heritage Playhouse last weekend. The very accomplished Lindell, in all her incarnations, held the audience in thrall. The story is based on a grown-up daughter, Karen, and her interaction with her boozing father and mother who are played by cardboard figures on stage. Karen opens the show as a victim, pathetically eager for her father's attention or her mother's handouts for grocery money. In the second half, Karen has moved from victim to villain. She tells good jokes and imbibes the hooch with as much vigour as her now departed father. Her transformation from villain to hero is accomplished in the second act mostly through the power of dance. The choreographed sequence is fluid and magical and is accompanied by a film clip and original song composed by Ben Low. The play, written by Lindell, was a brave self-exposure with obvious autobiographical elements. It was gently directed by Scott Harris. Gently, in that he allowed the author free rein - a problem, in that it results in too much telling, not enough showing. In spite of the talent, In Spite of the Booze needs some work on sharpening up a clear story line for the audience. Who are these people known as mother and father? What of Karen's children who conveniently disappear in the second half? And if the author is making a statement about a daughter's relationship with a father, why is there not some closure on this subject? A few connect-the-dots would allow the audience to concentrate on the power of the performer, not be bothered by questions of clarity.
