The road to the MECCAs - 2005
For years now, us Montreal theatre critics have gathered annually to yell at one another about which of the dozens of English-language productions in Montreal over the last season caught our collective attention.
It's a lively and argumentative process as we each defend our choices to an either indifferent or frankly hostile (and always snarky) bunch of fellow writers. But, it is an honest debate and votes are counted with a straightforward show of hands.
This year, the MECCA crew comprised Matt Radz, Amy Barratt, Jodi Essery, Janis Kirshner, Stan Asher, Estelle Rosen, and me.
It was another excellent season for Montreal theatre, which accounts for the two ties in our awards (where in some years categories have gone unfilled) and the remarkably long list of nominees.
And lastly, although she didn't get a MECCA this year, I'd like to give a special mention to writer/director/dancing queen Holly Gauthier-Frankel for her work directing, writing, and starring in the 2005 Fringe hit Miss Sugarpuss & Her Burley-Q Review.
Best Actor
Joe Cobden (The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios)- Nominated: Kevin Kruchkywich, Rylan Wilkie (Bash: Latterday Plays); Albert Millaire (The Tempest); Adam Kelly (The Anorak); Doug Campbell (Long Day's Journey into Night); Gareth Potter (The Rape of Lucrece)
Best Actress
Martha Henry (Rose)- Nominated: Alison Darcy (Bash: Latterday Plays); Carolyn Hetherington (Half Life); Rosemary Dunsmore (The Glass Menagerie); Gabrielle Soskin (A Room of One’s Own); Jeanne Bowser (Here & There); Leni Parker and Felicia Shulman (Bye Bye Baby)
Best Director
Gabrielle Soskin (subUrbia)- Nominated: Madd Harold (The Tempest); Kevin Kruchkywich (Bash: Latterday Plays); Diana Leblanc (Rose); Kate Bligh (Dream Play)
Best New Text [Tie]
Bye Bye Baby (Elise Glasco)This Table (Anthony Kokx)
- Nominated: The Envelope Plays (Writer/Director - Gavin Drummond); Here & There (Harry Standjofski)
Best Ensemble
Bash: Latterday Plays (Muttertung Theatre)- Nominated: This Table, Oedipus Rex; Tales from Ovid; Lies My Father Told Me; Speakeasy; subUrbia; Bye Bye Baby
Best Production (Professional)
The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios (by Yann Martel, directed by Bruce Smith; Infinitheatre)- Nominated: Half Life; Long Day's Journey into Night; Rose; The Tempest; Bye Bye Baby
Best Production (Independent) [Tie]
Bash: Latterday Plays (by Neil Labute; Alison Darcy, Kevin Kruchkywich, and Rylan Wilkie - directors; Muttertung Theatre)subUrbia (by Eric Bogosian, directed by Gabrielle Soskin; Persephone Productions)
- Nominated: Miss Sugarpuss & Her Burley-Q Revue; The Envelope Plays; Oedipus Rex; Misoriented; The Birthday Party; Into the Woods; Three Blonde Moms
Best Visiting Production
Half Life (by John Mighton, directed by Daniel Brooks; FTA/Necessary Angel)- Nominated: Moving in Reverse; Drinking in America; Cinema Cielo; Isabella's Room; Bigger Than Jesus; God Doesn't Pay Rent
Best Look
Tales from Ovid (set design by Catherine LeBoeuf; NTS/Centaur)- Nominated: The Envelope Plays; Rape of Lucrece; Lies My Father Told Me; The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios; The Raven; The Tempest
Revelation award
Graham Cuthbertson (actor)
Distinction award
Elsa Bolam, for her work with Geordie Theatre and in developing young talent throughout the years.
Special Jury Award
Brahm and the Angel (adapted and directed by Barbara Poggemille; featuring Robin Wilcock, Lindsay Owen Pierre, Harry Standjofski, Alison Darcy and Glenda Braganza; Geordie Productions)This open category exists to acknowledge work which doesn't fit anywhere else. We don't (yet) have a separate category for children's theatre and this production, cast, and director deserved special recognition.
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