Press
Exact Resemblance
Audience Reactions to Oleanna
Sara J. Holt - Academia.edu
Oleanna: Review
"The rich and modern revival of David Mamet’s Oleanna, by Exact Resemblance is a production that doesn’t flinch from the play’s most volatile questions: power, perception, and who gets to control the narrative. Under tight and physically precise direction of Cristiana Ripeanu, the show challenged Vancouverites to sit in the discomfort of cancel culture and examining individuals’ relationship with privilege and power. Performed at the intimate black box, Nest Theatre in Vancouver this production showcased truthful extended naturalism from Actor Paul du Toit along with scalpel-sharp timing from Actress Jill Goranson, this production of Oleanna reminds us why Mamet’s 1992 two-hander still provokes discomfort—and debate..." Read more.
Vancouver Co-Op Radio - Arts Rational
"Oleanna was prompted by the actors, and by the fact that I think we should really start talking about this again. It shows me that women's voices have sort of fallen by the wayside, especially since now we have other trendier topics to focus on -- politics and so on and so forth. But it doesn't feel to me that the conversation about women's rights about sexual harassment has actually reached a conclusion. It doesn't feel like we've actually reached parity. I think it's a very important conversation to reignite, to bring it back."
Rompost TV
Cristiana Ripeanu, Jill Goranson, and Paul du Toit about "Oleanna" special guests on Rompost TV.
Jo Ledingham Theatre Reviews
Constellations: Review
"The actors had the audience hooked: Machin with his emotive outbursts and Pattanayak with his comical physicality. The props were a creative assortment of DIY furniture and bare necessities. The lighting arrangements were ingenious; especially a moody light bulb that intensified the plot’s many dark turns...The best shows at Fringe are those that leave you to ponder on existential questions much after leaving the venue. “The Emigrants” did that for me." Read more.
The Early Edition on CBC Radio Canada
Interview with Gillian Clare & Jacob Machin
Gloria Macarenko, guest host of CBC Radio's The Early Edition, welcomes Jacob Machin and Gillian Clare, the stars of Nick Payne's Constellations. In the interview they talk about the play, falling in love, and what the multiverse means for them. Listen here.
The North Shore News
Mira Kerr-Lazenby Interviews Gillian Clare
“We’re creating this chemistry, this relationship, without the sort of textual details that you would get in a lot of other places. It’s an emotional challenge.”
As for the audience, Clare said she hopes viewers depart Studio 16 moved by the storyline and with thoughts to ponder on the way home.
“What this play is really about is making choices and deciding who you want to spend your life with, and I really hope that speaks to them in some way," she said. Read more here.
The Vancouver Arts Review
The Emigrants: Review
"The actors had the audience hooked: Machin with his emotive outbursts and Pattanayak with his comical physicality. The props were a creative assortment of DIY furniture and bare necessities. The lighting arrangements were ingenious; especially a moody light bulb that intensified the plot’s many dark turns...The best shows at Fringe are those that leave you to ponder on existential questions much after leaving the venue. “The Emigrants” did that for me." Read more.
Little Mountain Lion Productions
The Emigrants: Review
"...totally unprepared for the level of depth in storytelling and performance in The Emigrants. I was wowed. I literally said “wow” to myself after the lights came back up in the house. The people behind me may have noticed and laughed except that they had immediately erupted into their own discussion about how affected they were...I highly recommend keeping an eye on Exact Resemblance Theatre in case there’s a future opportunity to see this play." Read more.
Panorama on CBC Radio Canada
Interview with Gillian Clare
"Ce que j'adore dans ce texte [The Emigrants] est qu'il n'offre pas de solutions, il pose des questions. Et c'est en posant ces questions-ci qu'on peut commencer la conversation hors la salle. C'est notre but: offrir un spectacle qui vous fait réfléchir. On ne prêche rien. On suggère quelque chose..." Écoutez ici.
CSJF 90.1FM
Karoline Sawin's interview with Gillian Clare
"Given the merit of the text and the talent of the artistic team, I said 'yes': I wanted to co-produce [The Emigrants] because it's really something that I wanted to see." Listen here.
