Review: 'Driving Miss Daisy'

Director Aaron Sidenberg has worked with his performers to create a tender, moving portrait of a special friendship.  The pacing in the second half begins to falter a bit and some of the pauses between the scenes last too long, impeding the cinematic flow of the script, but the performances could hardly be bettered.

In the title role, Malorie Mandolidis is full of bristle, and almost antagonistically feisty in the early scenes. The role could quickly become monotonous but the script gives her considerable range, and Mandolidis smoothly navigates every turn. A small but tender scene when she gives Hoke a small writing book promising to teach him how to read and write brings to mind a stern grade one teacher who demands nothing but perfection from her charges.

In addition to her line delivery, she also must age from 72 to 97 over the course of the play and the actress gradually slows and stiffens her walk. It also commendable that she and Michael Kinney as the chauffeur, Hoke, play off each other giving the audience the feeling that they are observing some private conversations between the two.

Kinney offers a compelling mixture of steely determination and guile.  His seemingly endless patience – fuelled by the knowledge that she cannot fire him – lends a quiet dignity to his performance. His growing respect and affection for Miss Daisy is beautifully understated.

Kevin Malcolm makes a number of brief appearances playing Miss Daisy's son, Boolie. His concern for his mother's welfare is paramount, and Malcolm communicates much with a look of hurt in the final scene when his aging mother prefers to talk with Hoke.     

This is a special show, and one you will remember long after the performance ends.

Encore Entertainment's production of Driving Miss Daisy continues at the Toronto Centre for the arts Tuesday through Saturday at 8 PM. For tickets call the box office: (416) 733-0558.