Review: E-DENTITY

Are people on the 'net really who they seem or are they playing some elaborate role-playing game? What is reality in cyber world? These questions could form the basis of a fascinating play. Unfortunately, E-Dentity is not that play.  

 There is potential to be explored here, but in E-Dentity playwright (and ensemble member) Michael Spence chooses to try and dazzle the eye with high tech images rather than focus on developing story and characters that audiences can connect with.

 The production, a transfer of Theatre Gargantua's well-received small stage production loses its intimacy in a larger theatre where the text screens can barely be read past the 10^th row.  The multi-media aspects are well co-ordinated but the cast become as anonymous as the personality-challenged members of My Space. With no through-line to sustain interest, the play becomes nothing more than a series of sketches. What might work well as a ten-minute piece on SNL is stretched into a tedious ninety minutes.

 For a play that purports to explore ways in which human interaction has changed since the Internet was introduced, there is surprisingly little for the audience and performers to interface over. Unlike a performance art installation in a museum one cannot observe for a few moments then move on.

 Actually, the addition of an intermission  - which should be needless in a play this short – does allows audience members to flee early. Those who stay enjoy a bonus of three additional laughs.

Something is very wrong when you leave the theatre wishing you had stayed home surfing the 'net.

E-Dentity plays at the Royal Alexandra theatre on King Street until May 21. For tickets or more information visit www.mirvish.com or call Ticketking at (416) 872-1212.

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