Tuesday, July 08, 2014

gruesome playground injuries | responses

"Despite its rather morbid title, Gruesome Playground Injuries is a surprisingly tender story of love and friendship with moments of sheer brilliance." 
- Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents

"Newcomers Pippa Johnstone (Kayleen) and Kenton Klassen (Doug) are both talents to watch. Klassen finds a whole lot of charm in Doug’s goofy hyperactivity... Klassen impresses. And Johnstone is so thoroughly grounded and subtly responsive that I kept imagining what it would be like to watch her on film." 
- Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight



"Johnstone and Klassen yielded stellar performances...It may be difficult to shift through the eight disjointed scenes in the play, however director Chelsea Haberlin achieves this effortlessly by using the actors’ onstage costume changes to predicate the transitions. Garments designed by Christopher David Gauthier dangle on racks at opposite sides of Carolyn Rapanos’ bandage draped, alley-style stage.
- Cora Li, Vancouverscape

"Kenton Klassen finds joy and humour in his portrayal of accident-prone Doug. Pippa Johnstone brings a grounded solemnness to her role of Kayleen, a woman who finds herself going to extremes in her life in order to feel something." 
- Megan Gray, Vancity Buzz



"Both actors are quite remarkable, Mr. Klassen is bighearted with the goofy grin eager to show his wounds and saying things like 'I think kissing is going to be really nice'. He also really captures the different ages they have to play, each time we meet Doug, his life experiences have changed him. As Kayleen Ms. Johnstone is more quiet in her approach. Her character is much darker with more secrets, and watching the debate about what to say and what not to say in her eyes is mesmerizing. Ms. Haberlin's direction is tender and playful." 
- David C. Jones, Out TV



"Just saw this tonight. Compelling show! See it if you are able." 
-Jim May, Audience Member

"Good on ya Gang! I really enjoyed the show last night. All the best with this crazy little love story!!"
-Robert Salvador, Actor

Gruesome Playground Injuries runs Wed - Sat until July 12th. $15 Tickets available here

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