I just recently had the pleasure of taking in a marvelously absurd comedy playing at theatre Calgary. 7 Stories, a one-act play by Morris Panych, is a wonderfully concocted 90 minute production of hilarity and insanity.
On the seventh storey ledge of an apartment building, a man is about to jump. Before he steps off, a parade of zany inhabitants interrupt his train of thought. From the same whimsical playwright behind Vigil and The Overcoat, this wonderfully oddball comedy shows us that the line between sanity and insanity might be right behind the next window. Fast paced and full of energy, a leap of faith never had more surprising results.
This play premiered 20 years ago in Vancouver. Since then it has been seen all over the world. Our new production stars Peter Anderson who returns to us after his unforgettable silent performance in THE OVERCOAT. This time he speaks! A hilarious tale from one of Canada’s most imaginative writers.
Certainly, the production is food for thought. The 7th story wall acts as a barrier, almost, between the insane and the sane where, paradoxically, the sane is The Man about to jump and the 7 neighbors are the insane ones. Because of the absurdity of it, though brilliantly done, the play kind of loses the audiences focus at times. The end, however, is awe inspiring. For $14, I highly recommend it to any and all students interested in art or contemplation of our monochromatic society.
Check out Theatre Calgarys wesbite for the production’s information.