Review: Eight Words That Ruined My Relationship (Podcast)

Stuffing it...

C'est La Vie lets the actors take over

by Gaëtan L. Charlebois

On its second outing into Podcasting theatre—Patrick Gauthier's Eight Words That Ended by Relationship—director Sarah Mahoney presents a 12-minute gem that captures a moment in a couple's life—the last moment; the one where she comes to get her stuff at his place.

This time around it's all about the acting and the two leads, CharPo contributor Joel Fishbane as the guy and Megan Stewart as the girl, have a great time with the rhythms and repetitions and even the subtext; they capture the humour, contained rage and even the incipient sadness of these devastating points in couplehood.

It's a good thing this is the case, because Conor Wiese-Hansen's sound engineering here isn't as clean as last time. There's a continual hiss and one wishes an ambiance was created on the soundboard. Also, sound effects and intro and outro music would be highly recommended. Mahoney has wisely dispensed with the reading of stage directions this time around which makes the playlet a pleasant act of joint imagination on the part of artists and listeners.

Let me say it again: this is such a terrific idea and I am so delighted to be listening to the shows, every two weeks, but, more importantly, I am truly enjoying the exposure to works I would not have known about any other way. Bravo to all!

Listen to the play here
or download it from iTunes.