Review: Coma Unplugged

Glenda Braganza and Éloi ArchamBaudoin

Into The Head of Another

A bizarre journey reveals truth about real life and imagination

by Estelle Rosen

What would we see if we were Daniel Martin (Éloi ArchamBaudoin)  living a life inside a coma?  At times he encounters people from his life, other times people who are figments of his imagination. Daniel is at a crisis point, questioning his values. 

Director Zach Fraser sees breaking the boundaries of reality as an opportunity to present a story both comic and potentially tragic.

Like most of us in a similar situation, he examines his life. We meet his mother (Susan Glover), his ex-wife (Glenda Braganza), a childhood friend (Donovan Reiter), and an African warrior (Chimemwe Miller) - all characters in Daniel’s coma. Disembodied voices create the sense of a play not based on reality. Director Zach Fraser sees breaking the boundaries of reality as an opportunity to present a story both comic and potentially tragic. Loosely connected sketches heighten the sense of unreality. 

The opening song lyrics - ‘tell me who I am –  what has this world come to’ - set the mood identifying a central point in Daniel’s struggles. Ranting about recent divorce, we get the impression he hates his ex, hates marriage. Yet in the last scene, their argument whether she’s in his coma or he’s in her dream clearly indicates they love each other. 

A reflective play with more depth than we would initially expect - humourous  with an underlying edge - touches on meaningful issues without hitting you over the head with a message. 

Kudos to Éloi ArchamBaudoin for eloquently embodying the role of Daniel Martin. 

To Oct. 29

Conservatoire d’art dramatique et de musique

See also the Upstage Interview with Chimemwe Miller