Leonard Cohen is coming to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»on Nov. 12, but for 10 more days you can experience the Firehall Arts Centre homage, Chelsea Hotel. Conceived and directed by Tracey Power, it may be featuring the music of the legendary Canadian songwriter and heartbreaker, but it is returning by popular demand due to a cast whose musical talents stack higher than the glorious mountains of crumpled paper that make up the ephemera-inspired set.
Until Nov. 3, Cohens inspirational music and poetry come alive within Chelsea Hotel as the Writer (Adrian Glynn McMorran) battles his demons, discards and dames. In a hotel room that embodies every writers nightmare, he tries to compose his next song while being haunted by regret and memories.
For the few weaknesses (Act 1 feels a bit repetitive and the Writer character never feels fully realized), Steve Charles musical arrangement delivers round after round of surprise alongside moments of real magic and memorable characters. Cohens lyrics leap out at you in new ways and with new meaning during the ethereal sequences.
In Act 1, Lauren Bowler as a Sister of Mercy delivers a scandalous kewpie-doll rendition of Im Your Man that will make you think twice about kazoos, and McMorrans showstopping performance of Tonight Will Be Fine will leave you wondering if youve ever even heard the song before.
In Act 2, the lovelorn/Lothario characters deepen noticeably and the story focuses on the complexity of the relationship between the Writer and the Woman (Marlene Ginader).
Chelsea Hotel takes a beloved catalogue of classics and delivers what you least expect: surprise. Tickets are $27, available at or 604-689.0926.
