Blind Date
At the Cultch until Oct. 7
Tickets: 604-251-1363, thecultch.com
Unbelievable. Its absolutely unbelievable what Canadian writer/performer Rebecca Northan gets a guy to reveal on stage at the Cultch. Blind Date is so funny, so risky, sweet, kind and clever, youll want to go back another night to see how it goes with a different date.
Northan, as Mimi, waits alone at a little restaurant table, waiting for her date. Shes been waiting for two hours. Hes not coming. Ah, maybe theres some guy out there in the audience whod like to be her date tonight?
On opening night Marka little bit shyagreed to be Mimis date, leaving his wife seated in the audience. Before all the men head for the hills hollering, No bloody way will I risk Blind Date, here are the rules: once he agreed to be Mimis date, Mark was allowed unlimited time outs if the going got uncomfortable. Mimi and Mark could cross the stage to a safe spot called Reality and talk it over before proceeding any further. Marks wife was also allowed a time out if things progressed outside her comfort zone. As well, Mark knew when he and his wife bought tickets that Blind Date required a volunteer date; he wasnt blindsided. What he didnt knowuntil after the curtain went upwas that Mimi would choose him.
On opening night the action proceeded from the restaurant and Mimis car, to her apartment where a couple of hosers (played by Bruce Horak and Jamie Northan) turned up to interruptbut only brieflywhat looked like an increasingly hot date.
Northan, sporting a red clown nose, is gorgeous. Her French accent is charming and she has the most endearing gesture, usually seen in little girls: shoulders uplifted into a shrug, chin jutted out, wide eyes and the most disarming, mischievous smile. Melts you into a little puddle. Northan had just bought a foxy little red dress with the label, Stop Staring. And you will stare. For 90 minutes.
But shes so much more than beautiful: shes really smart. I have never seen a volunteer so generously and sensitively treated. Sure, we laughed but never at Marks expense. Northan explores, through Mark, our dating rituals, our awkwardness, mores and gender expectations. She really listened to Mark; shes not looking for an opportunity to be funny or entertaining, shes really listening and responding to the guy on stage with her at that moment. And shes very, very good at it.
And fearless. Wait til you see where she stashes her wine glass when the cop pulls Mimi over for driving erratically. Mark, initially a fairly proper sort of fellow, got into it and, would you believe, stripped down to his shorts. When he asked Mimi, So, do you wanna make out? Northan stopped dead in her tracks, faced the audience and told us no one has ever come right out and asked her that on stage.
Northan wraps it all up with the most thoughtful summary of real Marks real strengths: kind, sensitive, decent, great smile, fabulous teeth, great body but most of all brave. With every other guy in the audience initially thinking, Thank God its not me on stage, Mimi/Northan admired Mark most for his risk-taking. After all the laughter, its so wonderfully gracious how she wraps it up.
Im the luckiest woman in the world, says Mimi. Northan makes her own luck night after night at the Cultch. Once the word gets out, youll be lucky to get a ticket.
And guys, fear not. You could get luckythis gorgeous, intelligent, sexy, funny woman might choose you to share an hour and a half with her onstage. Who could resist?
