Going to see a play that’s set in the south and is about a romantic love story should be an ideal date night. And Summer and Smoke has a beautiful set, interesting costumes, and big southern personalities, but that’s about it.
I sat down to watch this adaptation of Tennessee William’s Summer And Smoke at the University of Victoria’s Phoenix Theatre anticipating a sweet and lovely play. The plot was captivating enough, but it made me wonder what would this production would look like if the cast were entirely switched with actors whose southern accents don’t make you cringe.
The story centres around the relationship of John Buchanan Jr. (best known as Johnny by the screeching females in the play) and Alma Winemiller. Their relationship is full of lust and tension, but in the end it never flourishes into love. A refreshing thing about this production is the fact that in the end the guy didn’t get the girl, which is a nice modern twist.
Unfortunately, I honestly couldn’t understand half of the dialogue in the play. The accents were so corny and unprofessional it made it hard to comprehend what people were saying; I could have sworn the male lead switched to an Irish accent when he raised his voice. It was nails on the chalkboard with these accents; they left me wincing and annoyed.
I seriously contemplated leaving this production at the intermission, because I was bored to tears. The pace was slow and not a lot jumped out to grab my attention. It was too soft and subdued, almost like a bedtime story putting me to sleep. I understand that this style of production appeals to a certain audience, but it wasn’t for me. Summer and Smoke was a swing and a miss, and I would not recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to fall asleep in their chair and wish they had stayed home.
Summer and Smoke
Until March 19
Phoenix Theatre, UVic
finearts.uvic.ca/theatre