Naomi Kaplan, Judah Parris and Cassandra Henry from “Painting By Numbers”, Photo by Rupert Lazarus
Presented by Fresh Palette Theatre Company
Painting By Numbers is Judah Parris’ playwriting debut, a fact that utterly bewilders me. It is an exceptionally intelligent and nuanced piece that conveys its bountiful insights through a deceptive lightness of tone. It is so rambunctious; bursting with colourful, endearing characters; and is an absolute joy to behold.
The story skewers the pretensions of the art industry and questions conventional assumptions about what constitutes valuable art. Shining a salutary spotlight on struggling artists, it wraps its heartfelt message in a masterfully executed and affectionate comedy of errors.
The immeasurably adorable Parris himself plays Stevie Fitzgerald, a young thief desperate to fill his late father’s pilfering shoes. When he gets his hands on a mythic “lost Van Gogh,” his sister Leila (Cassandra Henry) tries to disrupt his plans to sell it to a famous art dealer—with the brilliantly obnoxious name Wilfred Manchester III (Micheal J Hill). Leila herself, sporting an affected hoity-toity accent to match his, is having an affair with Manchester. Delightfully absurd complications include: Wilfred’s tensions with his wife Margorie (Naomi Kaplan); an aspiring artist’s desperate side-hustle as a forger, Vanessa Dubois (also Kaplan); and an ambitious reporter’s (Morgan Roy as Nelly Stars) covering of the scandal.
Efficiently paced, hilarious hijinks ensue in director Keren Edelist’s fluid and exuberant staging. Performances, across the board, are playful, richly observed and enchanting. Shout out to movement coordinator Maya Granic for establishing the production’s signature stylistic flourishes, communicating compelling vibes and character quirks in transitional sequences and throughout. Alex Vautour’s distinctive and telling costumes also pop.
Some clever meta-theatrical gags are worked so naturally into the shenanigans they never disrupt immersion. And it never stops delivering snappy, crackerjack zingers (“You’re working for the Mafia now?”, “It happens!”) Kaplan’s final galvanizing speech as Vanessa, recognizing vulnerable and devalued artists, is a genuine triumph.
Painting By Numbers
@ Toronto Fringe Festival
running July 3 to 14, 2024
Tarragon Theatre Extraspace (30 Bridgman Ave)
running time: 60 minutes
