Salad Dressing

Salad Dressing **
Very simply, Salad Dressing came across as needing more rehearsals and a re-evaluation of the script. The pacing was awful and much of the dialogue seemed improvised – I don’t know whether that was due to performers not knowing their lines, or the fact that they were paraphrasing lines and improvising others. Set changes were sloppy and transitions were awkward. The script itself needs re-working. Amy’s intention – as revealed by Brendan’s monologue in the beginning – is a great springboard for a play about high school. Of course the play becomes quirky and often vulgar – which is fine, but then it needs balance. The touching speech by Brendan in the end offered some redemption but the script would have been served better with more of those self-reflective moments sprinkled gingerly throughout the story. Jenny’s direction was hit and miss. She often balanced the stage well enough, but the finer blocking details were left unattended. Often it looked like the leads were simply creating their blocking on the spot. However, in the role of costume designer, Jenny did an excellent job outfitting her cast with provocative and humourous apparel. Yasmin’s set was imaginative and often decorative – I loved the lockers.