"A Beautiful View"

"A Beautiful View" written by Daniel MacIvor and directed by Ross Manson

"A Beautiful View," a funny and insightful play written by Daniel MacIvor, premiered Tuesday night at BeMe Theatre. M (Becky Johnson) and L (Amy Rutherford) first meet at a camping store, Outdoor Outfitters. M is in a band and L is a bartender, or at least that is the story they tell each other. Later on, while they are looking back at their past, they confess to having been liars. This is one of many instances that make it easy for the viewer to relate to M and L.

Not only do M and L share a love of camping, but also a fear of bears. L likes camping because it is practical; however, she does not like feelings. "Feelings are like bears; they follow their own rules," she says. M is less practical and partially because she is shy and awkward, she still questions her connection with L. This is evident when, after staying the night with L, she leaves in the morning without saying goodbye. M and L continue moving in and out of each other's lives, creating a journey filled with lies, regret, hope and love.

Told in flashbacks over a period of 20 years, watching "A Beautiful View" was like having a nostalgic conversation with an old friend. There was an even stronger connection when the actors addressed the audience directly. The set had very few props, but the actors, lighting and sound brought the story to life. When the crickets were chirping and the stage was dark, I felt myself sitting in the tent with M and L and not in the back row of the theater. The lighting was also wonderfully done, particularly when M and L's shadows illuminated the walls. The simplicity of the set was a perfect setting to the underlying message-simply live.

Becky Johnson and Amy Rutherford deliver a brilliant performance. As women who attempt to make sense of life only draw them deeper into the never-ending questions, M and L are exactly what each have been searching for. "A Beautiful View" is a reminder to just let go, and a beautiful thing can happen when we embrace both experiences and each other.


Running Time: 75 minutes (no intermissions)
When: October 9-27, 2012
Where: BeMe Theatre
Tickets: EUR18 / EUR12 Students / EUR15 Groups