The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 69

THE GAZETTE montrealgazette.com SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 Ell THEATRE REVIEW The case of the splendid staging CULTU RE ill 'i-' AUNODECLAIR In An Enemy of the People, Dr. Stockmann (Stefan Stern) wants to expose contamination, but There's an enemy of the people in every city around the world Update of Ibsen classic should resonate here as Charbonneau inquiry continues it of the piece, no harm was done. There are murders to be solved, of course, in Sherlock Holmes. A body has been found at the harbour. A prominent member of the House of Lords, an advocate for the illegalization of opium, has gone missing.

His wife, Lady Irene St. John, wittily played to the edge of melodramatic caricature by Gemma James-Smith, asks Holmes to solve the case. London's "Napoleon of Crime," Professor James Moriarity (Kyle Gatehouse, in fine form), is behind it all, of course, with Colonel Sebastian Moran (Graham Cuthbertson, dead on) as his henchman. And Scotland Yard's Inspector George Les-trade (Patrick Costello, just right) struggles, as usual, to solve the case. Actors like Trent Pardy, Chip Chuipka and Matt Gagnon, who alternate between several roles, do some of the most inspiring work, reinventing themselves in entertaining ways.

Mary Harvey is credible as the no-nonsense housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. But Deena Aziz rings out of tune as the conniving Orchid, due to fluctuating accent syndrome. While James Lavoie's costuming is more or less period, his set design is high-tech, making brilliant use of projections on shifting scrims to bring up haunting images of Victorian London. A stage-wide scalloped curtain heightens the illusion of another time.

Luc Prairie's lyrical lighting and Jesse Ash's sound design complete a slick package, orchestrated by one of Canada's best directors. Shaver is tops. This hyperactive production, marked with the urgency of paying homage to a playwright who was found dead on the first day of rehearsal, is an off-Broadway contender. It needs some judicious editing, particularly in the second act where, fight scenes notwithstanding, it loses narrative momentum. But this team can do it.

Sherlock Holmes, by Greg Kramer, based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, continues at the Segal Centre until May 28. Call 514-739-7944 or visit www. segalcentre.org. pdonnell montrealgazette.com Twitter: patstagepage PAT DONNELLY GAZETTE THEATRE CRITIC Sherlock Holmes is back. Not that he has ever gone away since the publication of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Study in Scarlet in 1887.

The consulting detective connected immediately with the public and his books have remained in print ever since, charting the path for modern crime fiction and enticing generations of filmmakers, theatre mangers and television producers to jump on the bandwagon. Some claim Sherlock is the most ubiquitous character in the history of film. But he has been a steady presence on stage, too, in musicals, as well as plays. His latest stage incarnation, in the late Greg Kramer's play Sherlock Holmes starring Jay Baruchel at the Segal Centre, has some of the modern tendency to colloqui-alize the character. But he remains, sans cellphone and riding invisible horse-drawn carriages, in the Victorian era where he belongs.

Baruchel, a noted film actor making his professional stage debut, is not an obvious choice for the role. But his energetic portrayal fits director Andrew Shaver's beautifully staged production of Kramer's irreverent parody based on several Conan Doyle works. And he's surrounded by an outstanding ensemble (many of them from Shaver's Sidemart Theatrical Grocery company). Kramer, who was born and raised in the U.K., knew Sherlock inside out, so even the purist Sherlockians of Montreal's Sherlock Holmes Society (dubbed The Bimetallic Question) are likely to appreciate his writing while decrying some of the hipster flourishes, of course. Baruchel comes on full throttle, sounding passably British, sucking the trademark pipe and using frantic ticks and ingenious stage business to win laughs.

He's firmly backed up by Karl Graboshas, as a sincere, understated Watson. Their rapid-fire exchange in which Watson keeps interrupting Sherlock halfway through the word "elementary" is hilarious. On opening night, Baruchel fumbled a few lines and cracked up while tiptoeing around a crime scene. But he recovered quickly, and given the Saturday Night Live spir since its premiere at the Avignon Festival last summer. In addition to its dark view of municipal governments, An Enemy of the People deals with environmental issues and the role of the media, making it even more timely.

"It's about how to bring the truth into society," Ostermeier said. When the central character, Dr. Stockmann, discovers that the town's new spa owned by him and his brother, the mayor has become contaminated by sewage from the local tannery he wants to bring the problem to light. Others, including the editor of the local paper, fear a negative impact on tourism. Stockmann stands alone.

Ostermeier's production is done in hipster modern dress with live rock music and includes a public meeting open to audience participation. The text contains an excerpt from a European anarchist manifesto, the Invisible Committee's The Coming Insurrection. "We have completely rewritten the play," Ostermeier said. "The plot is still the same, but the dialogue is completely rewritten. It's a tragedy, but it's funny all the time." There's no specific locale.

An Enemy of the People is set "somewhere between Germany and the rest of the world," he said. "It's a contemporary global town." Ostermeier described Berlin as "the most competitive theatre city that you can imagine." It has five large government-subsidized theatres. And there are plenty of critics "who try to make a living out of creating trouble all the time. So it's pretty exciting." The Schaubuhne started as a student initiative 50 years ago, he said. Now, others are hesitant.

operating on a budget in the range of 16 million euros ($21.1 million), it has 220 employees, including an ensemble of actors who work on two-year contracts. "It's a big factory," Ostermeier said. "But if you consider that you have to pay 220 employees per year, then the budget melts down to 1.5 million euros that you can deal with (to create the productions) because the rest goes to salaries. Ostermeier said the Schaubuhne tries to remain true to its rebellious roots and youthful spirit. "Touring is part of that," he said.

"We visit around 30 different cities around the world every year." The FTA run of the Schaubuhne Enemy of the People is officially sold out, but tickets remain available for its stop at the Carrefour International festival in Quebec City on May 27. Visit for more information. Ein Volksfeind (An Enemy of the People), by Henrik Ibsen, adapted by Flor-ian Borchmeyer, directed by Thomas Ostermeier, in German with French and English surtitles, May 22 to 24 at Theatre Jean Duceppe of Place des Arts. The shows are sold out, but additional tickets may be made available on the days of performance ($44.64 to Call 514-842-2112 or visit pda.qc.ca. Festival TransAmeriques runs from May 22 to June 8.

Call 514-844-3822 or visit fta.qc.ca. pdonnell montrealgazette.com Twitter: patstagepage cinematheque.qc.ca. DOLLAR CINEMA (ADMISSION $2.50) 6900 Decarie Blvd. Call 514-739-0536. Saturday: Escape From Planet Earth, noon, 1:30, Skyfall, noon, 8, 11; Rise of the Guardians, noon, Wreck It Ralph, 2:30, 4:20, Jack the Giant Slayer, Identity Thief, Silver Linings Playbook, 5:20, The Call, 6:20, Django Unchained, 7:25, Side Effects, 8, 11:20.

Sunday-Thursday: Escape From Planet Earth, noon, 1:30, Skyfall, noon, Rise of the Guardians, noon, Wreck it Ralph, 2:30, 4:20, Jack the Giant Slayer, Identity Thief, Silver Linings Playbook, 5:20, The Call, 6:20, Django Unchained, Side Effects, 8. IMAX Old Port of Montreal. 514-496-IMAX. Saturday-Thursday: Flight of the Butterflies; L'incroyable voyage des papillons; Rocky Mountain Express; L'Express des Rocheuses; To the Arctic 3-D; Arctique 3-D. For schedule, visit www.

centredessciencesdemontreal.com or call the number above. NATIONAL FILM BOARD 1564 St. Denis St. 514-496-6887. Visit www.onf.cacinerobotheque.

PAT DONNELLY s(L4 THEATRE win younger audiences. In 2011, he received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 41st International Theatre Festival of the Venice Biennale. An Enemy of the People is the sixth Ibsen play Ostermeier has directed. Asked if he intended to explore the entire Ibsen canon, hesaidno. "That would be too much," he said.

"Actually, I don't like him too much as a writer. I don't think he's a very good writer. He's a good mechanical worker. He knows how to build up the mechanics of a well-made play. "But to be honest, I feel much more challenged by Shakespeare or Chekhov.

That's more difficult." Not that he's in awe of them, either. Ostermeier's 2011 Hamlet was described as "black comedy muddy, bloody anguished slapstick." A British journalist quoted him as saying that Hamlet is a complete mess "too long, with too many plots." But he has changed his tune. In our conversation, he said of those comments: "That was before." Now, he insisted, he doesn't criticize Shakespeare. "I wouldn't dare, he said. "He's too much of a genius." Only to add: "But Chekhov can be boring." His concept-driven Enemy of the People has been touring James Cromwell and Genevieve Bujold star as an aging couple in this new movie from Michael McGowan that takes on the real life story of a New Brunswick man who fought City Hall in a bid to build his own house.

While the performances are strong and beautiful, the denouement lacks a sense of transformation, which makes this undeniable one-way street of life feel like a dead end. 103 mins. KM Forum 12:45,3:15,5:45,8:15,10:35 TRANCE (13) Danny Boyle digs into the rich tradition of Hitchcockian suspense and psychological drama in this thriller about an art dealer who finds himself involved in the theft of a priceless Goya painting. The only problem is, he can't remember anything, and is forced to consult a hypnotherapist to recover his missing memory. 101 mins.

KM V6 Forum Saturday, Sunday noon, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10. Monday 1, 3:45, 9:30. Tuesday-Thursday 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10 TYLER PERRY PRESENTS PEEPLES (NOT RATED) Schoolteacher Wade crashes his girlfriend's family reunion to try and impress her tough-as-nails dad. The film is utterly lifeless, both in the sense of lacking vitality and having no real connection to how people think, feel and react to situations. Everything here is a contrived, supposedly comedic situation.

95 mins. WIRE Forum 1:15, 3:40, 6:05, 8:25, 10:45 Spheretech Saturday, Sunday 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15. Late Show Saturday 11:15. Monday-Thursday 7:15, 9:15 In Henrik Ibsen's classic An Enemy of the People, first produced in 1882, one man speaks out against municipal corruption and wins the wrath of those who have elected the crooks. Sound familiar? According to German theatre director Thomas Oster-meier, whose update of the Ibsen classic is at Place des Arts from May 22 to 24 as the opening act of the Festival TransAmeriques, this production gets more invitations than any other play in his company's repertoire.

And no matter where An Enemy of the People goes, everyone thinks it's about their own city In Montreal, where the Charbonneau Commission has been revealing shady dealings at city hall, it should resonate with exceptional intensity Ostermeier used to be called an enfant terrible, more for his edgy productions of the bleak works of U.K. playwrights like Sarah Kane (Blasted), David Har-rower (Knives in Hens) and Enda Walsh (Disco Pigs), whom he preferred to German writers. Now, at the age of 44, he insists that he's a "very conventional" theatre maker. "I'm a grown-up artist now," he said in a recent interview from Amsterdam. "I'm a serious artist." Since 1999, he's been in charge of a major institution, the Schaubuhne Berlin, where he has concentrated on reinventing the classics, successfully using them to Banquo Scotia Wednesday 8.

Thursday 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:25 Brossard Thursday 2:05, 5:10, 8:15 Cavendish Thursday 6:55, 9:45 Colossus Thursday 12:50, 3:55, 7, 10:10 Cote des Neiges Thursday 3:30, 9:30 Klrkland Thursday 1, 4, 7, 10 Lacordalre Thursday 7, 7:15,9:45,9:55 Marche Central Thursday 12:30, 1,3:15, 3:45, 6:30, 7, 9:15, 9:45 Sources Thursday 7, 9:45 Spheretech Thursday 6:30, 7, 9:15, 9:45 Taschereau Thursday 6:30, 7, 9:15, 9:45 STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS 3-D(G) Banque Scotia Wednesday 9. Thursday 1:40,2:30,4:50,5:40,8:10,8:50 Banque Scotia (Imax) Thursday 1, 4, 8 Brossard Thursday 1:40, 4:45, 8 Cavendish Thursday 6:45, 9:35 Colossus Wednesday 9. Thursday 1:40, 4:50, 8 Cote des Neiges Thursday 1, 7 Deux Montagnes Thursday 6:40, 9:25 Kirkland Wednesday 9. Thursday 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 Lacordalre Thursday 6:45, 9:30 LaSalle Thursday 6:55, 9:45 Marche Central Thursday 1:15, 3:55, 7:15,9:55 Marche Central (Imax) Thursday 12:45, 3:30, 6:45, 9:30 Sources Thursday 6:45, 9:30 Spheretech Thursday 6:45, 7:15, 9:30, 9:55 StarCite Thursday 1:20, 4:30, 7:40, 10:45 Taschereau Thursday 7:15, 9:55 Taschereau (Imax) Wednesday 8, 10:45. Thursday 6:45, 9:30 STILL MINE (G) Jay Baruchel is surrounded by atthemovi ANDR6E LANTHIER SEGAL CENTRE an outstanding ensemble.

Spheretech 9:30. Late Show Saturday 11:30 SCARY MOVIE 5 (13) This instalment of the parody films focuses on a couple who discover they and their newborn son are being stalked by a demon. Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen pop up to poke fun at themselves which could turn out to be funny or just plain sad. 85 mins. (Not reviewed for critics) Angrlgnon Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday 1:35, 4:35, 7:35, 9:40.

Monday, Wednesday 7:35, 9:35 Colossus Saturday 1:20, 3:40, 6, 8:15, 10:35. Sunday 3:40, 6, 8:15, 10:35. Monday, Tuesday 1:20,3:40, 6, 8:15, 10:30. Wednesday 1:20, 3:40, 10:30 Cote des Neiges 7:30, 9:30 Marche Central 9:25. Late Show Saturday 11:25 SHOOTOUT AT WADALA (C) Not reviewed In Hindi with English subtitles Forum Saturday, Sunday 12:15, 3:30, 6:45, 10.

Monday-Thursday 2:20, 5:45, 9:15 STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS (G) Angrlgnon Thursday 7:10,9:55 REPERTORY CINEMAS CINEMA DU PARC 3575 Avenue du Pare. 514-281-1900. www.cinemaduparc.com Saturday: The Great Gatsby, 3:30, 6:30, Love, Marilyn, 3:15, Blood Pressure, Like Someone in Love, Hava Nagila, Kati PatangCut Kite, Pakeezah Coeur Pur, 6:30. Sunday: The Great Gatsby, 3:30, 6:30, Love, Marilyn, Blood Pressure, Like Someone in Love, Hava Nagila, Charles Bradley Soul of America, WaqtTime, Aradhana, 6:30. Monday: The Great Gatsby, 6:30, Love, Marilyn, Blood Pressure, Like Someone in Love, Maya BazaarFantasy Bazaar, 6:30.

Tuesday: The Great Gatsby, 6:30, Love, Marilyn, Blood Pressure, L'Affaire Chebaya, Pati Patni Aur Woh The Husband, Wife and Mistress, 7. Wednesday: The Great Gatsby, 6:30, Love, Marilyn, Blood Pressure, Like Someone in Love, Delhi-6, 6:45. Thursday: The Great Gatsby. 6:30, Love, Marilyn, Blood Pressure, Like Someone in Love, Ek Hi RastaOnly One Way, 6:30. CINEMATHEQUE QUEBECOISE 335 de Maisonneuve Blvd.

E. 514-842-9763. Visit www. CONTINUED FROM ElO RENOIR (C) A visually stunning but dramatically stilted look at the last years of life of impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir, focusing on his obsession with young model Andree Heuschling, who has eyes for his son Jean. 102 mins.TD In French with English subtitles Forum 1:15, 4:05, 6:45, 9:35 In French Beaublen Friday-Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday 12:20, 4:50, 7:10, 9:40, Monday 12:20, 4:50, 9:40.

Tuesday 12:20, 7:10, 9:40 Bouchervllle Friday-Sunday, Tuesday 12:40, 3:15, 7, 9:35. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 2:15, 5:10,8:15 longueuil Friday-Sunday 1:10, 3:30, 7:10, 9:30. Late Show Friday, Saturday 11:50. Monday-Thursday 7:10, 9:30 PontVlau Friday-Sunday 1:10, 3:30, 7:10, 9:30. Late Show Friday, Saturday 11:50.

Monday-Wednesday 7:10, 9:30 Quartter Latin 1:10, 3:45, 6:50, 10:15 SAA WA NOS (G) Not reviewed In Arabic.