What: Cougar Annie Tales
Where: St. Andrews School Gymnasium (1002 Pandora Ave.)
When: Aug. 25, 26, 27; Sept. 1, 2
Stars: 4
You can study history books all you want, but nothing quite brings the past to life like a dramatic performance.
In Cougar Annie Tales, Sookes Katrina Kadoski introduces us to one of the provinces most resilient characters by assuming the role herself. Cougar Annie, born Ada Anne Jordan, survived to 96 on an isolated piece of land near Hesquiat Harbour, 50 km north of Tofino. The womans tough as nails outliving four husbands, birthing 11 children and killing more than 70 cougars. But as Kadoski guides the audience along her life path, Jordans loneliness, humour and heart of gold make her a truly endearing character.
This is the kind of show thats made for Fringe and will appeal to a wide audience. Its multidisciplinary and well paced Kadoski tells her story by performing real-life letters between Jordan and others, talking directly to the audience as various characters, as well as song. Her folk ballads intimate some of the more tender emotions of sadness and loss that Jordan herself may not have spoken about directly. And the subject matter is what the musical form is made for she covers everything from dissatisfying husbands, an unforgiving life in the wild and the heartbreak of losing a child. All the while, projections of historical photos, letters and documents fill out the narrative on screen.
Kadoski is a confident performer who has created a well-polished cultural addition to Vancouver Islands heritage.
