Unbelievably Believable – Review of 2024 Twisted Dog Theatre Production

In the opening scene of Unbelievably Believable, three actors, one male and two females  enter the playing are of the tiny Sandcastle Theatre. They appear sleepy. One is lying on a pillow and trying to get comfortable, the other is reading a book and the third appears with a cup of something trying to do the same. They say nothing and the action is mimed. The man (Gregory Katsenelson) is a magician and he performs a few tricks.

When the three do speak we realize that they are mice or puppeteers and we enter their dream world. The 55-minute show is played in a number of scenes that appear disparate but are connected by the disparate nature of dreams be it by humans or mice or birds. The show has birds like chickens (only four allowed per house in Toronto and NO roosters), a raccoon, a baby-delivering stork and of course the mice.

There is a dragon on a video projection who cleverly jumps out of the screen and ends up in the hands of Katsenelson. There are humorous exchanges with the stork, the raccoon, the chickens and the mice, songs and dances. Sophie St. Jean has a lovely voice and sings in the play in addition to being the choreographer and a provider of songs.

Katsenelson showed dancing and athletic prowess in addition to an expert hand in magic and a fine overall performance. Katie Crompton did fine work in all aspects of the play.

The play is intended for all ages but its length and starting time of 6:00 pm on weekdays  in the evening and 11:00 am and 3:00 pm on weekends suggests an important focus towards children. There were some children in the evening that I saw the play and they reacted enthusiastically to the show but there was not enough broad humour to engage and keep the little tikes roaring.

The play has a  good deal of variety in the vignettes that make it up and with humour, song, dance and magic it is very entertaining

Unbelievably Believable, to the credit of Maleikova, is also a celebration of Toronto. They project a large map of  the Leslieville and Riverdale areas of east Toronto with pride. What’s more, Unbelievably Believable owes a great deal to the Maleikov duo of  Catherine who wrote, produced and directed the play as well as designing the costumes and to Ivan Maleikov who designed the lighting.

It is a highly entertaining production and may I suggest that it deserves a bigger theatre? Have the people at Young People’s Theatre seen it?
Unbelievably Believable  by Catherine Maleikova opened on December 6 and will run until December 15, 2024, at the Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen St. Esat., Toronto. https://twisteddog.ca/

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Gregory Katsenelson, Sophie St. Jean and Katie Crompton.   Photo: Ivan Kaydash

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