Dorval resident plays lead in thriller

BY STEPHANIE BENTO

What started out as a simple homework assignment for a scriptwriting class, turned out to be a full-produced play at the 2004 Stradford’s Festival in Toronto.

The Elephant Song, written by Concordia University student Nicolas Billion, is Infinitheatre’s best example of finding fresh Quebec talent.

Infinitheatre brought the play back to Montreal this season, with Dorval resident Gianpaolo Venuta, 28, playing the lead role.

“I hadn’t (done) theatre in about six years so it was interesting to be part of such a small cast,” Venuta said. “I had never done a play with only three people on stage. We had to carry the whole way through, so the amount of energy required was incredible.”

The Elephant Song is a psychological thriller that takes place in a mental hospital where suddenly a psychiatrist has gone missing. The last person to have seen him was Michael Aleen, played by Venuta, a mischievous and devious patient who is obsessed with everything elephant. The Hospital Director, Dr. Greenberg, played by Howard Rosenstein, interrogates Michael who outsmarts him with convincing mind games and verbal tugs-of-war. A concerned nurse, Miss Peterson, played by Julie Tamiko Manning, tries to warn the doctor of Michael’s conniving ways, but her advice is ignored — leading the play into a dramatic twist that will having you sitting on the edge of your seat.

The Elephant Song is as intelligently written as it is exceptionally performed.

“All the three actors were very powerful but, in particular, I would give (Venuta) incredibly good marks,” said avid theatre lover Philip Shea. “Really, he was outstanding.”

Venuta grew up in the West Island and spent most of his childhood playing soccer, hockey and piano. He graduated from the John Abbott College professional theatre program in 2000. Since then, he worked in television and film for about six years, dividing his time between Montreal and Los Angeles.

“To get better and to practice my muscle, which is me, I needed to come back to theatre,” Venuta said. “In film, it’s rare that you’ll get a director that will challenge you because they’re often very technical-oriented.”

Venuta took that dare with The Elephant Song, a play with a simple set and only three actors to fill the room with emotion and suspense.

Venuta and his co-actors worked under pressure for a mere two weeks to prepare for the one act, one hour-long play. Nonetheless, he said that the chaotic process of training and rehearsing with director Guy Sprung was a growing experience.

“It’s the people that are involved in this process that I love,” Venuta said.

Make sure to look for the young Montrealer on your television screen next year as he travels to Los Angeles next month for the beginning of pilot season.

Until then, The Elephant Song will be presented until Feb. 11 at Bain St-Michel, 5300 St-Dominique, Montreal. For tickets, contact Infinitheatre’s box office at 514.987.1774 or check www.infinitheatre.com.">www.infinitheatre.com.">www.infinitheatre.com.