Soulpepper – Sharon Pollock’s Doc

Reviewed by Paula Citron

Soulpepper is giving the 1984 Canadian classic Doc by Sharon Pollock a fine production. Director Diana Leblanc really gets to the heart and soul of Pollock’s characters.

The plot concerns a dysfunctional family. The doc of the title is a man who deeply cared for his patients – but at the expense of his wife and children. It is a memory play, but Pollock’s clever twist is to have two actors play daughter Catherine at different ages.

Astrid Janson’s marvellous surreal set is made up of walls of clear plastic, with the several doors in the shape of human bodies which Leblanc uses to good effect.

RH Thomson as Doc, Jane Spidell as his wife Bob, and Derek Boyes as his friend Oscar all hit the right note. Amazing young actress Hannah Gross is the young Katie. Carmen Grant as the older Catherine is a bit mannered but does pull out the stops when needed.

Doc continues at the Young Centre until Sept. 18.

Doc
Soulpepper
Written by Sharon Pollock
Directed by Diana Leblanc
Performed by RH Thomson, Jane Spidell, Carmen Grant, Derek Boyes and Hannah Gross
Young Centre, Aug. 19 to Sept. 18, 2010