Mark II
Reviewed by Jen Dawson
The vibe of Mark II is Shakespeare recital meets Sunday school.
Tom Bates’ retelling of the second half of the Gospel of Mark—which includes the Big Moment when Jesus is crucified—was inspired by Sir David Suchet (better known as Hercule Poirot), who did a start-to-finish recitation of the text at St. Paul’s Cathedral in 2017.
Mark II offers all those “Riiiight, that’s where that expression comes from” cultural moments, modernizes the language while preserving the gravitas, and adds two effectively-used chairs and a subtle light show.
Tom is an experienced actor with a confident, charismatic stage presence and relaxed rapport with the audience. He delivers the Gospel of Mark straight. There is no satire, no reimagining, no acknowledgment, no apology.
Christians and the Christian-curious will likely enjoy his skillful dramatization of this foundational and influential story. But those who feel ambivalent or downright angry about Christianity’s role in silencing the very voices that often take centre stage at Fringe may feel some discomfort.
If you’re in the second camp but you welcome opportunities to reflect on the lessons discomfort can teach us, you may still enjoy Mark II—ironically perhaps the most niche production in this year’s Fringe lineup.
Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)
Warnings: Violence
Venue: The Gasworks
Genre: Storytelling/Solo Show
Director/Performer
Tom Bates
Poster designs
Julie Gassira and Jenny Ann Jose
Photos
Stoo Metz and Matthew Matheson
