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Balls!

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BY Christopher Hoile   July 04, 2008 09:07

Editorial Rating:
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Rob Salerno’s script follows the effect on two lifelong friends, Paul (Salerno) and Bastian (Adam Goldhamer), when Paul is diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 19. Salerno the playwright mitigates the disease-of-the-week movie feel with heavy, healthy doses of blue humour. When Bastian, too, gets the same rare cancer (1 per cent of all cancers), the story becomes improbable. Often Salerno’s urge to educate us about the cancer and the Kübler-Ross grief cycle trumps a more detailed examination of how the friends react to the changes in themselves and each other. The production’s real strength lies in the natural, ultimately affecting performances of both actors.

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User Comments



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ginnée Jul 12, 2008 1:44P
I wanted it to affect me more. I don't know why exactly it didn't. The storyline hit the right notes in any cancer story. Maybe the humour was too forced? I liked both actors though I'm wondering if they switched roles whether that would have worked better. It's based on a real experience of one of the actors losing a friend to the disease. Nvertheless, it deserves to be seen. Go see it. House was half full on Thursday and it would be great for them to end on a sell out.
Sefopar Jul 7, 2008 11:01P
Well worth seeing, this show has Balls!
It's a tough subject to talk about and this show handles it with humour and real sensitivity. The actors are fabulous and the script is good, so get your buns to the theatre and see this show!
rob_salerno Jul 7, 2008 1:36P
BlogTO: "Balls!" one of the best of the Toronto Fringe
BlogTO on Balls!: (excerpted) "The humorous light-hearted manner of their non-stop off-colour banter serves to highlight the magnitude of the calamity they are forced to face. Well-written, well-executed, entertaining and emotional, Balls! earns a spot close to the top in my personal ranking of this year's Fringe productions." Full review: http://www.blogto.com/theatre/2008/07/fringe_2008_day_5
Jim Jul 6, 2008 8:53A
Well worth seeing. Lasting impact.
The topic doesn't exactly stir the "I've got to see this" thought but it can bring you to both laughter and tears and leave a lasting impression that will make you glad you went.
rob_salerno Jul 5, 2008 3:59A
Additional reviews
If you'd like to see what some other reviewers thought of Balls!, check out Midnight Poutine's review here: http://www.midnightpoutine.ca/play/2008/06/montreal_fringe_festival_balls/ Or the Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Sun here: http://www.tenfootpole.ca/thebuzz.html
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