A Scottish play on Mideast troubles

J. KELLY NESTRUCK

April 25, 2008

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080425.DAMASCUS25/TPStory/TPEntertainment/Theatre/

There are two other characters enlivening Paul's stay at the hotel: porter Zacharia (Khalid Laith), who implores him to bring a script he has written about his life to Hollywood and, at the top of a spiral staircase, Ukrainian transsexual cocktail pianist Elena (a melodramatic Dolya Gavanski), who acts as narrator and chorus to the action.

Elena's monologues are portentous, making the audience think that the play is headed in more shocking directions than it actually is.