Trust no one in Tryst

Set in uptight Victorian England, George targets his vulnerable victims, sells stories intent on seducing them, quickly marries them and then relieves them of all their possessions before disappearing into the night. It’s a ruse that he’s been running for years; one that he justifies by claiming that he gives his victims -at the very least- one great night of satisfying sex. He seems rather proud of himself and claims to never be cruel, as he reveals this to us with obvious glee.

At first, everything seems to be going according to plan, as inexperienced and mousy Adelaide is instantly infatuated with smooth-talking George. The audience watches in suspense, fully knowing she doesn’t stand a chance. And then, just as you think you’ve got the plot figured out, things start to take unexpected twists and turns and you start to wonder whether you know these two people at all.

In the hands of less capable actors, this clever two-hander, written by UK playwright Karoline Leach, would perhaps not have been as riveting, but thanks to the masterful Michelle Giroux as Adelaide Pinchin and C. David Johnson as George Love, you hang on their every word.

Giroux manages to capture that elusive combination of hope and hopelessness, timidity and bravura, strength and utter weakness that the role of Adelaide requires, while Johnson (well known for his role in Street Legal) succeeds in making a callous, conniving, double-crossing cad into someone who’s even likeable for a while.

While this psychological drama leaves the audience guessing for most of its duration and, at its core, deals with dark issues of betrayal and unrequited dreams, it nonetheless manages to elicit numerous laughs throughout the performance. For something so dark, it’s incredibly light on its feet!

Director Diane Leblanc, who has directed a number of previous productions at the Segal, does an excellent job of pairing these compelling actors and bringing out their strengths. The minimalist set, designed by Astrid Janson and Sherri Catt, makes great use of a silver curtain that forms a cube and manages to convey a world that we can vividly see – thanks in part to our imagination and in part to the lighting and the acting that make it all come alive for us.

Without giving too much away, this play does not necessarily go where I thought it would go and the ending (while understandable when one takes time to ponder how it all plays out) did not please me, but I can honestly say that I can’t remember the last time I sat so completely mesmerized in my seat for the better part of two hours and did not flinch for a second. Tryst had me hanging from its every word. George Love’s con job seems to have worked on me, as well. Tryst, by Karoline Leach, continues at the Segal Centre, 5170 Côte Ste. Catherine Rd, until March 29. For tickets, you can call 514-739-7944 or 514-790-1245.