Production: Balls!

Company: Ten Foot Pole Productions

Written & Directed by: Rob Salerno

Cast: Adam Goldhamer & Rob Salerno

Theatre: Playwrights’ Theatre, Granville Island

Showing: Sept 4-6, 10, 13-14

Rating: 14+

Vancouver Fringe Festival 2008

Reviewed by: Colette Gunson (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada)

A nostalgic coming-of-age story about two best friends who are torn apart when one of them dies of testicular cancer. Written with the care, respect and understanding of someone whose life has been affected by the illness, Balls! is full of humour without making light of the issue.

Bastien (Goldhamer) and Paul (Salerno) have grown up together—laughing, joking and goofing around as kids do, until one day when they are in their freshman year at university, Paul gets diagnosed with testicular cancer. As Paul goes through the numerous tests and treatment processes, the boys struggle with the emotional, physical and societal challenges of being diagnosed with the illness at the cusp of adulthood. Salerno and Goldhamer’s characters are likable and endearing and their comic timing is bang on. Balls! is about more than its title suggests—it is a sad comedy about friendship, rivalry, identity and negotiating one’s sense of masculinity in the face of this daunting disease.

Written as a tribute to Salerno’s friend who passed away from testicular cancer in 2004, one can sense the care that went into the writing and performance. I’d like to say that addressing an important issue makes a play worth an hour of your time, but I can’t. Too many well-meaning plays have missed their point due to poor execution and substandard writing; Balls! is definitely an exception. Playing to a full house on Saturday night at Granville Island’s Playwright’s Theatre, Balls! has managed to package an important message in an entertaining and moving performance.