Fifth season: Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and Ned in Elizabeth Rex.
Previous Stratford credits include Hamlet (Hamlet), Cabaret (Emcee), and Long Day's Journey into Night (Eugene). Other theatre credits include Leo Frank in Parade (Lincoln Center - Drama Desk Award); Donnie in High Life (Crows Theatre - Dora Award); Richard in Richard III and Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac (Citadel Theatre); Molina in Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Toronto/London/New York - Tony Award); Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest and Tartuffe in Tartuffe (Canadian Stage); Ariel in The Tempest (Mark Taper Forum); and Louis Dubedat in The Doctor's Dilemma (Grand Theatre). Film and television credits include The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Tale of Teeka, Lilies, Whiskers, The Edge - A Lover's Lament, The Wars, The Song Spinner, Leonardo - A Dream of Flight and Deeply.
My random thoughts(in roughly chronological order):
Pirates of Penzance
Although I didn't get to see Brent perform live in this (it was at Stratford about 10 years ago), I have seen the production that was broadcast on TVO. Brent is in fine form here - overacting for all he's worth, but somehow he makes it work. Because I saw this broadcast *after* being familiar with the meek Leo Frank, I had a hard time picturing Brent as the Pirate King, but he absolutely pulled it off. And his hair is just too much fun. :-) This broadcast also includes the funniest stage blooper I've ever seen.
Kiss of the Spiderwoman
I've never seen this show, and only have the cast recording to go by. It remains one of my favourites, however, due mostly to Brent as Molina and another obsession of mine, Anthony Crivello as Valentin. Brent is heartbreaking as Molina, and his solos never fail to send shivers up and down my spine. Especially "She's a Woman", which makes me cry about 95% of the times I listen to it. :-)
Parade
Parade was a rarity for me - I went into the show not knowing anything about it. I didn't know the score, the plot, not even the characters' names. All I knew was that Brent Carver was in it and I was very excited about seeing him live for the first time. I walked out of the theatre in absolute awe. You can read my more thorough review of the show here, but let me just say that Brent was absolutely robbed of the Tony that year. He was so thoroughly Leo Frank that you forgot you were watching an actor.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Brent played Ichabod Crane in this tv movie, and I have to admit that as soon as I heard about it I knew he would be perfect. And he was. The movie itself wasn't *that* wonderful, but Brent made it all worthwhile. He makes every gesture and every facial expression so important and so meaningful - he truly gives you the feeling of watching a genius at work, even when the material isn't worthy of him.
Fiddler on the Roof
If you had asked me for a list of roles I'd like to see Brent Carver perform, Tevye would *never* have made the list. Not that I wouldn't have thought him capable, but I just never pictured him in that role. But when I heard he was going to be doing it at Stratford, I knew I had to see it. And he was breathtaking. Tevye is so associated with Topol, but Brent created a totally new and unique character, and completely made Tevye his own. He played him with more pathos and less humour - even the funny lines early in the show had underlying sadness and by the end of the performance my heart was literally aching for this man who was just trying to do what he believed to be right and to scratch out an existence for himself and his loved ones. Fiddler has always been a favourite of mine, but now it has a special place in my heart. And Brent really showed his versatility - once again I forgot I was watching an actor, and I definitely forgot I was watching the *same* actor who had played all those other roles. I still feel honoured to have been able to experience that performance.