What They Said

When one does theatre on a shoestring budget, most often in smaller locales and for short runs, one is lucky to get advance publicity. One never gets a review from a professional theatre critic. 

However, frequently one does receive comments (emails, letters, personal contact) from audience members; and this is most appreciated. It is also the most genuine of feedback or praise. Critics often find fault because that is what they think they are supposed to do. I suppose it makes them feel important and knowledgeable.

I have been particularly touched by these more general reviews from two noted author's who have both seen several of my performances in different locations and media:

Paul Rapsey’s notable and dramatic live performance of Alan Bennett’s play, ‘Bed Among the Lentils’ was brilliant, as was his outstanding portrayal of Samuel in ‘Desperately Seeking Samuel’ viewed on YouTube. On stage, Mr. Rapsey weaves his genius into his characters, male or female, who in turn, reach out to the audience with their frustrations fears and pain, compelling us to look within ourselves for these same human emotions and to wonder,  ‘how we would deal with them?’ Their story becomes our story and we are left with an overpowering ‘sense of being’. Vlasta van Kampen, Author, Illustrator, Artist 

Paul Rapsey: Intimate Drama Who knew that Blackwater Lake--a smallish body of water among the hundreds of lakes gouged by glaciers near Georgian Bay--had a resident playwright?  Who knew that a small cottage on a tiny island in the middle of that lake would be transformed by Paul Rapsey into the imaginative realm of theater? The audience, including me, was captivated. As actor and playwright, Paul Rapsey conjures place, character, and the drama of human longing out of thin air—thin air filled with the power of words and brilliant insight. Whether performing in a cottage or on film, Rapsey conveys a compelling emotional story all by himself. These monologues are a challenge and a reward for actor and audience alike. I am delighted to welcome them in print to a wider world. Barbara Loots, a widely published and award-winning American poet

These award-winning works speak for themselves. ... the monologues are absolutely riveting. The way you have portrayed complex relationship dynamics, and conversations about aging and depicted nostalgia through them kept us thoroughly engaged. An audience would really appreciate the emotional threads and nuances you have incorporated into these plays. Josh Anderson, Amazon Books

I  bought your book Five Monologues and am thoroughly enjoying them. There are so many bits that I remember you telling me about from real life. Anyway,I  have just sat down and poured myself a glass of wine and decided to google you to see if any of these were shown in film on YouTube. Needless to say, you are famous! I just watched One's Company, and after just reading it, then watching you acting it, I am gobsmacked. I always knew you were a great storyteller, but to know you are such a great writer, and a marvellous actor to boot, you are blowing my mind. Feel like you kept it a secret from me when we hung around. So tonight is a Paul Rapsey binge night. Up next - Hand of God, Scene 1. So proud of you Paul, and so proud to know you. Deb Monson, a long lost friend

The Little Wooden House - 2024

About the Live Performance

K.Y. I loved the story and the music that set the scene so perfectly. Now I want to go to Cuba!

T.R. Absoutely loved it! Thanks for my first visit to Cuba!

J.H. A wonderful story teller. What a great performance.

A.F. Thoroughly enjoyed it. A great story well done. The music lent a wonderful texture. It was played with such sensitivity.

F.R. Fantastic!

B.W. Two performances one would expect to see on stage in London or New York. Bravo.

S.N. Thank you for sharing your incredible talents. So enjoyed it.

J.S. Even though I know it was well rehearsed, it felt like Paul was telling the story for the first time. It made it so interesting.

N.R. I was enthralled by the story. Nicely done!

C.F. I loved the story. Interesting how life's events can have such profound consequences.

What's in a Name - 2023

1. About the Script

M.H. The play is heartwarming, humorous, and genuine. The ending nostalgic and life-affirming.

2. About the Live Performance

M.H. The acting was natural and transporting.  Hat's off to you Paul!

W.A. Of the three wonderful plays by Paul Rapsey that I have enjoyed, this was the best. WOW 

M.Ha. BRAVO!

C.F. Congratualtions on a STELLAR performance! APPLAUSE!

J.W. The best piece of theatre I've seen in years!

P.K. ...so enjoyed the play ... the various topics covered were done with grace and dignity, often too lacking in today’s world.

S.N. It was brilliant! We are so lucky to have such talent here amongst us and he is willing to share his gift . Thank you Paul.You brightened up a rather chilly grey day with your funny, poignant ,clever  play. Who would have thought a bus trip to Halifax could be so interesting!!!!

S.R. ... a very thought provoking tale. Well done!!

J.Ky. ... The way events unrolled - and fitted - was impressive.

L.D. ... The play was excellent..... the performance was brilliant!

    3. About the Film

G.O. ... I just watched What's in a Name, and I absolutely loved it!!! Your writing is amazing, and your acting is very strong (in such a genuine, truthful and natural way.) I love that I can always understand every word you say, as your projection is perfect! The effects were really neat, and I think you are so clever at tying everything together at the very end. Loved the significance and symbols! Wow!!! You can create such character and pull the audience in, all while being one actor for the entire performance and capturing our attention throughout!!!

N.H. ... Very enjoyable. The characterizations were delightful and certainly believable. It has the relaxed wit and storytelling that I associate with Rapsey's acting and writing.

J.G. ... Totally in awe of Paul's talents. I was captivated. Excellent!

P.H. ... Very funny. Enjoyed the amazing production.

B. St. ... So enjoyed the film. A wonderful and entertaining storyteller.

A.M.S. ... Thoroughly enjoyed Rapsey's humour.... Agnes Day indeed!

R. La. ... I truly enjoyed the film. Paul is a great storyteller and his delivery is impeccable.

C.R. ...An indirect and wonderful love poem to Nova Scotia, with some unexpected twists and turns.

D.G. ... What a fabulous storyteller and what a great voice!

P.G. ... Fabulous!

Desperately Seeking Samuel - 2022

    1. About the Script

L.M. An interesting story... [Although I thought I might find it depressing], I didn't. The ending was rather peaceful and in my mind, compassionate.

W.D. The premise is intriguing: what do we remember, and how, and how can we

trust what we remember to be true, or even real?

    2. About the Film

B.P. [The film] has drawn me in and felt very poignant and had me thinking of course of our memories and how some stay so alive and vivid and how they follow one another once evoked.

V.v.K. A WONDER. I was so swept up with it, shed a few tears and related to the aging process that is already staring me in the face. It spoke to me on many different levels. BRAVO!

L.Z. ... brilliant performance ...  As an actor and writer we are are incredibly impressed.

B.D. You are an amazing story teller!  I feel it! …confined in the uncertainty of entrapment.….suspended in a fog of confusion…dangling in a web of memory….twisting in the stillness of scattered pieces….confined in a labyrinth of uncertainty…reveling in the magic of discovery….trusting in the hope of renewal.

C.I.  ... totally into your monologue ... fabulous.  However I found it was stirring my current concerns that maybe I am going down the dementia route. ... How you could crumple up in your bathroom and give such a clear picture is remarkable to me. 

W.A. The music was perfect and your acting was superb.… one of my reactions was OMG that’s a helluva long script to memorize. Congratulations for taking a number of risks with the photography. …Like any good opening, I found myself asking what’s this all about? … Only to have things revealed as the script moved along. I liked it. … More than any other of your monologues there were moments I found myself wondering, “Where in Paul’s memory did this come from?” I’m fascinated by the inescapable process of writers injecting their own history, emotions, and experience into their work. In your case, I don’t know where it comes from, but I do know it makes your work richer. …

C.G. I loved the play... Wonderful! Great on my large screen TV.

W.D. Very much enjoyed my first viewing of your film. Having read the script beforehand was in no way an impediment to the performance you captured, I was engrossed in Sam's struggle to put the jigsaw of his tenuous memory back together. One of my early reading experiences of a writer placing a similar stricture on his creativity was Hubert Selby, Jr.s The Room. … DSS took a higher road than Selby, and with an altogether uplifting conclusion diametrically opposed to the hellscape described in The Room. Thank you for creating this work, and sharing it.

M.M. ... so enjoyed your bathroom “searchings” -   how you weave such authentic story into writing is remarkable.  And then you remember it all, and deliver it in truth and feeling. 

F.R. You are a good story teller ... I quickly forgot you were Paul ... you were Sam.

K.Y. I did not find it sad - It was introspective. ... I liked it a lot. At the end, I said to myself "You go girl!"

G.G. WOW! Thank you. Loved the Story. I'll be sharing it with family and friends who saw you perform in Warkworth.

J.L. ... at first, hard to take after a long day's work, but in the end a wonderful story about reclaiming one's life.

D.M. Fabulous! I had read "Desperately Seeking Samuel" in your book so your film was familiar, except better seeing it spoken in person. Excellent story with its tale of people's paths crossing, tragedies and coincidences, secrets and mysteries. It's packed full!

About the Stage Play

S.S.- ...an truly amazing performance...

D.O. - Wow. Mom, D and I talked about the show all night and the next morning...

J.St. - Amazing. What a performance. The four of us talked about it well into the night 

B.L. ...a real storyteller. Wonderful.

P.G. ... the performance was amazing. It made me realize once again just how magical 'little' theatre can be.

F.R. It was fabulous. The 90 minutes passed so quickly.

I.D. ...excellent performance!

J.H. You certainly broke your leg! Wonderful!

E.R. What a treat. Loved it.

P.C.  Bravo. What a great performance, so enjoyable.

S.R. ...a wonderful play, a great performance.

K.Y. ...so different from the movie. Powerful.

A.F. R. It made me think about my mother. You captured how the mind works in those situations so perfectly well. Still mulling it over.

J.A. Sooooo good. Glad we got tickets. Another play by Rapsey well done.

One's Company - 2021

    1. About the Script

V.v.K. What a great read you gave me yesterday afternoon. ... ‘One’s Company’ made me chuckle, then laugh out loud until my coughing nearly took me down. Rick is a delightful character and I would love to meet him and share, with him, some of my disastrous and embarrassing situations, that he found himself in.

L.M.  I liked [reading] your play a lot ...  It strikes the right cord between how others around us perceive us and the reality. I found it funny (I hope that’s intentional) and the intricacies of relationships.

W.A. Beautifully written. I loved the script.

   2. About the Stage Play

J.S. Don't know why, but I had tears in my eyes at the end. Took me by surprise.

S.N. Stellar performance. Beautifully written. Beautifully performed.

   3. About the Film

B.L. Applause, Applause.... a remarkable and compelling performance. The scene segues and the scenes themselves are charming. I loved it!

L.M. Loved it.... very well done and performed. It made me laugh at all our foibles and misunderstandings.

B.D. I watched One’s Company last night and loved it.  A graceful insight into alone-ness.  Am I not being understood….or is it I who misunderstands?  Small worries looming large.  The growth of a distance between my world and the outside world. Well conceived! Well written! Nicely resolved! Very well performed!  

L.Z. Applaud, applaud, applaud…enjoyed it tremendously - amazing!

D.K. … hooked by the story and amazed at your performance! In awe.

W.A. Beautifully written. I loved the script. … Super photography throughout. I particularly liked the opening of each scene.

J.G. Amazing! Such talent.

T.R. …chuckled out loud!

G.O. What a WONDERFUL monologue!!! I think it is so well written and performed brilliantly. Your work is always genuine to the core, and pulls at my heartstrings. I find myself laughing, crying and enjoying the life adventure that you take your audience on. Wow! Impressive! 

J.K. I enjoyed the trademark-Rapsey humour (the soliloquy under the couch was particularly lovely). And you’ve nailed the … situation [of] myself and those of my friends who have maintained decades-long relationships, with all that that entails.

M.M. Loved the twists and turns..... I laughed!   Bitter sweet as well.   Thoroughly enjoyed. 

M.Mc. Very enjoyable. Funny/sad.

B.S. I loved it. ... The story is so pure and told so well and a story worth telling. I am excited to hear you are going to perform it.

A.H. ...  utterly amazing!  I watched 'One's Company' - and loved it. ... -  it was very moving and I certainly could feel the loneliness in Richard.  Richard's dependence on Jeff for his stability and happiness are so real to life. 

M.H. [The Film] is a delight.  I loved the images and positions you chose …  You have such a warm, inviting presence and your voice is engaging.  You're made for the monologue. 

C.C.   It is spectacular! I particularly love the way it was filmed and presented... felt very personal.  [L]aughed so loud at some parts I think you could have heard [it] at your house. 

Fiddelity - 2020

    1. About the Script

C.F. Awesome!  Held my interest all the way to the end.  Interesting twists and turns.  I loved the passion…

G.R. Congratulations on your creativity and your writing … truly amazing. You have worked the overarching fiddle/fiddling metaphor to yield a richness of layered meanings…

M.H. Terrific!

    2. About the Audio Play

B.L.  A story about how small the world is after all.  And...it's never too late for anything. Listening improved a rainy afternoon with a heartwarming performance.

B.D.  I sat down to listen to just one or two scenes; but you kept me through all seven.  

E.B. Very well written and presented. believable (yet imperfect) characters and a great story line.

H.H. Loved it!

C.F. Very nicely done. Would love to see it live.

M.M. I loved it. !  I lived it along with the story-telling.. every intonation, nuance, character voice, twist, and musing.    Every episode.  It’s wonderful. …The writing, the telling, the delivery...

J.G. Amazing. We were spellbound. I want more.

M.R. Enjoyed immensely.

J.K. Wow—well done you! You should do more of these!

L.CP. … thoroughly enjoyed it.  I could just picture everything that was happening.  You are an amazing storyteller.  I hope that after the pandemic is over, you get to perform this on stage.  I can hear fiddles playing in the background…

K.P. I loved this!  It was so absorbing and left me with the sense that the characters would live on within me - that I might wonder next week what Jake is up to ... Your voice takes one in - I listened with my headset, so you were right inside my head. Your voice is so evocative.

W.A. What a wonderful, beautifully written and narrated story.

B.R. Very entertaining, you are a great story teller. 

L.M. I loved it.  Loved it.  Loved it.  It carried me along from beginning to end. Just what I needed on a Sunday afternoon.  A story of lasting compassion.  Loyalty.

J.L. We dragged out the episodes like a good book. We were hooked: engaging, delightful... Thank you for sharing...

B.S.  I really enjoyed listening and using my imagination to “see” the story. I enjoyed the story, the telling of the story. And your radio voice is very easy to listen to.  

W.D. I grew up with a Cape Bretoner with a long memory for the intricate details of family histories, and so I am not unfamiliar with twists and turns of fate which are, for me, the hallmarks of good storytelling. I very much enjoyed Fiddelity …Thank you for sending me this piece, and the memories it evoked.

P.L. You are both a gifted writer, and gripping storyteller - thanks for including us in your experiment!

R.S. A beautiful, poignant story ... really enjoyed it.

J.L. ...close your eyes and listen to a great storyteller at work.

P.F. Congratulations on the story, writing, and audio performance. I enjoyed it a lot …The characters, the evolution of the fiddle, and the family dynamics were compelling.

J.W. Third time listening.. Wonderful…loved it! .. Very touching.

About the Movie:

K.K. The filming angles and film quality were very well done. The final editing certainly didn't seem low budget at all. The story was moving and engaging, it will stay with me for long time.

J.C. Beautifully portrayed... loved the format and the photography.

A.L. ...really enjoyed it. Sad, evocative and reflective - a regular Hellenic tragedy - Nostalgic and familiar themes that all listeners/viewers can relate too. And your delivery was great. Very natural, convincing and engaging. A real tear jerker! I particularly like the way the story flows – not linear - but jumping from character to character, back and forth through the years. Really gives a sense of time, movement and character experience.
  

B.L. I found so many things compelling:  the arc of the story, the characters (and the characters who spoke them), the beautiful settings, and especially the colours of the production.  I was enchanted by the device of the rope--it literally connected the viewer with the character and the place.  The close-up moments that provided a bridge from one scene or time frame to another worked beautifully.  The play moved seamlessly from place to place and time to time.  

B.D. Your matrix scene construction carried me through a beautiful, bittersweet emotional journey.  I loved it.

W.A. The acting was superb, as were the photography, and settings. I knew the story, so why did I have tears in my eyes at the end?

P.J. ASTOUNDING PERFORMANCE. By the intermission I was ready to take a extra long walk off the short pier at the Cobourg Harbour but the last ten minutes persuaded me otherwise. Your performance brought home the hurt and desperation of the human condition experienced by others less fortunate. Wonderful script and storyline and your soliloquies even surpassed those we witnessed in your portrayal of Oscar Wilde.

T.P. I was taken in from the start. Loved the story.

B.S. The film is layered with so many in your face relationships  and intricately woven to keep one watching and more importantly listening. My mind has been silenced because it was not what I was expecting. I found myself at times closing my eyes to make sure I was really listening and hearing. Not a shy piece. I want to tell you,  you have written an important piece, however it gets performed, about love and resilience, desire and determination. Bravo. I feel quite honoured to have seen it.

P.S. Amazing. Didn't know what to expect. It was riveting. Stunning photography.

D.P. We were spellbound by the well mastered narrative and intriguing story.  It had a certain universality to it...

J.R-P. Beautifully written. It tells a very touching story in a really interesting way. Great acting. 

G. G. A lyrical piece.

W.C. A touching story. The generation connexions were amazing.

M.M. ... watched your film a couple of times now.... and enjoyed it as much the second time around.  It’s absolutely wonderful storytelling . 

R. The test of a good film is "a good story told well". You nailed it.

J.J.K. The film is amazing. Many will indentify with Jake's expressions. Very thought provoking.

The Lace - 2019

    1. About the Script

M.H. (Creative Medium) You have created a tight little play and a brilliant performance.

G.R. I loved "The Lace"!  Move over Alan Bennett.  The tone, metaphors, humanity, and richness of the material were a thrill. I was captivated by the work, while having many laughs along the way.  You have such a strong voice, which is informed by your depth and the kaleidoscope of your insights, your wisdom, and your humour.

    2. About the Stage Performance

D.O. A vulnerable character performed with humanity.

B.D. I could feel the audience breathe “we have been there”! Well done.

J.B. Loved the use of space and the simple set brought alive by a wonderful performance.

R.G. (Ontario Creates) Powerful Paul. A well told story, although I missed some of the threads (laces!). Contemporary Shakespeare: Loves Labours Not Lost???

G.G. Wonderful!!  I didn’t want it to end.  I can relate totally!!!!!

B.L. Proudly claiming to have seen the World Premiere of this play on Dickinson Island, Ontario, August 10. Don't miss it!

C.G. You ROCKED, Mr. Rapsey!

M.P. Great time! – Loved the performance – and the play itself!

C.F. Excellent performance last night.  Funny and serious all at the same time.

G.O. Fabulous to see a beautiful script performed brilliantly.

K.C. So good to see professional theatre in our community. Loved the pacing - gripping.

J.F.  Masterfully performed...

The Hand of God - 2018 Performance

B.J: Fabulous. We want more.

D.C. The play was sad, funny, prophetic. Well done.

T.R. Took me back to England in the 80s. I was there. Been there. Poignant.

The Importance of Being Oscar - 2017 Performances

M.Mac. - The play was absolutely fab!  Play itself is great and of course you nailed it.  Fantastic audience.

G.R. - CONGRATULATIONS on a magnificent performance yesterday!  Your many voices called up the beating heart of humanity in the audience.  Our souls, emotions, and intellects came alive through your talents as an actor and your generosity of spirit in bringing the work to life.  How extraordinary you are!  Thank you so very much for sharing this work with us and for bringing to life an aesthetic soul, who was ultimately trampled by the cruel hypocrisies of a government and its people. Malcolm and I were both in awe of your talent and are so grateful that you share your theatrical gifts with our precious Warkworth Community.

S.J. – His talents are wasted in Warkworth. He should be on the West End.

M.M. – I loved it. Wonderful… I learned, laughed and appreciated.

Bed Among the Lentils - 2016

G.G.: We were agreed the play is superb and you were wonderful in your presentation of the part. I loved how well you used the space and the hall itself lent itself well to it.  Your diction, cadence and timing is impeccable.  Acoustics were great.   The alert crowd was lapping up every word.

P.J. I … felt the whole story and acting were first class. To be honest the storyline was very reflective of the “politics” whenever two or more humans decide to interact. By the end I shed a tear for Susan.

E.A.: I enjoyed your performance last night - you were wonderful! You NAILED it!

G.R.: BRAVO, bravo, bravo on your magnificent performance last night! Your acting, your humanity, your gift of bringing this gem of a play to audiences are worthy of great praise and unqualified admiration.

J.Z.: a most enriching and delightful evening Paul! You were fabulous!

M.M.: Your timing, inflection, cadence..... wow..... Susan came alive. It was great too because it was funny and sad .... and we, the audience, couldn’t get ahead of you so we were intent on hearing and watching ..... for what next? It took no time to get the audience engaged

D.C.: Your performance of Susan and all of the other characters was quite astounding. Bravo!!

J.T.: Dear John: What a tour de force!  I was mesmerized by Paul's 'Susan' and not a little moved by her plight. I was almost moved to tears at the end. Please thank Paul and ask him to give us more of this kind of performance. It was my first time at The Loft and it seems ideal for this type of event.