jonno

Simply put, Australia’s Jonno Katz is electricity in a shirt and pants. From the way he athletically swirls, writhes and flips his body across the stage, to the manner in which characters just seem to inhabit him, The Accident is a one-man tour de force. It’s the story of two brothers, the controlling Roy and his “baby bruv,” the artistic and timid Sebastien. The brothers’ power differences are clear from birth, but there’s a twist when THE accident occurs and things change. Katz’s performance of his characters ranges between subtle mannerisms and the stylized actions of a cartoon character…it’s something to be seen. I don’t know if Katz has a history of a street performance or mime, but how he transforms an empty stage into vivid pictures with extremely well-honed mime skills and expression is a real treat. This is going to be a sweet and entertaining hour of your life, so get your ticket now.

***** Sarah Michaelson, CBC

Maybe it’s the Australian accent. Maybe it’s the ooohs and aaaahs coming from the bedroom offstage. Or maybe it’s just the genius physical comedy and engaging performance. Whatever the cause, every element of Jonno Katz’s The Accident makes it quite clear that seeing this production is no mistake. Were he to audition for So You Think You Can Dance, Jonno might not stand a chance — but his awkward twisting, sliding, rolling and tumbling across the floor between scenes manages to stay with the beat of the music. Somehow, the actor carries the story forward through his silence, depicting the lives of two brothers: Roy is the conceited, selfish older sibling and Sebastian is the charming dreamer — “the accident,” according to Roy. Don’t make the mistake of arriving too late. You won’t want to miss this intelligent, emotional tale.

****1/2 Rhéanne Marcoux, The Winnipeg Sun

This quirky tale of dissimilar brothers on a collision course comes courtesy of Australia’s Jonno Katz, who has earned fringe honours here with Cactus and Jolly Roger. Roy is an overbearing, self-assured man of action who has always looked out for his slower-witted kid brother Sebastian, who dreams of becoming a conceptual artist. When Roy nixes Sebastien’s idea for a giant art installation, the sh-- literally hits the fan and everything else. By accident, Sebastien does something Roy can’t do. Katz is really the story as he does it all, playing all the characters, supplying sound effects and dancing up a storm. By the end of the 60-minute drama, he is drenched in sweat and applause.

**** Kevin Prokosh, Winnipeg Free Press

Comedy, calamity and contemporary dance - Jonno Katz has crafted a moving, multi-faceted production in The Accident. The agile Australian actor moves and tumbles across the stage, sometimes with skill and grace, and sometimes with a clumsy uneasiness, depending on the emotion he's portraying. The story of two siblings, Roy is the means-well, but manipulative big brother who orders around Sebastian, his coy but creative kin. But when Sebastian has an idea - a 'holy shit' kind of idea - Roy smells success and a power struggle ensues. With years of pent-up rage towards Roy, you just know something's going to explode. A masterful one-man performance, the dancing and abstract moments may put off the most impatient of people, but those bits are brief and it's The Accident's story that shines through.

Score: A

Jared Story, Uptown magazine

Winnipeg Fringe Festival
Simply put, Australia’s Jonno Katz is electricity in a shirt and pants. From the way he athletically swirls, writhes and flips his body across the stage, to the manner in which characters just seem to inhabit him, The Accident is a one-man tour de force. It’s the story of two brothers, the controlling Roy and his “baby bruv,” the artistic and timid Sebastien. The brothers’ power differences are clear from birth, but there’s a twist when THE accident occurs and things change. Katz’s performance of his characters ranges between subtle mannerisms and the stylized actions of a cartoon character…it’s something to be seen. I don’t know if Katz has a history of a street performance or mime, but how he transforms an empty stage into vivid pictures with extremely well-honed mime skills and expression is a real treat. This is going to be a sweet and entertaining hour of your life, so get your ticket now. *** Sarah Michaelson, CBC Maybe it’s the Australian accent. Maybe it’s the ooohs and aaaahs coming from the bedroom offstage. Or maybe it’s just the genius physical comedy and engaging performance. Whatever the cause, every element of Jonno Katz’s The Accident makes it quite clear that seeing this production is no mistake. Were he to audition for So You Think You Can Dance, Jonno might not stand a chance — but his awkward twisting, sliding, rolling and tumbling across the floor between scenes manages to stay with the beat of the music. Somehow, the actor carries the story forward through his silence, depicting the lives of two brothers: Roy is the conceited, selfish older sibling and Sebastian is the charming dreamer — “the accident,” according to Roy. Don’t make the mistake of arriving too late. You won’t want to miss this intelligent, emotional tale. 1/2 Rhéanne Marcoux, The Winnipeg Sun This quirky tale of dissimilar brothers on a collision course comes courtesy of Australia’s Jonno Katz, who has earned fringe honours here with Cactus and Jolly Roger. Roy is an overbearing, self-assured man of action who has always looked out for his slower-witted kid brother Sebastian, who dreams of becoming a conceptual artist. When Roy nixes Sebastien’s idea for a giant art installation, the sh-- literally hits the fan and everything else. By accident, Sebastien does something Roy can’t do. Katz is really the story as he does it all, playing all the characters, supplying sound effects and dancing up a storm. By the end of the 60-minute drama, he is drenched in sweat and applause. ** Kevin Prokosh, Winnipeg Free Press Comedy, calamity and contemporary dance - Jonno Katz has crafted a moving, multi-faceted production in The Accident. The agile Australian actor moves and tumbles across the stage, sometimes with skill and grace, and sometimes with a clumsy uneasiness, depending on the emotion he's portraying. The story of two siblings, Roy is the means-well, but manipulative big brother who orders around Sebastian, his coy but creative kin. But when Sebastian has an idea - a 'holy shit' kind of idea - Roy smells success and a power struggle ensues. With years of pent-up rage towards Roy, you just know something's going to explode. A masterful one-man performance, the dancing and abstract moments may put off the most impatient of people, but those bits are brief and it's The Accident's story that shines through. Score: A Jared Story, Uptown magazine