Description
Based on the well-known short story by Gogol, and set to the music of Shostakovich performed by the CBC Radio Orchestra, The Overcoat is a wordless, expressionistic, almost balletic performance piece that spins an affecting absurdist drama around a lonely clerk and the beloved new overcoat that gains him access to the fashionable circles of society, for a time at least. Peter Anderson, who originated the stage role, has the lead as Gogol's protagonist, here a lowly draftsman in an architect's office. Ken MacDonald won a Gemini Award for his impressive production design. The award-winning theatre director Morris Panych made his film directorial debut with this visually striking screen version of the acclaimed stage production he and choreographer Wendy Gorling originally created for the Vancouver Playhouse's 1997/98 season.
