CBC Radio Winnipeg Fringe Review

The subject of this play, in which a young woman waits to get the results of what may or may not have been a heart attack, doesn't sound very promising, but Ruth Baines manages to make it both entertaining and educational. This shouldn't come as a surprise, since she has taught post-cardiac rehab fitness in another area of her life. Baines has also worked in the field of dance, and she takes advantage of her knowledge of movement to keep the play moving as she waits, along with the audience, for some conclusive word about her future. Of course, that doesn't happen, because the play is more about waiting than it is about delivering. The delays are real, the hesitations believable.

Robert Enright

Listen to CBC Radio Fringe reviews

The Beat Goes On
Ruthable Productions
The Playhouse Studio, to July 28

Calgarian Ruth Baines' newest Fringe offering has a great premise. It's the tale of a cardiac fitness instructor who's having a cardiac scare of her own. Her Naomi character has a powerful introduction to the audience- convulsing in seeming agony on a hospital bed while the paradoxes of dietary food rules run through her head- 'low fat, no fat; high protein, no protein.' the struggle to mesh being human and liking pizza a bit too much with a heart-healthy lifestyle is tackled in an amusing and creative way...

Holli Moncreiff

The Jenny Revue
Winnipeg

The Beat Goes On
Ruthable Productions-Playhouse

The Beat Goes On is a one person show created and performed by Ruth Baines.

It traces the story of a post-cardiac rehab instructor who receives a heart attack scare.

Baines feels both the dueling emotions of anxiety and denial and this conflict is central to the play.

Like the heart that is constantly beating, at least (one) part of Baines' body is constantly moving, and these movements are the beauty of the peice.

Pay particular attention to the precise movements in the opening dream sequence.

The only complaint- perhaps there was too much humour, which downplayed the seriousness of the issue.

Justin Olynyk

Listen to the MP3 review 266KB

Winnipeg Sun - July 25

Ruth Baines plays a cardiac rehabilitation instructor who has suffered a heart attack. Her monologue carries a startling message about fitness, nutrition and the conflicting information we receive on each. Anyone who has ever scoured a big-box bookstore will nod with identification at the paradox that fat burn is, it seems bad for your heart. Baines is a gifted orator and ads a touch of dance to liven up a play that is, at times, far too much like one of those annoying Body Break ads.

Peter Vesuwalla

For Further information, E-mail: ruthbaines@hotmail.com

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