Wog Productions Presents: The First Time

Reviews

from The Star Phoenix - Saskatoon
Tuesday, August 09, 2005

The First Time - 4 1/2 SWORDS (out of 5)

Paul Hutcheson has completed his personal journey to attain the rank of Amazon Goddess.

The First Time is his witty and touching account of that achievement. It is raw, honest, sometimes uncomfortable, but never unnecessarily vulgar.

Hutcheson's emerging homosexuality is a source of embarrassment and intense guilt as a young man. The superbly acted vignettes from his own life chronicle how a vulnerable adolescent navigated his way through puberty in a conservative home.

Some of his experiences are universal: the first glimpse of titillating nudity; the first break from parental expectations.

Some of Hutcheson's experiences are more unique. While we can all identify with the memory of competing with friends to see which superhero we would portray in games, Hutcheson demanded the right to be Wonder Woman.

Yet despite many memories of being different, Hutcheson has forsaken bitterness for humour. He is able to let us laugh at the boy alone in his room taking solace in Tiffany's I Think We're Alone Now, as well as the college student having his first slow dance with another man to Cheryl Crow's Strong Enough (to be My Man).

Hutcheson doesn't ignore the seamier side of his experiences as a gay man, but his story is not fundamentally about sex. Hutcheson reveals through his journey the importance of solidifying for ourselves who we are, and why in the end that's OK.

The First Time is funny, tragic, touching and above all genuine.

— Paul Sinkewicz

from Uptown Magazine
Winnipeg's source for Entertainment, Arts, and News
July 2005

B+
The First Time
Wog Productions
Venue 5

Real-life secondary school teacher Paul Hutcheson tells the story of discovering his sexuality, trekking from childhood to adulthood and coming to terms with being gay. He’s instantly likeable and comfortable onstage, which made the occasional glitches in his performance — coupled with his uncanny resemblance to George Clooney — all the more watchable. His performance is one of opposites, clearly displaying his aptitude for acting. The dichotomy of his ridiculous dancing interludes (his nifty moves to Tiffany’s I Think We’re Alone Now are particularly amusing) and his portrayal of an HIV sufferer made for an engaging show with impressive emotional scope.

— LH

from The Winnipeg Sun:
Sunday, July 24, 2005

SIN & SALVATION
FRINGE FEST OFFERINGS EXAMINE GOOD, EVIL - & MOST EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
THE FIRST TIME
Venue 5, Son of Warehouse

Enjoying porn is one thing -- getting your hands on it is quite another if you're a gay 16-year-old in a conservative Catholic family. In his gut-busting one-man coming-of-age show, Toronto's Second City grad Paul Hutcheson is on an awkward mission to unleash his internalized gayness -- aka his inner Amazon goddess. Through the "three stages of porn progression," and riffs on body hair, gay nightclubs and sexy Aussies, Hutcheson's physical antics and comic dance moves will have you in stitches, while his compassion may move you to tears.

**** out of *****

— LINDSEY WARD

from Swerve – Winnipeg’s Monthly Queer News Magazine:
July 2005

The First Time
WOG Productions
Venue 5 (Son of Warehouse, 140 Rupert)

Paul Hutcheson recollects his first time experiences in a very engaging way. His stories about coming out, first date, porn, and others will resonate with a lot of the audience. Some of the songs will even trigger back some memories. Hutcheson is full of energy and uses his physicality to great effects. He can make the most mundane things hilarious. He'll even make you cry at one point. Overall, the show will make you leave smiling.

from The Winnipeg Free Press:
July 2005

THE FIRST TIME
WOG Productions
Son of Warehouse (Venue 5), to July 30

While the title may suggest this one-hour comedy is about a first sexual experience, Paul Hutcheson’s autobiographical one-man show is about a whole lot more than that.

With cartoonish facial expressions, exaggerated gestures and over-the-top dance numbers, the Toronto actor has the audience in stitches as he looks back on his own coming of age. From first porn to first crushes, first-year university to first job, the incredibly gifted physical actor shows that while growing up isn’t easy for anyone, it’s particularly tough when you think you might be gay.

Hutcheson provides a lively and engaging, deeply compassionate and downright hilarious look at growing up homosexual. HHHH1/2

— Cheryl Binning

From CBC Manitoba:

The First Time
Company: WOG Productions
Origin: Toronto, ON
July 21

Stop reading this review and find a way to get to see The First Time.

Seriously, why are you still reading? Go.

Everyone has a story, but Paul Hutcheson's is actually interesting and he tells it well. From his hip shakes to his elastic expressions (comparable to Jim Carrey only not obnoxious) to a life story that makes you want to let your hair down and imagine everything you can be (and maybe dance a little too) -- this show has everything.

So much FUN. It moves, it reeks of a good time, and has some simple life lessons that just remind you not to take anything for granted -- you'll only have one first time.

You're obviously still reading. What are you doing? Get yee to The First Time.

Comments overheard leaving the venue:
“It’s going to be hard to top that one.”
“It was outstanding!” (Now I followed this person for about a block and she said it at least 10 times. Over and over. “It was outstanding!”

5 Flower Power (out of 5)

— Ruth Shead

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