A Mamet play is all about the language. Everything you need to know is right there in the half sentences and blustering speeches, the interruptions, the curses, that strange combination of grandiosity and hyper-realism. In the slice-of-life one-act Lakeboat– with the exception of Stephen Macdonald, whose leading performance as a sensitive recruit is marked far more […]
Oh, Giuseppe Verdi, how I adore your dedication to stories worth telling. You are, of course, a splendid composer whose soaring melodies and lush orchestrations fly beautifully from the mouths of the COC’s chorus and the bows of its spectacular orchestra (here under the capable baton of Marco Guidarini) but the real reason I love […]
IFC’s latest comedy Benders is about grown men who are obsessed with their division eight hockey league. Three episodes in, the bro-ish series from Tom Sellitti and Jim Serpico (both fresh from the Denis Leary stable) mostly just feels like a weak League imitation. Lindsey Broad is somewhat fun as a refreshingly-not-a-drag wife but, for […]
Rowing (Then They Fight) Writer/director Aaron Jan’s new play about a small town rowing team sports a strong cast delivering well crafted quick-pace dialogue. Each individual arc is, for the most part, clear and engaging, especially those of the contrastingly lovelorn Chris and Rick, played with great pathos and excellent timing by Lauren Griffiths and […]
After a summer off to make way for Panamania, Toronto’s biggest repertory company has returned to regularly scheduled programming with a diverse slate of four new productions running now through the 18th, soon to be followed by returning favourite Spoon River. Here’s the lowdown on their latest: Marat/Sade This weird, bold, complicated, controversial, thoughtful, […]
To celebrate the home entertainment release of their joyful golden years dramedy I’ll See You In My Dreams, Elevation Pictures has given us a copy of the DVD to give away to a lucky reader. An incredible all-star cast comes together in this sweet coming-of-age-in-old-age tale about love and friendship and finding the joy in life. […]
Warning: this is a bad one. I encourage you to just not contemplate going to see Carousel. Read my reviews (and see the productions) of Sound of Music, Oedipus Rex, Love’s Labour’s Lost or (ideally) The Last Wife instead. Is this the single most ridiculously terrible production I’ve reviewed on any stage at any budget […]
It’s time, once again, for the On DVD series. TV Seasons I Love Lucy: Ultimate Season Two The coolest thing about this set is that there are two ways to watch all 31 episodes (31 episodes in one season!), one of which includes the original commercials which sounds boring but is incredibly fascinating. The Affair: […]