Ranking: #1 Of the 11 productions at The Shaw Festival this year, there wasn’t a single one I enjoyed more than the lightening-paced lunchtime one-act The President. The zippy script by Fenrenc Molnar moves so fast that director Blair Williams seems to have choreographed it more than staged it- the entrances and exits are so […]
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Our friends in Ninja Funk Orchestra are working on a new collaboration with the fabulous singer/songwriter Chloe Charles. CLICK HERE to hear the first draft of “Fans”, courtesy of Chloe and the Ninjas. Vocals- Chloe Charles Sax- Gordon Hyland Guitar- Neil Whitford Bass- Andrew Roorda Drums- Mackenzie Longpre Check out www.ninjafunk.ca for more info on the […]
Ranking: #2 What makes The Admirable Crichton so notable is that it’s the only Shaw Festival production in my top 5 that really fits with the festival’s brand. While not a GB Shaw script, This JM Barrie play enjoys the conventional staging, English accents and Shavian commentary on the class system that proved so ineffective […]
She’s crazy, she’s emotional, she’s exuberant to the point of obnoxious, she’s open, she’s loving, she’s a walking mess with a new condo and terrible taste in men. And as Happy Endings‘ Penny (Casey Wilson) embarks on “the year of Penny”, I can’t help but love how she lives her crazy crazy life. I also […]
Suburgatory has a lot to overcome, to be honest. The whole “oh my god, aren’t the suburbs weird?” vibe the show has going for it- whether its the hardly trenchant observations about suburban living or the incredibly snobby ways of looking at the transition of Manhattanite teen Tessa- was old when it was premiered by […]
His Greatness at the Factory Theatre is an interesting if not totally engrossing production. Writer Daniel MacIvor also plays “The Assistant” with an excellent blend of subtle heartbreak and perfect dry wit. His longstanding relationship with “The Playwright” (Richard Donat) is well established and his constantly moving, ever-tidying movements are wonderfully specific. Donat plays “The […]
It’s been quite a fight and it all comes down to tonight- the final game of the regular season. Rays vs. Yankees, Sox vs. Orioles to break the tie for the AL Wildcard, the prize a ticket to the playoffs. I’m with the Rays in this one but those Sox just won’t die.
Ranking: #3 I was dreading Topdog/Underdog. I had to read Suzan-Lori Parks’ Fucking A in school and could not have despised it more. I was anticipating an angry, expletive-ridden, crass 2 hours designed to provoke response through discomfort. It’s possible that the script could read that way, but Philip Akin’s production in the Shaw Festival […]