Noises Off Did we need another 70s-set backstage theatre farce mere months after Jitters? No. But Soulpepper’s production of Noises Off made me laugh louder and with more obnoxious uncontainable shrieks than anything else I’ve seen this year so I’ll welcome the repetition. Simon Fon’s fight and stunt work was still too careful and a […]

A Doll’s House Recent Soulpepper Academy grad Katherine Gauthier is perfectly cast as Nora in this stylish, contemporary take on Ibsen’s story of a trapped, underestimated housewife. Pretty, poised and a little performative, Gauthier perfectly captures the meticulously put-together type of woman Nora is, especially in director Daniel Brooks’ insightfully modern vision. She’s at her […]

The Testament of Mary A Nancy Palk solo showcase with beautiful lighting (Lorenzo Savoini) and stirring sound (Richard Feren), this solemn one act tells the Jesus narrative from his mother’s perspective, stretching from his preaching in the temple to his death on the cross. It’s predictably a strong performance from Palk, her Mother of God […]

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked into the Young Centre for a performance of Neil Simon’s the Odd Couple. On the one hand, this is a Soulpepper production, which suggests a high bar of artistic talent. On the other hand, this is a comedy from the 1960s, an era that is rife […]

This month we were treated to two pieces that weren’t really musical theatre, nor were they strictly concerts. They were cabarets, I guess, but they were really stage-bound musical explorations of people and place by musicians who make theatre and theatre people who make music.   Ryan G. Hinds’ Say Grace Sidelined for 6 months […]

 

I have only 4 rules when it comes to great theatre: – make it coherent – make it honest – make it mean something – limit blackout set changes That’s it. That’s all I ask.   The following three companies refuse to adhere to this final point with their current productions and it’s perhaps telling […]

 

The current rep season at Soulpepper is a perfectly balanced mixture of well-produced pieces. There are no marquee hits in the bunch- no Angels in America, no Of Human Bondage– but the group works as a whole in a way I can’t remember happening in the company’s recent history.   There’s a one act (Federico […]

Before we announce the winners of the 2015 MyTheatre Awards, we’re proud to present our annual Nominee Interview Series. Outstanding Supporting Actress nominee Aurora Browne contrasted hilarious …