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 […]
In troubled times, there are those who seek sources of strength from which they can derive solace or answers. For some, religious faith is the healing crutch on which they rely – a belief in some greater power with the ability to lift away pain and burdens (for the devout, of course). Unfortunately, blind belief […]
London in 1966 has been brought back to life in the dark and smoky setting of the Old Red Lion. The Local Stigmatic by Heathcote Williams tells the story of Graham and Ray, two men with sociopathic tendencies obsessed with betting on dogs and following mildly famous actors around the city. The plot may sound […]
A Reason to Talk, produced by Why Not Theatre, has already started when you walk into the Theatre Centre mainspace. There creator Sachli Gholamalizad holds old family photos up to her laptop’s camera, which are projected in real time on to the screen above her. In this evocative way, Gholamalizad introduces us to the subtle […]
For anyone seeking reassurance that opera still has a place in the modern world, Maometto II is an excellent place to start. Directed by David Alden, the COC’s current production (onstage until May 14th) blends dramatic tension and modern themes to create an utterly compelling performance that is difficult to tear yourself away from. Luca […]
Kahn (playwright Fabrizio Filippo), a tech genius, has died and his friends and colleagues, both intimate and estranged, are summoned to an unremarkable airport hotel for the reading of the will. Once they are there, Kahn continues to manipulate the strings from beyond the grave. There are baffling levels of bureaucracy, and a man named Quentin […]
I had doubts about London improv: we lack institutions (the equivalent UCBs and ImprovOlympics)…
An intelligent and knowing comedy musical that remains totally aware of itself throughout, not shying away from its farcical nature but rather embracing it. This show is fun but polished and a joy to watch. The title itself, The Toxic Avenger, provides a pretty clear indication of the tone of the musical before you are […]