Author Archive
Love Notwithstanding (A Vancouver Co-Op)
Views on life, love and relationships can be found in Red Sandcastle Theatre’s Love Notwithstanding in Toronto
Set in the intimate venue of Red Sandcastle Theatre and written and acted by accomplished performer Grant Tilly, Love Notwithstanding gives us an up close and personal glimpse of a relationship at its crossroad.
Combining the talented efforts of two established Toronto actors with a story most people can relate to at one point in their life, this production is engaging and accessible. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: The Real World? (Tarragon Theatre)
The Real World? brilliantly captures a dysfunctional family at the Tarragon Theatre
This is by far one of the best pieces of theatre I’ve seen in years. Tarragon Theatre’s recent production of renowned French-Canadian playwright Michel Tremblay’s The Real World? is an example of outstanding theatre.
Phenomenal acting coupled with an intriguing script and intelligent staging make The Real World? intensely raw and unforgettable. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Aguas/Water (Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company)
Get lost in the movements of Aguas/Water playing at Toronto’s Harbourfront
Petite in stature, but strong in nature, Esmeralda Enrique gives us yet another mesmerizing performance in her new work Aguas/Water showcasing at the Harbourfront Centre in the Fleck Dance Theatre. Accompanying her is her ensemble of dedicated and talented dancers from the renowned Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance company.
As Canada’s most celebrated Flamenco dance artists, Enrique continues to bring creative insight, passion, and vision to her work. As one audience member commented during the “Q and A” this evening, “Esmeralda, I love you! I love all of you!” Spoken like a true Flamenco aficionado, this is a testament to Enrique’s enduring commitment to bringing the heritage of Flamenco to audiences.
Together with prominent Flamenco dancers, vocalists and musicians from Spain, Enrique creates for us an absolutely outstanding evening of theatre! This isn’t just about impeccable foot work. It is about uniting dancer and musician, costumes and lighting, to create a truly incredible and authentic experience. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Heart Strings -The Musical (MOLE productions)
MOLE productions’ Heart Strings is an endearing, sweet Canadian musical
Upon my arrival I was greeted by the friendly stage crew who led us to our table. Cozy, intimate and dream-like, the pub atmosphere of the Annex Live was an ideal space to set this love story.
Heart Strings, an original Canadian musical written by Reynold Nathaniel, tells a story of aristocrat Sir William and his determination to provide his wife, Victoria with the perfect anniversary gift – a marvelous musical machine known as the Phono-Liszt Violina.
Review: Fresh Blood (The Chimera Project)
14 diverse dance pieces compete for best choreography at Harbourfront’s Fresh Blood show
Now in its 13th season, under the direction of Malgorzata Nowacka, The Chimera Project is a prominent contemporary dance company striving to bring contemporary dance to its audiences through innovative themes and performances.
Presented annually at the Harbourfront Centre in the Enwave Theatre, Fresh Blood features the immense talents of emerging dance artists in fourteen uniquely choreographed pieces. From quirky and playful solo pieces to the precision of ensembles, this fast-paced show left me hypnotized from start to finish. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: This Wide Night (Mermaid Parade | Red Sancastle Theatre)
Mermaid Parade’s This Wide Night in Toronto offers a moving story and brilliant performances about two female ex-prisoners
Honest, humorous, and heartbreaking is just what This Wide Night is all about. Presented by Mermaid Parade in a storefront on Queen Street East, home of The Red Sandcastle Theatre, it provides the most authentic atmosphere to set this powerful drama.
Combining well-developed characters, and raw and moving performances, This Wide Night reminded me not only of the constant struggle of ex-offenders to re-build a life of their own again but how great writing and great acting is sometimes all you need to tell a story. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Les Cheminements de L’Influence (Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie)
A daughter’s dance and a father’s life of research combine in Laurence Lemieux’s Pathways of Influence at Toronto’s Citadel
I would have never thought one’s research methodologies in political science could be translated onto the stage through dance. Choreographer, performer and company founder Laurence Lemieux does just this in her innovative dance piece Les Cheminements de L’influence (Pathways of Influence), co-produced by Lemieux and her husband and business partner, Bill Coleman.
Borrowing its title from her father’s published book on political science, Les Cheminements des L’influence, Lemieux creates a 50-minute dance piece honouring her father, Vincent Lemieux, and his extensive and inspiring work in the field of political science. An undoubtedly original piece, Lemieux dissects her father’s theories using intricate contemporary movement, interesting musical compositions, impressive lighting designs, and a newly renovated theatre space in the round (well, more like a square). Read the rest of this entry »
Review: The Double (TheatreRUN)
The Double is a powerhouse performance by two actors and the bassist of Protest The Hero at Toronto’s Factory Theatre
Combining the extraordinary talents of two actors and one musician, The Double is a unique tale of one man’s struggle with his own personal identity and neurosis. Produced by the Dora Award-winning company TheatreRun, and based on an original adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novella, this highly impressive display of physical theatre is worth seeing even a second time.
Review: The Sound and Feel of It (Peggy Baker Dance Projects)
As one of Canada’s most exceptional and inspiring dancers and choreographers, Peggy Baker once again provides audiences with a remarkable and mesmerizing contemporary dance show in The Sound and Feel of It.
Debuting at the lovely Betty Oliphant Theatre to a full house, The Sound and Feel of It will certainly engage your senses to the fullest. Featuring three diverse movement pieces, Peggy Baker Dance Projects combines powerful musical scores, enthralling lighting designs, and moving poetry to present stunning choreography.
Review: City Class-An Improvised History of Toronto ( Action Slacks)
My memory of ‘improv’ dates back to my high school days when our drama teacher asked the students to perform comedy sketches at lunch based on the audience’s suggestions. It was spontaneous, engaging, fun and unpredictable.
“Class City”- An Improvised History of Toronto, created by the improv group Action Slacks, does just that in their comical, sometimes dramatic sketches that follow the journey of a fictional family that emigrates from Belfast and settles into Toronto.
The story is divided into three separate chapters, each revealing another part of the family’s experiences throughout each era and within each generation. However, the story is also set against the backdrop of Toronto’s tumultuous history which includes major events such as The Great Depression, Hurricane Hazel, and the bizarre SARS epidemic. Read the rest of this entry »