Author Archive
Exposure (Theatre Symbiosis) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
Exposure is a play that contains two simultaneous stories set in different times with very different people. A young girl and her father are in the 1940s, and a young couple are in present day.
Exposure provides an interesting light on the way that photography has changed, but also the ways it has remained the same in our lives.
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ab intra (Bonnie Compagnie) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
ab intra at the Tarragon Theatre is an amazing dance performance. There are three props – a desk, a chair, a floor lamp – three acts and three dancers – one for each act.
Each dancer focusses on a different part of their body, one with beautiful yet incredibly eery expressions. One with unusual hand and arm movements that seem disjointed and alienated. And one with wild hair and (sometimes) immobile legs.
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Jape Presents: The Grapes of Khan (Statutory Jape) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
Jape Presents: The Grapes of Khan is a great sketch comedy show. As I walk in, I’m not having the greatest day; so I’m a little reluctant to let my guard down at first. However, I really can’t help but laugh out loud (including a bit of laugh-clapping) for the rest of the show. Read the rest of this entry »
One Good Marriage (Theatre by the River) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
One Good Marriage is a two-person show told by a newlywed couple, Stewart and Steph. The play consists of them retelling the story of how after their wedding, everyone who attended died.
There is a chance for an interesting plot but I found the play moves slowly. The plot ends up feeling mundane, telling the story of a librarian (who doesn’t like to read) and an English teacher. They are ordinary, average people with a mediocre relationship.
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WE FEW THEY MANY (Paper Plaid Theatre) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
We Few They Many is a play that entertains and educates simultaneously. A show about a group of activists during the G20 Summit that took place in Toronto last year.
It hits home as it deals with matters that we all can identify with and a time we all remember. It was a time when things became very un-Canadian for a few days. There was chaos on the streets through riots and violent protests, and there was police retaliation in return against everyone – guilty and innocent.
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Ambiguous (Afterglow) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
Ambiguous is a play with quite an unusual story. As a writer sits to create the perfect character, there is an earwig that controls his mind, and forcefully collaborates with him. Then a couple of other intruders appear, Panic (initially introduced as loneliness wrapped in nostalgia) and Hysteria. As each of these four struggle to dominate the story in their favour, it is interesting to see how it all pans out when each get a bit of control.
A Different Woman: a True Story of a Texas Childhood (Texpatriate Productions) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
A Different Woman: a True Story of a Texas Childhood is based on the autobiography of Edna Gertrude Beasley, My First Thirty Years. The fact that it is a true story immediately gives it more credibility and allows for forgiveness of the mundaneness in the plot. It is a 90 minute one woman show in which she passionately shares her story. The play itself is not mundane because Veronica Russell’s acting is captivating and doesn’t lead the audience to stray.
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Sonnets for an Old Century (Clownfire) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
Sonnets for an Old Century is a play with no linear narrative. Via 16 monologues there are 16 narratives that are told, each sharing what their last thoughts are before they die. If they simply have a story to share or if they have something to say to someone in particular. As these individuals grapple with death, so does the audience. Read the rest of this entry »
Rabbit Hole (The Works Department) 2011 Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
At the St. Vladimir Theatre, Rabbit Hole presents me with an interesting dilemma. Going in I expect a heartfelt drama and an eye-opening experience but instead I am left with what seems like a regular couple’s troubled relationship.
Becca and Howie are a married couple who have lost their four year old child in a tragic accident. We get an insight into how they deal with this trauma with the help (or in some cases lack of help) from their family.
Everything in Moderation 2011 Fringe Review
By Nadaa Hyder
Everything in Moderation creates a great atmosphere at the George Ignattief Theatre. A stunning duet performance takes over this small venue. The main focus in this show is the dance, and it is amazing how through dance a common, everyday issue can be conveyed so convincingly. Everything in Moderation, but what happens if you are already over saturated? The issues are current as well as the music and dance style.
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