Author Archive
Review: Roshni (Theatre Passe Muraille)
By Ryan Kerr
by Ryan Kerr
Roshni is a charming one-act, two-hander playing at Theatre Passe Muraille until December 11th.
“King Kumar” and “Blindy” are Indian orphans whose invented identities and desperately optimistic hope for the future carry them through the rigors of selling tea and polishing boots in a busy train station to survive. As the story unfolds, the innocence of their deeper motivations make the story surprisingly light and genuinely touching despite its grim conditions.
Review: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (Soulpepper)
By Ryan Kerr
by Ryan Kerr
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Alison Sealy-Smith rocks! And she is a perfect anchor as matriarch Lena Younger in Soulpepper’s A Raisin in the Sun. Were the rest of the production stripped bare save a lounge chair, a meek potted plant and Lena, I would have been satisfied.
You can imagine my elation when director Weyni Mengesha’s lavish production combined a period set with a collection of heartfelt performances. I’m pretty sure my mouth hung open the entire night.
Review: Closer (There, There Productions)
By Ryan Kerr
By Ryan Kerr
I feel like the only person alive who missed the “Closer” phenomenon over 10 years ago when it first took London, then NYC, then the Silver Screen by storm. Scene study students have monologues from this hit in their audition binders, and apparently everyone and their dog have seen it produced multiple times already. I guess I can finally say I’ve seen what all the fuss is about myself!
Review: Rising Below the Sun
By Ryan Kerr
by Ryan Kerr
Rising Below the Sun is a one-woman, one-act play which explores the relationship between two best friends as they develop from innocent children to angsty teenagers. The story begins with the main character, Leah, slouching and desperate, as she prepares to take her own life. As Leah says, shy to be “caught” – “Sorry. There’s not much else to do around here.”
The audience’s arrival saves her and she embarks on a thorough confessional-style retelling of the competitive friendship she shared with her best friend, Carrol. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Love, Loss and What I Wore
By Ryan Kerr
by Ryan Kerr
Love, Loss and What I Wore is a 5-hander, cabaret-style reading, with a rotating cast of well and not-as-well-known celebrity women. I saw the second cast which features Lauren Collins, Wendy Crewson, Cynthia Dale, Linda Kash, and Margot Kidder until the third cast begins mid-September.
As the play “wears” on (pun intended) we hear stories about bras, breasts, shoes, boots, jackets, and even a conveniently torn sweat suit which proves advantageous for discreet prison rendezvous. Some connections were drawn – some of them quite tenderly – between what we wear and who we are. Certainly, in this context, who we wear is equally as important!
Review: Romeo and Juliet – CanStage TD Canada Trust Dream in High Park
By Ryan Kerr
Never have I been more proud to be a Torontonian, than after seeing Canstage TD Canada Trust Dream in High Park. It was, simply the BEST Shakespearean production I have EVER seen, ANYWHERE.
This season’s production of Romeo and Juliet was clever, beautiful, and accessible. It retold the familiar story with an infectious energy and all without pandering to young audiences or needlessly resorting to “modern-day” vernacular.
Come Tumbling Down (Theatre in the Red) – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Ryan Kerr
By Ryan Kerr
Come Tumbling Down was the story of an awkward romance turned terribly wrong. Jack meets Jill online and they arrange to meet at a restaurant for dinner. Despite Jack’s incredible nervousness (and perhaps, a minor social disorder) Jill falls in love and wants to pursue some kind of relationship.
To Distraction (Theatre Rattlebag) – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Ryan Kerr
By Ryan Kerr
To Distraction was the most beautiful, thought-provoking play I’ve seen this year. The premise was simple enough: 16 year-old Violet is having a birthday party and we witness her guests’ intimate car chats as they drive to Violet’s to celebrate.
Vagina Dialogues: the Musical (Betterjam) – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Ryan Kerr
By Ryan Kerr
There’s something inexplicable about the hilarity of a talking, oversized vagina. You can imagine my delight when said oversized vagina began to sing and dance! Many of you will know already if this show is up your alley, but for those who need more explanation, read on.
Just the Ticket (JR Entertainment) – 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Ryan Kerr
By Ryan Kerr
The Annex Theatre’s wood-paneled walls and symmetrical wooden staircases provided an excellent backdrop for Just the Ticket – an 80’s era comedy about a young barfly’s love of Billy Joel and his attempts to snag tickets to “the concert of the century”. If you know Billy Joel’s work inside and out, you may appreciate Just the Ticket even more, but I needed no prior knowledge to laugh out loud (lol) repeatedly at the wonderful performances and clever writing.