Author Archive
Review: All in the Timing (Down n’ Out Productions)
By Winston Soon
It’s All In The Timing at Toronto’s historic Campbell House Museum
Campbell House Museum is a venue that is ripe with possibility. The Georgian-style home is serving up a delectable dinner theatre with All in the Timing, which also serves as part of Toronto’s Winterlicious celebration.
All in the Timing is a series of 5 sketches/short plays , all written by playwright David Ives. Campbell House teamed up with Down n’ Out Productions to make this rare dinner theatre experience happen downtown. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Dark Night Cabaret: Tales from a Suitcase (Acting Up Stage Company)
By Winston Soon
Laura Caswell’s musical theatre tunes and personal stories shine with honesty at Toronto’s Dark Night Cabaret
When Camilla Scott is now better known for hawking cosmetics in living rooms than performing, it is safe to say that there is no musical theatre star power in this country. It’s a shame because the spritely Laura Caswell would surely be one of Canada’s better-known performers. With a 1940s sensibility and a pippy, nearly clipped style, this is a girl who should be at least a few Dora Awards in.
Instead she is one of the performers for Acting Up Stage Company’s Dark Night Cabaret, running on the Mondays at the Berkeley Street Theatre when Caroline, or Change has its night off. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Parfumerie (Soulpepper)
By Winston Soon
Soulpepper’s closing show of the season, the Christmas spectacular “Parfumerie”, is like wearing a gorgeous piece of vintage jewelry. It serves no other purpose than to look wonderful and to make you feel sparkly and nostalgic. It is a remount from 2009 and it is clear to see why audiences would want to return to its charm. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: The Children’s Republic (Tarragon Theatre)
By Winston Soon
I was excited to attend The Children’s Republic at the Tarragon Theatre. Although I try to see as much Canadian theatre as I possibly can, I had yet to see a piece from acclaimed writer Hannah Moscovitch. I also have a great attraction to theatre and art that deals with anything from the 1940’s.
Along for the ride, was my good friend Ryan. As this is piece about Polish Jews, it seemed particularly fitting. Ryan doesn’t have much family on his father’s side, as most of them were Polish Jews who were killed during this time.
Review: Amelia: Musicals That Fly (Theatre 20)
By Winston Soon
Last night I attended a fundraising concert for fledgling theatre company Theatre 20. Amelia: Musicals that Fly was a staged reading/singing of the story of Amelia Earhart and how she rose to fame as the great female pilot of the ‘20s and ‘30s.
I am interested in any piece from this time period and I loved how when walking into the Panasonic Theatre, big band music was playing from what actually sounded like an old phonograph. My date Ryan was excited too as he loves all things musical, and it is exciting to see something fresh and newly written and performed.
Review: Kathy Griffin at the Sony Centre
By Winston Soon
It’s a beautiful Sunday night and I’m walking into the Sony Centre to see Kathy Griffin brought to Toronto by Live Nation . I am surrounded by two demographics – aging suburban women in heels and conservatively dressed gay men. I fall into one of these demographics. I’ll let you decide which one.
All the people in Kathy’s life make the supporting characters of her narrative of “Life on the D-List” – the Emmy winning show that is in its 6th and final season. It is doubtful that anyone in this crowd wasn’t already a fan of Griffin and this show but, just as a recap, a screen comes down with a nice “best of” reel as well as other moments from Griffin’s life.
And that’s why we are here – to hear about her life. Griffin’s act consists mainly of outing celebrity behaviour and we feel like we are privy to her gossip and her smack talk. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: The Price (Soulpepper)
By Winston Soon
Anyone who says there is no good theatre in Canada has never been to a show at Soulpepper. The caliber of show is equivalent to any play you will see on Broadway – from the house itself to the set to the acting. Last night I went to see Arthur Miller’s The Price with my good friend Joe – a writer and huge Miller fan. Honestly, I’m somewhat ashamed to say, I felt more like I was catching a great show in NYC than in the Distillery District. This was a nice reminder as to how good theatre can be in Toronto.
Like my date, I have long appreciated Arthur Miller’s better-known works, like The Crucible and Death of a Salesman that are oft studied and performed. This piece was new to me though and it was written in 1968, much later in his life than his more famous work. Read the rest of this entry »
White Rabbit, Red Rabbit (Necessary Angel and Volcano Theatre Co) 2011 SummerWorks Review
By Winston Soon
At the heart of Nassim Soleimanpour’s White Rabbit, Red Rabbit is a cry for help. Necessary Angel and Volcano Theatre have brought this ground-breaking show to Toronto as part of this year’s SummerWorks festival. It features a new, completely unrehearsed performance each night by a new actor. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t completely happy to walk into the drippingly hot Theatre Centre and discover that I would watch the phenomenal Eric Peterson play the role. Read the rest of this entry »
Waterfront: The Blessing (Les Nouvelles Theatre) 2011 SummerWorks Review
By Winston Soon
Waterfront: The Blessing may not be a family show but it is definitely a show about family. In particular, it is about the lifelong relationships of siblings. I would recommend anyone who has had to deal with family rivalry and death to see Les Nouvelles Theatre’s Waterfront: The Blessing at this year’s SummerWorks. It is a very relatable show.
Leah Jane Esau has written a two hander and we get to meet brothers Jeremy and Ed directly following the death of their father. Despite a water influenced theatrical device (used for changes of scene and thought) this show is very down to earth. It is impossible not to get drawn into the relationship of these brothers. Myself, I have two siblings and I felt it impossible not to reflect on my relationships with both throughout this piece. Read the rest of this entry »
Freda & Jem’s Best of the Week (Fine and Thompson Presents) 2011 SummerWorks Review
By Winston Soon
When I found out I would be reviewing SummerWorks shows, I raced to make sure I was the first in line to dibs this one. The program for Freda and Jem’s Best of the Week reads like a list of Canadian theatre All-Stars and it is impossible not to imagine this show as well conceived and beautifully executed play. I was not disappointed. It is not one well known theatre company that made this show happen but rather is presented as “Thompson and Fine Presents” (meaning the writer and director). It’s a show that claims to shine a light on “dyke moms, queer spawn and butch/fem interplay”. I would say that is pretty accurate. Read the rest of this entry »