Well-Born tackles the anxieties of pregnancy, now playing in Toronto
Even those of us who have never had children are acutely aware that pregnancy is difficult. It’s never all Facebook “likes” and warm, familial love; it’s hard work, fear, and even despair at times. This is particularly true in the face of the unknown: before everything is okay, all manner of things might happen. The more unknowns, the worse the fear, particularly with a missing family health history and inconclusive but worrying test results. It’s no wonder there’s a tendency to Google oneself into oblivion.
This is the premise behind Well-Born, a new play by Celeste Percy-Beauregard, presented by SoCo Theatre in association with Truth’n’Lies Theatre at Artscape Youngplace. The play is raw and frantic, sometimes very funny and sometimes deeply unsettling, much like the process of pregnancy itself.
Celebrating Black History Month, Théâtre français brings Espoir/Espwa to the Toronto stage
In Espoir/Espwa, produced for Black History Month by Théâtre français de Toronto, three women explore their different connections to Haiti along the spectrum of diaspora: Nadège was born in Canada but feels the loss of the land she’s never known, treasuring a jar of earth from Haiti given to her by her grandmother; Céleste has been away for 20 years and now returned, her Canadianization interfering with her ability to re-integrate to the culture; and Man Sara gives advice, tells stories, and otherwise administers to her community from her “boutique” shop in a Haitian village, having never left her country.
The story was created by the three performers, Edwige Jean-Pierre, Djennie Laguerre and Carline Zamar, and it’s a cheerful show that includes live music and dancing. The title is the word for “Hope” in both French and Creole, and positivity is embedded throughout.
Blithe Spirit is “a playful night” of theatre on stage in Toronto
The Gerrard Art Space is alive with the ghosts of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit. The show is presented by the newly formed Mortar & Pestle Productions, and was chosen by director Melissa Beveridge “to introduce the company on a playful note.” I enjoyed the opening night performance of this quirky comedy.
This is also the first time the Gerrard Art Space has been used for a theatre presentation. The venue is a small, storefront space that I almost walked by before retracing my steps and walking into the bright room to be greeted by an intimate and eclectic set up. Continue reading Review: Blithe Spirit (Mortar & Pestle)→
Just for a Moment, on stage in Toronto, comes off as “confusing” and “repetitive”
Should we pursue our dreams over those we love? And if we choose our dreams, what type of person does that make us? Things Falling Apart’s Just for a Moment by Tien Providence, playing at the Pia Bouman Theatre, examines the question of dreams, love, sacrifice, and selfishness by reconnecting two people separated by geography and connected by their past.
Unfortunately, Just for a Moment is not as good as it should be, with a strong emotional core and some cracking dialogue. Instead, it’s more like a promising work in progress still mired in structural difficulties.
The Space Between is impressive effort from Simeon Taole, now playing on the Toronto stage
Well-Born tackles the anxieties of pregnancy, now playing in Toronto
Blithe Spirit is “a playful night” of theatre on stage in Toronto