Apart from his (pathological?) obsession with airplane disasters, Istvan is a filmmaker and film enthusiast, but began his creative adventures in theatre. Starting out as an actor, he soon discovered a preference for life behind-the-scenes. He has experience in lighting design, stage management and production management, but his passion is writing and directing. With several short films and an indie feature under his belt, film has been his focus in recent years, but theatre has been calling him back. You see more of his critical writing at his film reflection blog: http://captiveviscera.wordpress.com/
This show tells a tale of a young boy who tries to help his family heal from a tragedy by creating a brother from scraps found on their farm. It cleverly riffs on the familiar Frankenstein’s monster but this story’s intentions are quite different and the echoes from Shelley’s classic are light and airy.
Native culture and social work collide in A Spirit’s Face playing at the Aki Studio Theatre in Toronto
A Spirit’s Face, presented by Spiderbones Performing Arts and playing at the Aki Studio Theatre (Daniels Spectrum) is a heartfelt piece. It’s clear that Jeff D’Hondt’s script is sincere and comes from a dark yet loving place. A lot of care has gone into this production, but it didn’t quite reach me.
This is the story of Jake (Cole Alvis) and Hunter (Madison Walsh)—both social workers, both damaged individuals who grew on up on the same native reserve—trying to forge a relationship while healing from old wounds. Their shared emotional baggage becomes their bond. The ghosts of abusive, afflicted and dying parents loom over their professional and personal lives. Continue reading Review: A Spirit’s Face (Spiderbones Performing Arts)→
A Summer Marriage on Queen West: Unit 102 and Sterling Theatre to Merge
This summer, two of Toronto’s west-end indie theatre companies are joining forces. This is great news for artists and audiences alike. Sterling Theatre Company and Unit 102 Acting Company will share a roof at the corner of Queen and Dufferin, and the venue will be renamed and announced at their upcoming inaugural event, scheduled for mid-August.
When I sat down with them to discuss the merger, I expected the core members of Unit 102 and Sterling to be energetic and enthusiastic. What I didn’t expect was the immense trust and admiration these artists have for one another. Each is fiercely dedicated to their craft and, as members of a creative team, they are steadfast in their support of one another. Continue reading Summer Marriage: Sterling and Unit 102→
The beloved 80s film receives a much anticipated stage revival at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto
If you’re considering Flashdance: The Musical currently playing at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, you’re probably a fan of the 80s film. I am. I get warm fuzzies just thinking about it—one of a dozen feel good movies from that decade (like Footloose and Dirty Dancing) that wanted to be musicals.
Now, Flashdance gets to be one! It has exploded out of its quiet, restrained shell to drench you in dazzling set pieces. I can’t help but frame this as a comparison to the film. I think you should know (especially if you’re very attached to the aesthetic of the movie) that this is a very different creature. Continue reading Review: Flashdance (Mirvish)→
While not a traditional theatrical venue, the basement room of a community centre is a perfect environment for Ambrose’s one-woman show. The low ceiling, fluorescent lighting and walls full of crafts are an ideal backdrop for the story. Rosemarie has returned to her home island of Dominica (in the Caribbean, between Guadeloupe and Martinique) to teach a class in head-tying. Continue reading Review: The Art of Traditional Head-Tying (East End Performance Crawl)→
Theatre Howl’s production of Aiden Flynn Lost His Brother So He Makes Another plays at the Tarragon Extraspace as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival. It’s an inventive and touching little show, a truly great start to my Fringing.
If you’re considering 