In Spirit explores death through a little girl’s eyes at Toronto’s Aki Studio Theatre

In Spirit is part of this year’s Rutas Panamericanas |Panamerican Routes presented by Aluna Theatre in association with Native Earth Performing Arts at the Aki Studio Theatre. This particular work is also part of NEPA’s 2013/ 2014 season. Written and Directed by Tara Beagan, former Artistic Director of NEPA, it is no wonder that In Spirit has such a great production quality. The team for In Spirit reads like the who’s who of top Canadian artists.

What would it be like to die? Or be murdered? These are pretty morbid questions, but they must have been asked at some point during the creation of In Spirit. This work is told from the perspective of a 13 year old little girl. It follows her journey rediscovering the events of her death. Continue reading Review: In Spirit (Native Earth Performing Arts) →

Exceptionally crafted performances light up the stage in The Seagull at Toronto’s Berkeley Theatre

For their production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, the Chekhov Collective has utilized the Chekhov Technique. (Phew! Three “Chekhovs” in one sentence!) What the technique boils down to this: in-depth awareness of body and psychology, forging them into tools to bring characters to life.

This, you can imagine, takes a great deal of time. Those Russian masters would work on theatrical productions for years before presenting them to audiences. Keeping this tradition alive, the Chekhov Collective’s production is a carefully wrought gem. After a year of preparation, the fruits of their labour now grace the stage at the Berkeley Street Theatre.  Continue reading Review: The Seagull (The Chekhov Collective) →

6 Essential Questions explores a strained reunion between a mother and daughter at Toronto’s Factory Theatre

Last night was the world premier of 6 Essential Questions by Priscila Uppal at Factory Theatre. The play is based on her 2013 memoir Projection: Encounters with My Runaway Mother, a book that I’ll definitely be reading soon.

Renata (played by Mina James) travels from Canada to Brazil to meet the mother who abandoned her when she was five.

My friend Pat and I both thought that Elizabeth Saunders was fabulous as  Mother; she’s flamboyant, completely self-centred, and  unable to tell the difference between fantasy and reality.  In her head she has a numbered list of things that she likes about her and – sometimes apropos of nothing in particular – will trot something out. “The 547th thing I like about myself is…”.

Continue reading Review: 6 Essential Questions (Factory Theatre) →

Three friends argue over the value and interpretation of art at Toronto’s Unit 102

In Art (which plays Unit 102), Serge has just bought a painting–a $200,000 masterpiece by a Greek living legend–and exhibits it for his friends.

Serge thinks it shows refinement. Depth. Modernity. It may very well be his proudest possession.

Marc thinks it’s a white rectangle with white stripes. His dog could have painted it. And Serge spent how much on this piece of shit? Oh lord…

Ivan just wishes they’d stop fighting.

The stage is thus set for an examination of identity, modernity, friendship, self-respect, rude words, kind gestures, fisticuffs and felt-tip pens.

Continue reading Review: Art (Column 13) →

A love story musical for Sondheim fans, Marry Me a Little is playing at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre

Marry Me a Little is a musical for Sondheim fans currently playing at Tarragon Theatre Mainspace. My phrasing is deliberate. While the music and lyrics are written by Stephen Sondheim, this particular show is a patchwork that was conceived and developed by Craig Lucas and Norman René. Taking songs that were cut from early Sondheim musicals, they’ve strung them together to suggest a bittersweet love story.

Let me set the scene for you: There is a gorgeous loft apartment. Yes, it really is stunning. Ken MacDonald has created an urban bohemian dream—exposed brick, large windows, high ceilings. Into this artsy wonderland, drops a Man and a Woman. They are never named. At first, we don’t know much about them except that they both work in musical theatre—he’s a songwriter and she’s an actress. Continue reading Review: Marry Me a Little (Tarragon Theatre) →