An Intense Exploration of Tennessee Williams at the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace

It is a daunting task to write a play about Tennessee Williams. In The State of Tennessee, writer/director Steven Jackson has done an imagining of the playwright’s last days, that shows his softer, vulnerable side, romanticizing his end to give us a more sympathetic portrayal of his character.

The story is as follows: A young playwright, Steve, knocks on the Key West, FL home of Tennessee Williams, where he lives in seclusion, in the company of a disapproving maid, bottles of pills and alcohol. The young playwright, suffering from writer’s block and running from his own demons, seeks inspiration from his childhood idol. Although reluctant at first, moved by his boyish charm and helplessness, Tennessee agrees to help him. What follows are soulful and insightful reflections on writing and life in general. My favourite was, ” A play is revealing the audience to themselves.”

Continue reading Review: The State of Tennessee (MinMar Gaslight Productions) →

 Gavin Crawford’s Razor-Sharp Satire Stretches His Range And Delights Toronto Audiences

Coming home from Gavin Crawford: Sh**ing Rainbows at Buddies last night, our babysitter asked: is it a drag show? Well, no. I mean, he dresses in drag but, no, not a drag show. Is it a concert? Well, no. I mean, he sings, but no.

This of course begs the question: well, then, what kind of a show is it? It’s a truly hilarious, flagrantly nerdy, relentlessly pointed, extravagantly f**king queer show, that’s what kind it is. It’s what Pride should be: political and fabulous and campy and self-aware and fearless. Not corporate, not blunted by the “family friendliness” imperative, and yet still sharply satirical of institutions of power and cultural memes. 

Continue reading Review: Gavin Crawford: Sh**ing Rainbows! (Buddies In Bad Times Theatre) →

A triumphant finish for Zombie Toronto at the Comedy Bar

So, you’re stuck in the middle of the city, plagued by an army of the undead. There’s absolutely no support from the military or any other form of emergency services, and at any moment you’re likely to run into at least one of these flesh-eaters. What do you do?

That was the premise of Zombie Toronto, which had its closing performance Wednesday night at the Comedy Bar.  As one of Bad Dog Theatre’s many improv shows, Zombie Toronto stood out as one of the company’s more memorable productions thanks to its mix of unapologetically silly slapstick humour and no-holds-barred approach to social commentary.

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“Birdbath” at Toronto’s Red Sandcastle is a charming production, full of personality.

Still & Moving Theatre is presenting Birdbath by Leonard Melfi at Toronto’s Red Sandcastle Theatre. Melfi, a deceased American playwright, has written many plays but Birdbath, first produced in 1965, is the most well-known of his work.

I attended the opening night on June 19th with my mother, Alice. We walked into the small venue and saw three long rows of chairs. The chairs were facing one side of the room designed as an old fashioned diner. I was handed a pamphlet and saw the description: “…a short, sweet, disturbing night at the theatre”. Having watched the play, I would say the description was very fitting.

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