PLAYBOT: Escapist theatre – literally
Famed Edmonton magic-user Ron Pearson was behind all those weird Fringe sideshows: Spider Lady, Cobra Girl, and the terrifying Headless Terror!
Now he’s been trying his sleight-of-hand at play-writing, the latest of which is called Minerva – Queen of the Handcuffs. The world premiere runs Jan. 15-27 at the Roxy on Gateway.
Based on the true story of olden time escape artist Minerva Vano and her rivalry with Harry Houdini, this is really a look at the struggle for women’s rights. It’s set in the very early 20th Century – when women couldn’t even vote. The very idea of a female magician made American citizenry blanch in TERROR. It is said Houdini himself wasn’t too keen on the idea, either.
The play stars real-life escape artist Miranda Allen, and in addition to the drama of struggling for magic in a male-dominated industry, will feature actual tricks of the sort that would’ve been seen back in the 1910s. Zounds! “She can escape from anything,” the blurb reads, “Anything but the clutches of the master himself!”
Inferno
Fun fact: Did you know hell is not described in the Bible? We can thank 14th Century writer Dante Alighieri for our common Hell: with the flames and the eternal torment and the devils and whatnot. Thanks, Dante!
Hell has since been depicted in many ways – but not on high wires, as far as we know. Cue the latest workshop show from Firefly Theatre and Circus for an unusual adaptation of Dante’s Inferno by Belinda Cornish and Jocelyn Ahlf. Playing Jan. 17-26 at the Westbury Theatre in the ATB Financial Arts Barns, the story follows a man’s journey to the underworld to rescue his one true love (why was his one true love sent to hell? Never mind). The action is rendered by aerialists, contortionists, acrobats, singing demons, flying zombies and an adorable dog who answers to the name of “Cerberus.” Here, Cerby! Come get your bone! It is literally Cirque du Hell. LITERALLY.
The Cardiac Shadow
This is one of the edgiest plays Northern Light Theatre has ever produced: Based on the true story of four Jewish girls who were selected by an evil doctor from the Ravensbruck concentration camp for medical experiments – specifically to find out how much a human being could endure extreme cold. May this man suffer in eternal torment.
This is one of many little-known Holocaust atrocities, brought to light by playwright Clay McLeod Chapman, with performances by the Good Women Dance Collective. Director Trevor Schmidt is quoted in a press release, “In our current era of dehumanizing language and violent actions towards society’s most vulnerable, The Cardiac Shadow more than resonates.”
The Canadian premiere of the play runs Jan. 18-Feb. 2 at the Studio Theatre in the ATB Financial Arts Barns, and will coincide with World Holocaust Day on Jan. 27.
KaldrSaga: A Queer Tavern Drama for a Midwinter’s Night
Dangerous tales in shades of One Thousand and One Nights in Cardiac Theatre’s latest production as two friends – named Kaldr and Saga – who have only one night each year travel to a faraway pub to share their stories with each other. Lucky for us, the pub they chose is in Edmonton, at the Almanac, where this play runs until Jan. 26. They’re searching for stories of Pride in the lore of Norse mythology – and there’s got to be some overlap.
Girl Brain
Sketch comedy is doing very well for the new Grindstone Comedy Theatre and Bistro. This weekend, Jan. 18-19, taking the stage is this local all-female sketch comedy troupe (Alyson Dicey, Ellie Heath and Caley Suliak) – featuring special guest Carolyn Taylor from CBC’s Baroness Von Sketch, which knows its sketch. It’s right there in the name! Online tickets are SOLD OUT already; a limited number will be available at the door.
Girl Brain, voted best comedy show in the last VUE Weekly Best of Edmonton feature, runs at the Grindstone the third Friday and Saturday of every month.
Jim Gaffigan
Time for a little “Quality Time” with one of America’s best-loved comedians – and importantly, one who has not been disgraced. Needless to say, Jim Gaffigan “works clean.”
He’s an observational comic – who isn’t – who riffs on McDonald’s and other bad food. Cuz he’s eaten it. Also Catholics, because he is one, along with fatherhood, because having five kids yields rich material. Currently on the worldwide “Quality Time” tour, Gaffigan is also a prolific actor, voice actor for animated shows (like the great Bob’s Burgers), and a New York Times best-selling author – as if the whole thriving comedy career thing isn’t enough already. Gaffigan performs Friday, Jan. 18 at Rogers Place.
Kevin McDonald
This Kids in the Hall star has been getting so much work in Edmonton lately that we ought to adopt him. Welcome home, Kevin! His latest local gig is Saturday, Jan. 19 at Rapid Fire Theatre’s Chimprov show at the Citadel Theatre, where McDonald and his friends will be performing live sketches from his popular podcast.
Sweat
The Citadel Theatre’s first show of 2019 hits the nail on the head of recent Alberta concerns. It’s called Sweat – wherein real men (and women) with hard and hard-held jobs struggle with the “changing landscape of America.” This Lynn Nottage play won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2017, and they don’t give these things to just anyone.
It’s set in Reading, Pennsylvania, which after the almost complete loss of its heavy industry became one the poorest cities in America. Life-long friends in the community provide the real inside story of their death-of-the-American-dream plight; a cast of eight is led by noted Canadian actor Ashley Wright, and runs at the Citadel until Feb. 3.
Macbeth
Three witches inspire a Scottish army general to murder the king – which doesn’t end well in William Shakespeare’s most tragic tragedy, on stage at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church until Jan. 19. It’s this year’s Edmonton winter production from Malachite Theatre – which is originally from London, England. They know their Shakespeare well. The Malachites are taking great pains to present their work as authentically as possible, complete with period costumes, an original live vocal score that draws on old traditions, and creative use of the Holy Trinity space. It might get scary. In fact, this play is considered so edgy even uttering its name is said to bring bad luck. We can type it here, right? Macbeth … oops, ARGGH!
Once Upon a Frost: A New Musical
This is a strange time of year: Christmas toys all boring or broken, New Year novelty worn off, still getting used to writing “2019” on your cheques. What better time than this for a new musical? What better time than any?
Until Jan. 17, Festival Place presents this new musical – it’s right there in the title – about a shop owner who somehow causes Jack Frost to lose his ability to summon winter. And what a good idea! But no, it doesn’t end there in what is said to be a magical family musical.
Canada 151
Apparently some hosers forgot about the Canadian sesquicentennial party and decided, “Oh, well, f*** it! Let’s celebrate Canada one year late!”
Any excuse for yet another jukebox musical, eh?
This one, on stage at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre until Jan. 27, is an oh-what-a-feeling oh-what-a-rush doozy of epic proportions. Music by Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Celine Dion, Anne Murray, the Guess Who, Alanis Morissette, the Tragically Hip and many more is presented in a fantasy musical celebration that hits all the bases of the Canadian musical canon in a breathless two-and-a-half hour show. A great band, as always, does a fine job replicating all the different artists in their eras of history.
