Origin of the Species shows it’s time for women to take over
The first thing you notice on entering the intimate Northern Light Theatre space is Trevor Schmidt’s remarkable set. It’s an eccentric collection – all sorts of objects, gadgets, small sculptures, bottles, knick-knacks, doodads and doohickeys. And clocks. Many clocks. At the Arts Barns’ Studio Theatre until Oct. 27, it’s a fitting setting for a play […]
BREAKING VLAD: Lenin’s Embalmers a dark riot
The story of ancient Egypt’s effort to preserve the earthy remains of their citizens is well known – through endless television documentaries, learned books and “B” grade Universal Studio horrors. But the 2600 B.C. Egyptian necromancers are pikers compared to the Soviets. That revered father of the revolution, Vladimir Lenin, who died in 1924, lies […]
Triangle Factory Fire Project a distressingly familiar tragedy
To launch its 60th season, Walterdale Theatre has chosen The Triangle Factory Fire Project, a highly dramatic retelling of the deadliest industrial disaster in New York’s history. Similar recent worldwide events have served to tear the Century-old disaster out of the dusty pages of newspapers and into a renewed currency. The play runs until Oct. […]
REVIEW: It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad Lemoine world!
Skirts On Fire takes Stewart Lemoine’s usual volatile collection of eccentrics and cheery misfits, vigorously shakes them together and sets them to fizzing like an exotic cocktail. If you’re looking for an existential probe of humanity’s existence you’re searching the wrong planet. A remount playing at the Varscona Theatre through October 13, Lemoine’s 1950s New […]
REVIEW: Once, twice, three times we love you!
“Let me entertain you!” sings Baby Rose in Gypsy, giving voice to what might be called the mantra of the American musical. Once, the new musical currently gracing the Shoctor Stage of the Citadel Theatre, demonstrates with a cunning combination of simplicity, heart and charm that a great musical doesn’t have to pound you into […]
The Book of Mormon a surprise – not a spoof
Ding! Dong! There they are at the door bell again – the two earnest young men in dark suits, white shirts and ties, sure of their mission, clutching their theological tomes and looking for converts. Elder Price and Elder Cunningham are back ringing promoting THE WORD as revealed to that “All-American prophet,” Joseph Smith. The […]
Two Good Knights make one great night
The Mayfield Dinner Theatre opens its fall season with yet another of its popular chart-topping music celebrations. This time it’s a British bash called Two Good Knights, highlighting the careers of two of Old Blighty’s living legends: Tom Jones and Elton John. When the now Sir Thomas John Woodward (OBE) began to release records in […]
FRINGE: 2 plays that TAKE A CHANCE
One of the great joys of the Fringe is taking a chance. If you have an hour or two, just walk between the venues and choose a show at random. Turn to the right and you get something memorable – turn the other way and it may stink up the joint. Today, For Now (Stage […]
REVIEW: 1 more 5 out of 5 MASTER of the Fringe!
The Zoo Story (Stage 17), like Charlie Brown, Little Shop of Horrors and almost anything by Daniel MacIvor, is a hardy Fringe perennial that keeps coming back. And why not? It’s a challenging little gem written in his youth by Edward Albee (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf) on his way to theatrical glory. All it […]
FRINGE: 3 captivating COMEDIES
The Red Bastard – aka Eric Davis – practices a form of audience participation called “bouffon,” in which an outrageous character engages the audience in an intimate exchange. He’s the archetypal clown, and because of our classic view of fools and jesters, he can be allowed anything. Davis’s new show is called RED BASTARD: Lie […]
FRINGE: 2 marvelous MUSICALS
Last year, a 100-year-old songstress was the best-selling recording artist of the year in Britain – beating Adele, among others. With her clear pop soprano voice, Dame Vera Lynn became inextricably woven into the matrix of defiance that sustained Britain in the gloomiest days of World War 2 – as the beleaguered country stood (mostly […]
FRINGE MASTERS (Part 3): Bravo Brio! T.J. Dawe!
Stewart Lemoine’s main offering this year is unlike anything he has ever written before. He calls it A Lesson in Brio (Stage 12). It’s not really a lesson. It’s not a play. Or a musical. At times, it’s quite funny – but it’s not a comedy. The playwright gives a few clues as to what […]
