THEATRE: Ron Pederson proves you can go home again
The case of actor Ron Pederson is more evidence supporting the old saying: You don’t know how good you’ve got it at home until you leave. From an almost sure shot at fame in Hollywood – where funny Canadians seem to shine – the former star of MAD-TV, writer-performer for the Craig Ferguson Show and […]
FESTIVAL SCORECARD: Too many festivals? Not enough festivals!
Edmonton is unique amongst Canadian cities in that we have five seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall and festival. Festival season is roughly defined as beginning with The Works Art and Design Festival and Edmonton International Jazz Festival in June, and ending with the Symphony Under the Sky near Labour Day. After that, it’s back to […]
STERLING AWARDS: No hard feelings from shut out Lemoine
It’s certainly nothing to stop the presses over – or whatever has replaced presses – to report that the Citadel Theatre once again cleaned up at the annual Sterling Awards, held Monday night. Edmonton’s most popular theatre took away seven of the awards (named after the late Edmonton theatre impresario Elizabeth Sterling Haynes), including outstanding […]
SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: Stephen Harper the Julius Caesar of his time?
Et tu, Ignatieff? Well, they don’t stab kings anymore. They just assassinate their character. But politics has changed little since politics was invented. Actor Kevin Sutley – who plays the titular character in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at the Freewill Shakespeare Festival – puts it like this, “This play is incredibly political, and it’s about […]
Apocalyptic Pagan rock opera to premiere at North Country Fair
Here’s a devilish scenario: What if – of all religions – Paganism turns out to be the correct one? Like, hey, didn’t see that coming. Imagine: The Mother Earth Goddess, aka Gaia, has been beaten and raped by humanity. Her husband, meanwhile, doesn’t know because he’s been asleep for several hundred years following an epic […]
Edmonton Pride Festival more than words
For those in the straightest quarters of Edmonton who don’t know, the word “Pride” in its proper form has come to mean “gay pride,” just as the word “gay” in all its meanings will apply to the big parade and subsequent party taking place Saturday at noon in downtown Edmonton. It’s the Edmonton Pride Parade. […]
SANE CLOWN POSSE: Cirque star brings new act to children’s festival
Clowning has become very serious business – thanks to Cirque du Soleil, which in turn owes a debt of gratitude to people like Dimitri Bogatirev. This man is a true Clown. Bringing his travelling three-clown circus Aga-Boom to the International Children’s Festival, opening Tuesday at St. Albert Place, the Ukrainian-born performer is a first rate […]
WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Die Nasty to end season with a real who-did-it
The burning question in the Italian town of Edmontonioni this weekend is: Who murdered the famous Parisian fashion designer Poni – whose real name turns out to be Antoine Horseman – at a potluck dinner held in his honour? (Insert cheesy organ, climbing up diminished chords to indicate mounting suspense, as needed.) Was it … […]
THEATRE: Little Elephants a peek into gently eccentric British family
The reason North Americans are so fascinated and amused by British people is a mystery. But at least now we have another reason to tune away from Coronation Street or the Royals visit coverage with another delightful peek into a typically barmy British family in Belinda Cornish’s new play, Little Elephants. It opens Thursday at […]
