WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Bonfire Improv Festival opens Tuesday
Without Canadian comedy, American comedy would consist of Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy. And Dennis Miller on Fox. And without Edmonton comedy, Canadian comedy wouldn’t have SCTV, Kids in the Hall (to an albeit small extent) or the rich legacy of comedy improv forwarded by the redoubtable Rapid Fire Theatre company. Conclusion: Edmonton […]
REVIEW: Titanic, the musical, sinks
The Titanic will go on forever as a symbol of European industrial arrogance. It was – according to lyrics in a musical about the greatest nautical disaster in history – “the largest moving thing on Earth.” Its designer, owner and captain all thought it too big to sink, and thus deemed it unnecessary to provide […]
Titanic, the musical: Too soon or just in time?
A dramatic feature film that ends with Leonardo DiCaprio sinking to a watery grave is fine, but is it poor taste to stage a MUSICAL based on Titanic? Even after 100 years? Comedians often ask the same question about their jokes: how soon is too soon? Imagine a musical about the Japanese Tsunami or, perhaps […]
REVIEW: Blue Man Group an epic acid trip minus the acid
Blue Man Group has evolved from avant-garde darlings into an Les Biz theatre institution – and judging from its awe-inspiring show at the Jubilee Auditorium playing through April 1, it’s easy to see why. This is a must-see event. The original Blue Men creators of 20 years ago, Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink, […]
Cirque du Tom Waits to explore ‘visual music’ at the Arden Theatre
The members of L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres get some funny looks walking through airport security with a pair of hedge clippers. It’s part of their arsenal of unconventional musical instruments they’re bringing for a Tom Waits tribute at the Arden Theatre Tuesday and Wednesday. Not just any gardening shears will do. “Once you find the one that […]
THEATRE REVIEW: Ignorance is bliss
“Happiness gives our existence meaning,” the audience is informed at the top of the Old Trout Puppet Workshop’s new play Ignorance. However, the narrator adds, the average person experiences only 14 minutes of true happiness in his or her lifetime. As we listen to this, an innocent child is being strangled to death by one […]
O Sister, Where Art Thou? Anais Mitchell occupies Greek myth in Hadestown
Boy meets girl, girl gets bitten by a snake, dies and goes to hell, boy goes to rescue her, deals with the devil, but blows it at the end. The great thing about Greek mythology is that you don’t have to have studied Greek mythology to know the basics: Helen of Troy, the Trojan Horse, […]
THEATRE: Yuppies with kids behave badly in God of Carnage
If life has taught us one thing, it is this: If you want to anger someone, all you have to do is accuse them of being passive-aggressive. Want to piss them off even further? Show them you can dish out the “passive-aggressive” label, but can’t take it. This sure-fire method will have you pushing the […]
