PLAYBILL: Be like Scrooge
Life is so unfair. The central character in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol experiences an epiphany of goodness and a complete change of heart by the end of his harrowing ghost story – much like the Grinch whose heart grew three sizes that day – and becomes the most kind, generous, warm, “Christmasy” person you […]
WEEKLY PLAYBILL: Mobile homophobia
You know you’re trailer trash when … … you own a home that’s mobile and five cars that aren’t. … your house doesn’t have curtains – but your truck does. … if anyone in your family has died right after saying, “Hey, watch this!” No, it’s not Jeff Foxworthy. Quite the opposite. These lines come […]
WEEKLY PLAYBILL: ABBA cadabra!
November is a huge month for live theatre in Edmonton – almost a dozen openings, at last rough count. At the top of the list of the songs you can’t get out of your head this week is Mamma Mia, at the Jubilee Auditorium for five shows Nov. 11-13. Short run, big bang. What’s this […]
Million Dollar Quartet comes to life
Jukebox Musicals have been all the rage on Broadway. Examples include Buddy (Holly), Jersey Boys (about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons) and the godmother of them all, Mamma Mia (ABBA). Included in that list is the current attraction at the Citadel Theatre, Million Dollar Quartet. This production is simply superb. It was assembled by […]
Bittergirl triumphs over heartbreak
The hilarious musical Bittergirl comes to the Citadel Theatre after generating years of audience laughter in its various forms – but there are deeper, timeless issues here. The original play was the brainchild of three women, Annabel Fitzsimmons, Mary Francis Moore and Alison Lawrence, who had been dumped by their respective boyfriends (and husband). Rather […]
Curious Incident a chilling transport to autistic mind
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a multi-level theatrical adventure that insists on you becoming part of the experience. Opening the Citadel’s season on the Shoctor Stage until Oct. 9, the play is based on Mark Haddon’s bestseller about an autistic teen, and transposed into theatrical terms by playwright Simon Stephens. […]
REVIEW: West Side Story a vibrant revival
Back in 2005 when director Bob Baker brought his superlative production of West Side Story to the Citadel there was a feeling of it being “unfinished” – the run ended too soon. Audiences were clamouring for tickets – the performers certainly felt they had more to offer. But it was a co-production with a Calgary […]
REVIEW: Alice a psychedelic, hilarious trip
Alice Through the Looking-Glass explodes onto the Citadel Theatre stage with an all-Edmonton cast – all 15 of them – and the exuberance of an eight-year-old on a sugar high. Director Jillian Keiley and Edmonton designer Bretta Gerecke have dug deeply into their inner urchins and come up with a visually fantastic universe, based on […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Country is as country does
It would be an excellent weekend to dust off that cowboy hat in the back of your closet. You do have a cowboy hat in the back of your closet, don’t you? If not, check your head. Big names in the gig calendar make this a real country weekend. Blue Rodeo is in town for […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Aoki dokey to eclectic weekend
While all eyes are on Rexall Place for Sunday night’s performance by the renowned Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, the rest of the weekend promises a little something for everyone. From top electronic with Steve Aoki, to folk-rock with The Stanfields and Chris Carrabba’s new project, Twin Forks, all the way to country and […]
Jewish film asks awkward question: What DID grandpa do in the war?
You’d be upset, too, if you discovered that your Jewish grandparents partied with Nazis – an astounding example of “temporary mutual interest.” Playing at the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival that runs May 26-29, The Flat starts with a very ordinary scene familiar to everyone of a certain age, and not at first something you’d think […]
WEEKEND MUSIC: Dostoyevsky ghosts haunt indie folk from Seattle
There’s an intriguing suite of live music choices this weekend – from album releases to music about chocolate to an after-party for a craft fair, the one can’t-miss show is an early gig Friday at the Pawn Shop featuring Seattle’s Ivan & Alyosha. The wondrous spirit of his indie folk quartet is matched if not […]
