Tom Thomson: The Art and the Mystery    I love to hear Canadian stories and Colours in the Storm is a captivating story, because it is about a fascinating figure, Tom Thomson. He is, of course, famous for his art.  His paintings of Algonquin Park are recognized as Canada’s best.  He directly influenced other painters […]

Joey Smallwood’s Newfoundland or Old Lost Land?     I really enjoyed the novel The Colony of Unrequited Dreams when it came out in 1999.  Author Wayne Johnston tells the story of Joey Smallwood and how he gained enough power to bring Newfoundland into Canada in 1949, becoming its first premier.  The book includes the fictional […]

History Lesson, Laughs, and Nudity     Based on a true story dating back to World War II, Mrs Henderson Presents, now on stage at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, is a musical of irreverent fun set against the horrors of war.  This musical follows on the 2006 movie of the same name, starring the […]

This Joseph is Faster and Funnier   I can’t count how many times I’ve seen Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – it’s been very popular with both regional theatre and community theatre ever since Donnie Osmond played the title role in Toronto.  The production of this audience favourite, now on stage at the Dunfield Theatre […]

In the Eyes of the Beholder    What is art?  I regularly take our dog on walks to a parkette where we pass a big round metal ball, probably as high as I am, painted black.  I don’t let the dog lift his leg as we go by, because the plaque next to it indicates […]

Hearing the Late, Great Whitney Houston’s Hits    If you’re a fan of the late Whitney Houston, then you will enjoy The Bodyguard, a musical version of the old movie, now on stage in Toronto at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. The movie was a hit back in 1992 – a romantic thriller showcasing Whitney Houston […]

All the Dance Moves and Angst   If you were 20ish in 1977, no doubt the songs of the BeeGees are burned into your mind. You likely saw Saturday Night Fever on a movie date.  And those feelings of nostalgia account for the popularity of the musical Saturday Night Fever. Disco favourites like the BeeGees’ […]

The Queen and her Prime Ministers: Fiction or Fact? The Audience is a fascinating play about the weekly meetings Queen Elizabeth has had with the various prime ministers since her coronation.  Of course, anything said in these weekly “audiences” between these two leaders of Great Britain is held in strict confidence, so we have no […]