The Life and Times of The Temptations    Those of us who grew up in southwestern Ontario within the airwaves of The Big 8 CKLW knew The Temptations and every one of their songs.  While Berry Gordy’s Motown is credited with making them famous, the Canadian radio station and its millions of listeners on both […]

Big Music, Big Voices, Big Theatrics Note:  Bat out of Hell has returned to Toronto after its run here a year ago.  It will be at the Ed Mirvish Theatre October 16 to November 3, 2018.  Andrew Polec continues in the lead role, but some cast members have changed since this review was written in […]

The Possible Dream The story of the Man of La Mancha is one of dreaming and then achieving the impossible dream.  The production now on stage at the Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge is indeed a story of achievement.  Not only did Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment, envision and then build the theatre; […]

From the Big Screen to the Creative Stage    There was quite a bit of buzz surrounding Drayton Entertainment’s plan to host the Canadian premiere of Ghost.  How could you take the very popular 1990 movie with Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg and attempt to reduce it for the stage?  That was the […]

Whodunnit?  You Decide Shear Madness is sheer silliness.  It also tests each actor’s aptitude for improv.  Fortunately this cast, now on stage at St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre, is up to the task.  They must be ready for any scenario and any audience interruption.  They also have to handle any of their fellow cast-mates who may “corpse”.  […]

Beware the Ides of March, or Julie, Don’t Go! Director Scott Wentworth has given us a new Julius Caesar for our consideration.  Stratford favourite Seana McKenna is taking on the male role, and certainly doing it justice.  Other women are also in the lead roles, playing the parts of men.  After the first few minutes, […]

Italy, World War II and the Black Market    Stratford Festival has billed Napoli Milionaria! as “a sparkling and warm-hearted comedy”, but the description needs to be more specific.  Perhaps Act I is a comedy, but I still wouldn’t describe it as “sparkling”.  And Act II and Act III are not comedies.  The story turns […]

Amazing Modernization of Coriolanus Note:  Extended to November 3.  Stratford Festival is making Shakespeare “woke”.  If the goal of a Shakespearean festival is to get young people interested in the Bard, this production of Coriolanus should do it, if anything will.  (Just to get all my readers woke – it means to suddenly become understanding […]

Martha Henry is Spellbinding as Prospero    There is magic when Prospero raises her staff on the Festival Stage in Stratford in The Tempest.  Martha Henry in the iconic role of Prospero conjures the magic and holds our attention for over two and a half hours. Where was the magic back on May 28, The […]

Yee Haw – Y’All Be Havin’ Lotsa Fun! Note: This was reviewed at Playhouse II, Grand Bend.  Stacey Kay is now in the role formerly played by Kelly Holiff.  Now at King’s Wharf Theatre, Penetanguishene, September 13 to 30, 2018 and Drayton Festival Theatre, Drayton, October 5 to 14, 2018   It might feel like the […]