Dance Legends ~ A Salute to Movers & Shakers

Conceived and Directed by Alex Mustakas
Orchestrations and Vocal Arrangements by Robert Foster
Choreographed by Gino Berti and 8 others
Musical direction by Michael Lerner
Performed by 16 dancers
Vocals by Melissa O’Neil and Mark Cassius
Drayton Entertainment Production
Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend
August 10 to September 4, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
They not only [...]

For The Pleasure of Seeing Her Again

Written by Michel Tremblay
Translated by Linda Gaboriau
Directed by Chris Abraham
Performed by Lucy Peacock and Tom Rooney
Stratford Shakespeare Festival Production
Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
August 11 to September 26, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
A Tribute to an Artist’s Mother
What is most impressive about For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, now playing at [...]

Separate Beds

Written by Maryjane Cruise
Directed by Adam Furfaro
Performed by Melodee Finlay and Brian McKay
Drayton Entertainment Production
Playhouse II, Grand Bend
August 5 to September 4, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
Cruise Ship Comedy
Separate Beds is a unique little comedy about life on a cruise ship, now playing at Playhouse II, the smaller venue at Huron Country Playhouse in Grand [...]

Evita
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Directed by Gary Griffin
Choreographed by Tracey Flye
Musical direction by Rick Fox
Performed by Chilina Kennedy, Josh Young, Juan Chioran, Jose Marasco, Vince Staltari, et al.
Avon Theatre
Stratford Festival
May 28 to October 30, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
An Intense Evita
The Stratford Festival’s production of Evita is a very intense rock opera, now [...]

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris

Production conception, English lyrics and additional material by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman
Music by Jacques Brel
Directed by Stafford Arima
Musical director Laura Burton
Performed by Jewelle Blackman, Brent Carver, Mike Nadajewski, Nathalie Nadon.
Stratford Festival Production
Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
May 14 to September 25, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
From Brussels to [...]

Kiss Me, Kate

Written by Sam & Bella Spewak
Music & Lyrics by Cole Porter
Directed by John Doyle
Choreographed by Tracey Flye
Musical direction by Franklin Brasz
Performed by Juan Chioran, Monique Lund, Chilena Kennedy, Steve Ross, Cliff Saunders.
Stratford Festival
April 10 to October 30, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
The Taming of Kiss Me, Kate
Director John Doyle does not tame this production [...]

As You Like It

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performed by Brent Carver, Ben Carlson, Cara Ricketts, Paul Nolan, Andrea Runge.
Stratford Festival
April 30 to October 31, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
A Very Likeable As You Like It
If you like Shakespearean comedies, then you’ll love As You Like It. The Stratford Festival 2010 season opener is Shakespearean comedy [...]

Harvey
Written by Mary Chase
Directed by Jospeh Ziegler
Performed by Peter Krantz, Mary Haney, Norman Browning et al
Shaw Festival Production
Royal George Theatre
April 1 to October 31, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
Genteel Ways, Giant Rabbit
 The story of Harvey and his endearing companion, Elwood P. Dowd, hit Hollywood’s big screens 60 years ago.  The movie version is based on a [...]

One Touch of Venus
ritten by Ogden Nash and S. J. Perelman
Music by Kurt Weill, Lyrics by Ogden Nash
Directed by Eda Holmes
Choreographed by Michael Lichtefeld
Musical direction by Ryan deSouza
Performed by Robin Evan Willis, Kyle Blair, Deborah Hay & Mark Uhre
Shaw Festival
Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
May 16 to October 10, 2010
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
One Touch needs finishing touch
One [...]

Rock of Ages

Written by Chris D’Arienzo
Directed by Kristin Hanggi, Associate Director Adam John Hunter, Resident Director David Connolly
Choreographed by Kelly Devine
Musical supervision by Ethan Popp
Performed by Yvan Pedneault, Elicia MacKenzie, David W.  Keeley, Aaron Walpole, Cody Scott Lancaster, et al.
Mirvish Production
Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
May 11, 2010 – open run
Reviewed by Mary Alderson 
 Rock of Ages:  Not [...]