Archives

A Few Laughs in a Dated Script Reviewed by Sookie Mei Port Stanley Theatre Festival is smack-dab in the middle of its season, with Wrong For Each Other the third play of six in the line-up, and it feels a bit like they have turned on the auto pilot.  An oft-produced show, Norm Foster’s script […]

Carole King’s Story: A Musical Memory Lane Reviewed by Vicki Stokes Huron Country Playhouse is now in full operation with the opening of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on the Mainstage, the larger of the two venues. Once again, Drayton Entertainment is bringing affordable, high-quality entertainment to the Grand Bend area. This music-filled production is

Rousingly Beautiful, This Show Touches your Heart   Reviewed by Holly Wenning It’s been a while since I’ve seen a production at Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia, and I loved how different, poignant, and thoughtful this show was. Where the Heart Is continues on stage at VPP until June 25. Director David Hogan opened the preshow,

A Truly Canadian Soul Reviewed by Mary Alderson If you like a true story of someone overcoming a difficult childhood and somehow moving on to reach a goal, then you’ll enjoy the The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom. Like all Tom Connors’ songs, this musical tells a tale. The story of how little Tommy eventually becomes

Let Dorothy and Her Friends Entertain You Reviewed by Vicki Stokes All is wonderful in the town of Bayfield for Dorothy and her friends (friends of Dorothy, if you will!) That is until Toto gets into mischief with the terrible Gulch. The adventure of this fun cast of characters is a must-see for families with

Is it Only a Disappearing Act? Reviewed by Mary Alderson In 2018, Stratford Festival included in its roster the play Napoli Milionaria! by Eduardo de Filippo. Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino directed it. It was a fascinating story about life in Italy in World War II. Based on that success, Cimolino is directing Grand Magic by

Forget Regret, or Life is Yours to Miss Note: Rent has been extended to November 5. Reviewed by Mary Alderson It’s a story about the lack of affordable housing, about drug and alcohol addiction, about violence in the streets, about police brutality, about homophobia and prejudice, and about the deadly rise in HIV/AIDS. It doesn’t

“I Fart in your General Direction” Note:  Spamalot has been extended until November 18, 2023.  Reviewed by Mary Alderson Here is how I would sum up opening night of Spamalot at Stratford Festival: Wow, did it ever feel good to laugh. And there were many, many laugh-out-loud moments. Don’t tell me you’re not going because

Dark Humour with a Different Lear Reviewed by Mary Alderson How wonderful to have Stratford Festival return to the grandeur of the opening week, something we haven’t seen since 2019. It felt like all the pomp and circumstance was back in place after Covid wreaked havoc with the last three seasons. In hopes of filling

Everything’s Coming Up Roses Reviewed by Mary Alderson Gypsy has just opened in Niagara-on-the-Lake on the Shaw Festival Stage. Kate Hennig owns that stage and rightly so – she is Rose, the ultimate stage mother. She makes the role her own. Rose is a narcissist, wanting all the attention for herself, and expecting her daughters