A Strange but Compelling Play Before I begin, I have two confessions. First, I don’t like Homer’s Odyssey. I was forced to buy a very heavy copy of it as an undergrad English student. The spine was never cracked. Coles Notes got me through the finals, and that was all I wanted to know. Secondly, […]
When the Set Steals the Stage The Play That Goes Wrong, currently on stage in Toronto at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, is for anyone who has ever been involved with a play in high school, university, or community theatre. Actually, stagehands might appreciate this show even more than actors. As the title says, it’s about
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In the Battle of the Bands, School of Rock is a Winner If you were a fan of the 2003 movie, School of Rock, you will love this musical adaptation. Now on stage at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, it has stayed true to the performance that made Jack Black a favourite. Yes, there
Latest Roald Dahl Musical is More Frightening than Fun Matilda, the stage show based on the movie and taken from Roald Dahl’s book, was a big hit. I enjoyed the dark humour which made Matilda funny when it was on stage in Toronto in the 2016 Mirvish presentation. But that dark humour doesn’t translate well
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Canada’s Boys in World War I As we approach the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I – The Great War, The War to End All Wars, Timothy Findlay’s The Wars seems more poignant than ever. Now on stage at London’s Grand Theatre, the play certainly reinforces the Remembrance Day message – Lest
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Closed due to pandemic. The Life and Times of The Temptations Please note: This show was reviewed in Toronto in Fall 2018. It opened on Broadway March 21, 2019 at the Imperial Theatre, with the same cast. Those of us who grew up in southwestern Ontario within the airwaves of The Big 8 CKLW knew
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;
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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
Students Perform a True Life Student’s Story A real life story is brought to life on the Grand Theatre’s stage by the students of the High School Project. It all seems very appropriate, since most of the show is set in a high school gym, and most of the roles are for high school students.
