Archives

A Sad Love Story Sweetened with Song The show, Once, is not a musical: it’s actually a play that includes music. But the music is woven throughout this heartwarming story, making this show such a wonderful experience.  Now on stage at London’s Grand Theatre, Once involves the audience, and then gives them a look into […]

Eighties Rock ‘n’ Roll Anthems are not Hymns    Artistic Director Alex Mustakas is worried about Drayton Entertainment’s production of Rock of Ages, on stage now at the Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge.  He is concerned it will offend subscribers:  they may not be the right demographic.  So there are warnings attached:  the website says “Caution:

From Christopher’s Point of View    The novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was originally published in 2003 to critical acclaim and became a best seller. The book is fascinating because it is written from the point of view of a 15 year old boy who apparently has a mild form

Caught Between Guilt and Grief It’s a fear of mine.  You are saying “See you later” to someone, and it’s not a proper goodbye.  Then as they depart, you think, what if I don’t see them again, and I didn’t give them a hug? This fear is just one small part of the intricate story

Hitchcock Movie Tries to Make the Switch to Stage     The 39 Steps, a 1930s Alfred Hitchcock thriller movie, has been very successfully revised for stage and turned into a hilarious comedy.  Now, Hitchcock’s 1960s movie, North by Northwest, has also been adapted for stage, but I’m not sure if it remains a thriller or

Students bring Argentina to the Professional Stage    The story of poor, little Eva Duarte who manipulated her way to the top in Argentina, is fascinating.  Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical has been popular since it was first staged in London’s West End in 1978 and then on Broadway in 1979.  This epic

Lively, High Energy Mix of Entertainment We’re not sure if Rockabilly Swingtime is really the right name for the musical revue currently on stage at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia.  In fact, it would be more aptly called “A Catch-All of our Favourite Lively Tunes” or something to that effect.  Nevertheless, it offers a very entertaining collage

Three Fascinating Stories plus Amazing Voices    There are three true stories being told on stage at Victoria Playhouse that we all need to hear.  As well, there are amazing voices singing with such beauty that it will do your heart good to hear. The story of Canada’s first black singing star, Portia White, is

Ipperwash: A Haunting Stony Point Story    Taking on sensitive issues is not new for the Blyth Festival. The world premiere of Ipperwash, which is now in repertoire on their main stage, could be a very controversial story.  But playwrights Falen Johnson and Jessica Carmichael have presented an interesting look at land appropriation, using the

One for the Pot AKA The Eddie Glen Show   For fans of British farce, One for the Pot has it all: slamming doors, look-alike characters, mistaken identities, a silly plot and lots of laughs. This ridiculous farce has the audience hooting heartily, and is on stage at Playhouse II in Grand Bend, for the