Archives

Bah, Humbug?    Upstairs at London’s Grand Theatre, the Wizard of Oz is a humbug.  Downstairs in the McManus Studio Theatre, we can hear Scrooge saying “Bah, humbug” but his alter-ego, Rod Beattie is not a humbug.  Beattie is the real deal when it comes to acting all the roles in the classic A Christmas […]

There’s No Place Like Home London’s Grand Theatre, apparently, has a plan to produce Wizard of Oz every seven years.  It was their Christmas musical in 2002 and again in 2009.  As former Artistic Director Susan Ferley pointed out, seven years is a lifetime for their target audience. And so, for the third time in

The Ugliest Step-Sisters    Drayton Entertainment has hit the mark again, with a panto that offers lots of fun for the wee ones and enough laughs to keep Mom & Dad or Grandma & Grandpa entertained.  Caroline Smith, the same playwright who brought us the Aladdin and Snow White pantos is back with her tried

It’s Fabulous, Baby! A fake nun with a big heart changes the future of a dying parish – it’s a good story, a great movie and an even better live musical.  On stage now at the Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge, Sister Act is a well-polished presentation with lively entertainment, guaranteed to make you smile. When

Cooking with Acrobats   In 2002, seven self-described circus artists came together in Montreal to form Les 7 Doigts or The 7 Fingers. Following on the success of Cirque de Soliel, they have been gathering acrobats, gymnasts and trapeze artists from around the world and putting together shows for the last 15 years.  Their latest

Appreciating Joni’s Lyrics and Music The show Joni Mitchell: River is the season opener on stage at London’s Grand Theatre.  Before I can tell you about it, I need to tell you what it’s not. It’s not the story of Joni’s life; there are no words spoken, nor any account acted.  It’s not an impersonation

Please Note: This review was written in July 2015 when this production of Footloose was in Grand Bend.  The show has now been remounted at the Dunfield Theatre, Cambridge, on stage until October 30, 2016. There are some cast changes.  Call the Box Office: 1-855-drayton (372-9866) for tickets.  Everybody Cut Loose! Time-travelling back to the 1980s is the

Terry Fox Musical Remembers and Raises Hope You might think that Terry Fox’s story isn’t suitable material for a musical.  Or maybe you think the subject matter is too depressing. But strangely enough, this new Canadian musical making its debut at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse is actually uplifting.  We know the outcome – Terry doesn’t

Student Ensemble Thrills Audience with Glorious Anthems of Les Mis The Grand Theatre is celebrating 20 years of High School Projects with the opening of Les Misérables which includes a cast of 47, plus 17 crew members and three student musicians.  And this year, the ensemble shines, raising the roof and filling the house with

Canada’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Deejay A fascinating story is being told on stage at the cabaret-style Schoolhouse Theatre in St. Jacobs.   Here in Ontario we aren’t familiar with this west coast legend, so this lively little musical is actually an educational experience as well as very entertaining.  We learn about ground-breaking disc jockey Red Robinson,