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The Fate of Robert Southwestern Ontario just can’t get enough of the Donnelly story.  If you live in this area, you know the story, you’ve been to Lucan, you’ve sung the songs, and you’ve seen it on stage.  In fact, there are many stage versions of the Donnelly story, each more popular than the last.  […]

Missing your Mom Denise Mader, in her one-woman show now on stage at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, moves us from hilarious silliness to overwhelming sadness, and then brings us around to foreseeing her happy future.  It’s an autobiographical story, where Mader talks to the audience as if we were friends sitting at her kitchen

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd may not be everyone’s favourite musical, but the production now on stage at the Shaw Festival Theatre will thrill any fans of horror musical theatre. With Stephen Sondheim’s fast-paced music and lyrics telling the story, there are very few spoken words.  To get the most from this

Age, Race and Discrimination We feel despair for the bigotry rearing its ugly head around the world today.  “Master Harold” … and The Boys now on stage at the Shaw Festival reminds us that racism was entrenched in 1950 and shows us that it is taught, continues to be taught, and therefore continues to spread

The Value of Literature So what’s the best way to make a book more popular?  Try to ban it. Margaret Laurence became my favourite author, right after I heard they were trying to ban The Diviners. In marathon reading sessions, I devoured The Diviners and went on to read the rest of her wonderful books.

An Afternoon’s Chat The first thing Michael Learned wants to explain is her name…yes, she was named Michael by her parents:  it is her real name and her full name.  She has no middle name.  It is not a made-up name for acting.  Why did her parents give her a boy’s name?  She was the

Old Favourite Revived at a Fast Pace It’s an oldie but a goodie – the musical Anything Goes was written a full 82 years ago.  As you watch this show, keep in mind that this material was cutting edge in 1934.  It may even have been considered scandalous! But the production now on stage at

Children are Maggots Matilda is one of those shows grandparents and parents can enjoy, along with the kids.  It’s based on the British children’s story and while much of it is adult humour, kids will really enjoy it.  It’s typical of author Roald Dahl’s books – an evil adult makes life horrible for children, but

Talking to the Neighbour Lady Set in 1956, Hilda’s Yard, now on stage at Playhouse II in Grand Bend, at first seems to be a nostalgic look back at the good old days.  There’s the neat back yard, the tin awning over the back porch, and Hilda hanging the wash on the clothesline, talking to

A Beautiful Friendship A heartwarming, well-directed, well-acted production of Driving Miss Daisy is on stage at the Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia.  Anyone wanting to see this play should order tickets immediately, because it will sell out thanks to the star-power of Michael Learned in the role of Daisy. Michael Learned, you’ll recall, was TV’s Ma