Mary’s Musings

The Shaw Festival announced principal casting and creative team details for its 54th season. “I am very happy with our casting for the 2015 season,” said Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell. “It’s a vital and engaging combination of fresh faces, younger ensemble members stepping up and taking on leading roles, well-loved actors returning to The Shaw […]

October 20, 2014… From The Stratford Festival media release… Casting for the 2015 season of the Stratford Festival is under way with a number of key roles in place Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino is delighted to welcome back: Graham Abbey, Sarah Afful, Matt Alfano, Gabriel Antonacci, Matthew Armet, Maev Beaty, Carla Bennett, Evan Buliung, Jacqueline

From Shaw Festival media release… The 2015 season will feature Sweet Charity, Pygmalion, Light Up the Sky, Peter and the Starcatcher, You Never Can Tell, The Divine, The Lady from the Sea, Top Girls, The Twelve-Pound Look, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism with a Key to the Scriptures (IHO) and The Next

Exciting news from the Stratford Festival — announcing their 2015 Season August 25, 2014… Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino announces a season of Discovery for 2015 with 13 plays exploring eureka moments, whether they be scientific discoveries, creative accomplishments, the dawning of a deeper understanding of human nature or the epiphanies of self-knowledge. These themes, as they are

We went to see the Jersey Boys movie at the Kineto Theatre in Forest on Friday night — That gives me two good things to talk about here: First, Jersey Boys is a great movie.  The script is basically the same as the stage show, but of course, the movie allows for so much more

I saw five shows during opening week at Stratford, and I am impressed by how they all fit in to Stratford’s theme of madness.   King Lear is a study of dementia, where he slips in and out of reality.  It’s disturbing and depressing.   Man of La Mancha is also an examination of dementia, but he is happily

We had a new experience last Friday night.  We actually attended a premiere of a movie in Toronto.  No, sorry, there was no red carpet, but we were welcomed at the cinema by writer/composer/actor Eli Batalion.  Soon several of the stars arrived, and after purchasing the requisite popcorn, everyone headed into the theatre to see

In the past three years, I’ve seen Mary Poppins four times – Detroit, Toronto, Cambridge and Grand Bend.  And now, a trip to Halifax to see it again.  Why go see this show again, especially when I was already very familiar with the movie?  First, I’ll give you the long answer – It’s live theatre

We zoomed off to Chicago for the weekend (just a 6 hour drive from Strathroy) to see two shows. When I made the arrangements, I didn’t see any connection between the two. Gypsy is a long-time favourite musical of mine. It has a compelling story with wonderful songs. The lyrics, early Stephen Sondheim work, are

Hi Folks If we haven’t met yet, I’m Pippin, the newest member of the Alderson family. I moved in with them about six weeks ago when I adopted them. (They say they “rescued” me, I say I look after them.) We don’t know much about my previous family history. The vet tech who first met