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An Evening of Wit, Wonder and World-Class Theatre Reviewed by Kim Kaitell Few plays have achieved the enduring legacy of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and after seeing this Stratford Festival production at the Avon Theatre, it is easy to understand why. It was an honour and a privilege to review a work […]

“I’m the Greatest Star, I am by Far”    Reviewed by Mary Alderson Funny Girl is a musical that’s not been performed on stage very often. In fact, this production at the Shaw Festival is only the 3rd time it’s been done in Canada. There’s a simple reason – the decision-makers are afraid that no

A Hilarious Romp through a British Farce Reviewed by Mary Alderson All the clichés fit Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense. This play is a “zany romp” and a “silly farce”, with “laugh-a-minute knee slappers” and “non-stop hilarity” in a “mad-cap comedy” that will “have you in stitches”. Need I say more? I cannot give

Will He Ever Show Up? Reviewed by Mary Alderson In the TV series Seinfeld, the character George Costanza famously pitches the idea of “a show about nothing” to NBC executives. Many people thought that the series itself was about nothing: just the day-to-day mundane activities of four quirky people. Well, Waiting for Godot is a

Reimagining a Classic Tale Reviewed by Vicki Stokes It’s been nearly 100 years since J.R.R. Tolkien began writing the children’s story The Hobbit, which became one of the best-selling books and has mostly stood the test of time. It has been reimagined in comics, graphic novels, movies and stage plays. The Stratford Festival’s reimagining, adapted

When Shakespeare Doesn’t Know Best Reviewed by Mary Alderson Something Rotten! is the perfect show for the Stratford Festival. It mocks Shakespeare and musicals, ridiculing them both equally, proving there’s something for everyone. Despite poking fun at musicals, the dancing and singing are amazing. This show is truly one you should not miss. I can’t

Can Habitual Lying Kill You? Willy Loman always thought of himself as an excellent salesman. He was going to climb to the top, get a new territory, make more money. Years go by and nothing changes, but he continues to lie to himself and his family about how well he is doing. It’s the lack

The Battle of the Saints and the Sinners Reviewed by Mary Alderson The Saints are the people of the Save-Our-Souls Mission, a Salvation-Army-like group, who parade the streets of New York with their meagre marching band, trying to bring lost souls back to their Mission, for a Bible-thumping soul-saving meeting. The Sinners are the guys:

“Rough Magic” from Prospero and Ariel Reviewed by Mary Alderson We are tossed at sea as The Tempest begins on Stratford Festival’s opening night May 25. Never has such a storm, with lightning bolts and thunder rumbling, overtaken the ship as it nears the island where Prospero, the Duke of Milan, has made his home,

Strong Women, Modern Music, Great Voices & Funny Reviewed by Mary Alderson To really enjoy & Juliet, you need to be familiar with the original Romeo & Juliet. You know, the one by William Shakespeare where they end up dead. And then forget it, and suspend your belief in Shakespearean literature. & Juliet is a