By Mary Alderson in collaboration with Vicki Stokes, Sookie Mei, Debbie McClure, Kim Kaitell and Hazel Fowler.
Now that 2024 is behind us, Entertain This Thought has a round-up of favourite shows we saw over the year. With nominations from our team, Vicki Stokes, Sookie Mei, Debbie McClure, Kim Kaitell, and junior reviewer Hazel Fowler, I have collected a list of those we felt were among the best. To read our reviews, just click the link on the show title.
Outstanding Musical – It’s a tie: Something Rotten and La Cage aux Folles, both at the Stratford Festival. Stratford, of course, has built a reputation for great musicals – the best singers, dancers and actors fill their stages. But 2024 saw two equally good musicals, both with large casts. Something Rotten was a hilarious mockery of both Shakespeare and musicals. The crazy costumes (eggs that became omelettes?) and outstanding dancers made the show. La Cage aux Folles was a delightful and touching story that included many laugh-out-loud moments. A sweet family story that also takes a jab at right wing politicians, La Cage also had amazing dancers: amazing because they were men in high heels!
Honourable Mention goes to The Sound of Music at London’s Grand Theatre. Reviewer Kim Kaitell points out how difficult it is for this classic musical to live up to Julie Andrews’ 1965 film that everyone knows so well. But she says that Dominique LeBlanc stepped easily into the role of Maria, with a gentle heart, a touch of quick humour, and a mellifluous voice. The children were wonderful, and Janelle Cooper as Mother Abbess had the wow factor with outstanding vocals and stage presence.
Outstanding Comedy – Again, we have a tie, and both winning plays are written by Kristen Da Silva, Canada’s own playwright with a special knack for making life’s problems funny. Reviewer Sookie Mei enjoyed Hurry Hard, the curling comedy at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre. The script melds comedy with very realistic life experiences – divorce, jealousy, aging, crushed dreams – and the result was a feel-good show that avoids too much broad humour or fluffiness. I liked Where You Are at the Globus Theatre, Bobcaygeon, which was a story about a dysfunctional family where all the members keep secrets from each other. One-liners had the audience laughing, while at the same time the story pulled at your heartstrings.
Outstanding Drama – Hedda Gabler at the Stratford Festival was simply draining. Sara Topham as the controlling narcissist Hedda, and Tom McCamus as the calculating and devious Judge Brack had the audience on the edge of their seats in this dark drama, as it came to its shocking conclusion.
Outstanding Dramedy – Another tie! Combing comedy with drama were Tuesdays with Morrie at Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia and The Trials of Maggie Pollock at the Blyth Festival, Blyth. Reviewer Vicki Stokes says that it was the cast that made Tuesdays with Morrie outstanding. Keith Savage exuded outward caring as Morrie, the dying professor, and Michael Van Hevel was the embodiment of Albom with his success and enthusiasm for life, and together their rapport was genuine, a warm father/son type of relationship, Reviewer Debbie McClure says the characters in The Trials of Maggie Pollock were well portrayed, the set design was good, and while the subject matter (witch craft) was serious, the one-liners and quips had the audience laughing. The fact that the play was based on a true local story also made it quite appealing.
Outstanding Performance in a Musical – Alex Mustakas as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, at Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend. The CEO of Drayton Entertainment took on the demanding role and Vicki Stokes tells us he was absolutely outstanding. She says he played the role of Tevye with such authenticity that it makes one wonder if he drew some of his inspiration from his immigrant parents. I’m not surprised. I remember his amazing performance of Don Quixotes/Cervantes in Man of La Mancha in 2018. Also outstanding in a musical was Kristi Frank, who shone brilliantly as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Her transition from lowly guttersnipe to the belle of the ball was dazzling.
Outstanding Performance in a Comedy – Deborah Hay in London Assurance. She owned the stage as Lady Gay Spanker. Hay’s brilliance as a comedic actor certainly shone in this production, and she kept the audience in stitches, with her reactions to the attention from Sir Harcourt and her elderly husband Adolphus.
Outstanding Performance in a Drama – Lucy Peacock in The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? at the Studio Theatre, Stratford Festival. Lucy Peacock as Stevie was the betrayed wife. Her hurt and fury was palpable. She smashed the décor with a rage that everyone in the room felt.
Most Promising Newcomer – Kira Shuit for their performance in the role of Wendy in The Perils of Persephone at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre. Their sweet nature was genuine and real in this Dan Needles play.
Outstanding Cast in a Musical – Something Rotten and La Cage aux Folles were both well cast from the stars through to every member of the ensemble. Mark Uhre was brilliantly hilarious as Nick Bottom in Something Rotten, and Sean Arbuckle and Steve Ross charmed us in La Cage. The outstanding dancers in both shows deserve special recognition.
Outstanding Cast in a Comedy – James Barrett, Sarah Quick, Lisa Horner, and Matthew Olver in The Dating Game, Globus Theatre, Bobcaygeon. These two real-life couples gave us plenty of laughs, especially in the various roles they take on. They are skilled comic actors who do it so well.
Outstanding Cast in a Drama – Salesman in China at the Avon Theatre, Stratford Festival. This cast handled this unusual story very well, giving the audience time to keep up with the subtitles. Adrian Pang 彭耀順 as Ying Ruocheng and Tom McCamus as Arthur Miller were exceptional in their roles, and the supporting cast was outstanding.
Outstanding Children’s Shows – Aladdin at Globus Theatre, Bobcaygeon. I took my junior theatre critic, four-year-old granddaughter Hazel, to the four shows mentioned here, and this is her reaction and explanations. We should note that these weren’t easy decisions: Hazel said “ummmmm” several times during her deliberations. Aladdin was her pick because she was invited on stage to take part in an action song, which was “really good”, and she also remembered to take a bow when the song finished. Also worth noting is that she enjoyed the pre-show dinner, in particular Globus’s famous basket of delicious fresh bread with yummy butter.
Honourable Mention – Rapunzel at the Capitol Theatre, Port Hope. Hazel knew the story of Tangled (Disney’s Rapunzel) and appreciated that the characters were the same but different. (Edited to add: Grandma and Grandpa had some laughs in the naughty version for adults.)
Best Actor/Cast in a Children’s Show – Hazel says it has to be Snail (Ben Page) in A Year with Frog and Toad, also at the Port Hope’s Capitol. She liked the way he ran fast and slow at the same time. She also enjoyed the chance to meet Frog (Joel Cumber) and Toad (Haneul Yi) at a special event at the Port Hope Public Library prior to the show.
And a special shout-out to Beauty and the Beast by the Northumberland Players of Cobourg. Hazel was spellbound, seeing all the cartoon characters come to life.
Outstanding Concert Show – Dear Rita presented by Tweed and Company at their theatre in Actinolite just north of Tweed. The story of Canadian singer Rita McNeil was touching and enlightening, learning so much about her life and hearing her familiar songs.
Tied with Dear Rita is Early Morning Rain at Globus Theatre, Bobcaygeon. Once again, Leisa Way and her band impressed us with her collection of songs and her background stories about the entertainer. This year it was the late Gordon Lightfoot and included a wonderful selection from his legacy of music.
Outstanding Audience Response – Jersey Boys at Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend. Jersey Boys is always a crowd pleaser, with its Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ hits. Vicki Stokes tells us that the Grand Bend audience really enjoyed this show, with long and loud applause.