By Mary Alderson in collaboration with Vicki Stokes, Sookie Mei, Debbie McClure, Sandi Laird and Hazel Fowler.
Now that 2025 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, and Sandi Laird, 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
This was the year for big musicals. My favourite was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Stratford Festival. Not just a hilariously funny script, the entire cast had comedy chops, and the dancing was superb.
Running a very close second is Annie, also at Stratford Festival. The same fleet footed dancers entertained brilliantly in both shows, and the orphan children were an amazing delight.
And a very close third goes to Anything Goes at the Shaw Festival: Spell-binding tap dancing throughout, along with a hilarious cast.
In contrast to these old favourites, Mirvish Productions gave us two new musicals.
Tell Tale Harbour was a wonderful story starring Allan Doyle of Great Big Sea fame, with the story based on the movie The Grand Seduction.
Mirvish also presented Bright Star, also known as the Steve Martin musical. Martin and a partner wrote the musical which features his beloved banjo music. The touching story was presented by a great team of actor-musicians.
Honourable mention goes to Jersey Boys at the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed. While this musical is always a crowd-pleaser, this production was exceptionally well-cast and it was a delight to see this show in a small, intimate theatre.
Outstanding Comedy
The Play That Goes Wrong on stage at London’s Grand Theatre was simply hilarious and the entire audience was with them, says reviewer Sandi Laird.
Here’s something interesting. Honourable mention goes to Liars at a Funeral. What makes this unusual is that this show was presented at two different theatres by to different theatre companies and two different casts. While I haven’t seen this play, the fact that two different reviewers cited this play as a great comedy tells me that it must have a great script.
Liars at a Funeral at Huron County Playhouse was the funniest play I saw last year, but I emphasized that it was cleverly written and acted. This farce was witty and keep everyone on the edge of their seat, says Vickie Stokes.
Similarly, at Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Sookie Mei picks Liars at a Funeral for the outstanding performance by Justin Otto, and the entire cast including Lia Luz, Sarah Machin Gale, Andy Pogson, and Barbara Saxberg.
Outstanding Drama
Macbeth at Stratford Festival, for the fascinating interpretation by director Robert Lepage, who set Shakespeare’s play in the Quebec biker gang wars of the 1990s. This Macbeth is holding fast to the same lust for power as the ancient Macbeth and has his wife, Lady Macbeth urging him on. But instead of sitting in a castle in a Scottish fiefdom in 1040, Lepage’s Macbeth is riding his motorcycle to a Montreal pool hall in 1990. Macbeth is the leader of a biker gang, prepared to kill off anyone who stands in his way, whether it be his own fellow gang members or rival bikers, to gain complete control.
Outstanding Musical/Dramedy
The Wind Coming Over the Sea was a gem at Blyth Festival. A musical but also a drama, with sweet moments, it told the Irish migration story and provided a personal connection for those who come from immigrant families. The audience was on stage making them part of the story.
Outstanding Performance in a Musical
Our top picks come from Huron Country Playhouse (Drayton Entertainment). Vickie Stokes picked two people. She was impressed with Mariah Campos as Evita in Evita. Evita is one of the most demanding roles in musical theatre and she nailed it. Another outstanding performance, also at Huron Country Playhouse was Robert Markus for his expressive portrayal of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Outstanding Performance in a Comedy
Marilu Murphy says that one actor stood out at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia, and that was Valerie Boyle in Nunsense. She was perfect for the part as Mother Superior. Her hilarious antics, and facial expressions brought to life their extremely amusing situation at the convent.
Outstanding Performance in a Drama
Tom McCamus as Macbeth with Lucy Peacock as Lady Macbeth were outstanding in Macbeth at Stratford Festival.
Outstanding Cast in a Musical
Rez Gas at The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope brought together many of Canada’s best indigenous actors. The acting was understated brilliance and the singing was excellent. Vinnie Alberto, Michelle Bardach, Dillan Meighan Chiblow, Jonathan Fisher, Nicole Joy-Fraser, and John Wamsley made up the Indigenous cast, with Emma Rudy as the non-Indigenous cast member. All gave clear and honest performances.
Outstanding Cast in a Comedy
The Beaver Club at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon offered an excellent cast for this very funny story of a women’s road trip. The cast included this hilarious group: Linda Goranson as Yvette, Sarah Quick as Karen, Anna Silvija Broks as Radiance, and Barb Scheffler (the playwright) as Eunice.
Outstanding Cast in a Drama
Bluebirds produced by Theatre on the Ridge at Scugog Shores Museum, Port Perry had an excellent cast of three, in this story about the Canadian nurses who served in Europe in World War I. Called bluebirds for their long blue uniform dresses, the three actors, Alea Carrington, Justine Christenssen, and Shannon Pitre, were absolutely convincing as they moved from cheerful girls on an adventure into the downward spiral of the horrors of war.
Outstanding Children’s Shows
My junior reviewer, granddaughter Hazel, once again gives top honours to the Globus Theatre, Bobcaygeon, for their production of Jack and the Beanstalk. The reason is simple – she was invited on stage to take part in singing, and she also enjoyed seeing all the children in the cast. Hazel liked Alice in Wonderland at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope so it gets Honourable Mention. She also pointed out that the Capitol has the best popcorn.
I’m giving Honourable Mention to Hansel and Gretel at Port Hope’s Capitol. The cast deserves full credit for keeping the nice and naughty versions straight, and not mixing them up. The audiences for the naughty version were in rolling in laughter at the many puns and jokes featuring a part of the male anatomy.
Outstanding Audience Response
Vickie says Shrek at Huron Country Playhouse was very popular with the younger crowd. The children loved to don ogre ears, or tiaras to accompany their princess gowns (but that’s partly because of the merch table). The excitement was palpable!
Outstanding Performance in a Children’s Show
Jacob McInnes was the standout as the witch in Hansel and Gretel at the Capitol, with an incredible singing voice.
Outstanding Concert Show
How We Got to Jersey – A Tale of Two Frankies at the Capitol in Port Hope was told by Adrian Marchuk and Jeff Madden who both played Frankie Valli in the original Canadian cast of Jersey Boys. They sang just like Frankie and told interesting anecdotes of their history of competing for parts and how they became Frankie.
Honourable Mention goes to Beehive at Huron Country Playhouse. It was flower power and woman power, with modern powerful women vocalists performing the songs of powerful female singers of the past, says Vickie. Holiday Jamboree at Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia ushered in Christmas with so much fun, and the music was wonderful, says Marilu.
Outstanding Backstage Work
Production Assistant Rowan McCready and the team from Liars at a Funeral at Port Stanley Festival Theatre were outstanding, says Sookie.
Outstanding Set Design
Joe Recchia is honoured for goldfish at Port Stanley Festival Theatre.
And Honour Mention goes to The Play that goes Wrong at The Grand in London, where the stage was almost another character in the play, says Sandi. And also to Starbright Christmas at Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia which, as usual, had a beautiful set with snow and Christmas trees, Marilu says.