Dana Ewachow is too shy to order a pizza over the phone, but has no problem writing on the internet. She keeps herself busy and artistically poor by writing news articles, rants, and fiction for the internet. As you may have noticed, she also writes theatre reviews. She enjoys sketch comedies, dark comedies, light comedies, and burlesque. When she isn’t writing, her odd hobbies include: martial arts, throwing hatchets, and trying to cook food that won’t send her to the hospital. Armed with questionable diplomas and a second degree blackbelt, she will surely take over the world.
This weekend will be an exciting time for all dancers and dance-lovers, because this Friday is the beginning of Dance Ontario’s annual event Dance Weekend. Dance Weekend is a virtual smorgasbord of dance. Contemporary, urban, and flamenco are just a sampling of what the weekend will bring. The stage will be graced by multiple performers over the course of the day, switching styles as often as the dancers switch partners.
Attendees of this year’s weekend are lucky to have exciting new additions to the program, like talk-backs with choreographers and an urban dance battle. The Dance Weekend takes place at the Harbourfront’s Fleck Dance Theatre.
The Christmas Tree, on stage in Toronto, is a “sweet way to start off the holidays”
Lately, it’s been hard for me to get into the holiday spirit. Maybe the snowless streets make me forget that it’s even December. Maybe it’s that I have a bitter heart that can’t be swayed by eggnog and silver bells. I’m not too sure what it is, but I still decided to take a chance on seeing The Christmas Tree at the Red Sandcastle Theatre.
The Second City Theatre is packed to brim with people. I wonder how they could squeeze in so many people, as more attendees slip around me. The theatre is roaring with the sound of people laughing, talking and ordering drinks. It’s organized chaos, if I’ve ever seen it. The noise dies down with the lights, and the stage is lit in frosty blue. The Second City troupe files on stage and starts to sing a catchy tune.
This song is more relatable than cheery. It’s about how winter is terrible and you’d be better off at home, which in retrospect is a bit of a mixed message. The singers warn you of the horrible seasonal dangers like blizzards, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and something known as the “Winter Man”. The beat is still stuck in my head, even if the words are a little too dramatic to repeat aloud. Continue reading Review: Unwrapped (The Second City Toronto)→
Robin Hood is full of slapstick humour, playing at the Papermill Theatre in Toronto
Robin Hood by Amicus Productions is currently playing at the Papermill Theatre. I have seen the tale of Robin Hood done in various ways. I’ve seen action versions of the story, comedies, and even an animated version with a dashing fox. I was excited to see a brand new twist on the man who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.
This Robin Hood, written by Don Nigro and directed by Chris Coculuzzi, began with two young minstrels standing in front of the curtain.Their song transported us to the Sherwood Forest. The tone was sad, as if Robin Hood was a tragic hero from long ago, and they were the bards who kept his legend going. I was surprised to see once the actors on stage started speaking that the tone wasn’t serious at all. The play had immediately switched into a comedy. Continue reading Review: Robin Hood (Amicus Productions)→
The Christmas Tree, on stage in Toronto, is a “sweet way to start off the holidays”
We review a new Toronto production of Caryl Churchill’s play Objections to Sex and Violence