Always a theatre lover Sam realized in middle age that there's more to Toronto theatre than just mainstream and is now in love with one person shows, adores festivals, and quirky venues make her day.
Toronto-based performer Jeff Ho interweaves piano with narrative storytelling in his play trace
Jeff Ho wrote, composed, and performs trace, a one person chamber play about his family, playing at Factory Studio Theatre. Ho is a talented musician as well as being a talented actor and both skills shine in this piece about three generations of women in his family.
Strange but “unlike anything” play takes to the Toronto stage
In keeping with my decision to see plays that sound like they may be outside my comfort zone, I saw Grimly Handsome on Saturday evening at The Assembly Theatre. The press release describes the playwright Julia Jarcho as “a queen of experimental mayhem”–not something I’d usually choose.
It was outside my comfort zone, but not for any reason I might have anticipated. I enjoyed it, but I’m not sure that I understood it. I saw it on my own because my friend had a family medical emergency, and I didn’t have anyone to talk with afterwards to help clarify my thinking. Not much in the way of eavesdropping either. The only thing I heard was the woman behind me say, “That was weird. I liked it though. But it was weird.” Continue reading Review: Grimly Handsome (Theatre Animal)→
Alumnae Theatre presents a series of vignettes exploring generations and connections in Toronto
Do you play Bridge? Maybe your mother did. My grandmother did and I kept thinking about her as I watched Thirteen Hands at Alumnae Theatre on Wednesday night. Carol Shields wrote the play in 1993 and it holds up well. It’s about women connecting, developing friendships, and supporting each other. These things are timeless.
I have to admit that I don’t play Bridge – I can barely play Old Maid, I’m definitely card challenged – and I don’t know anyone who does. Is it still a thing? A weekly Bridge night? It doesn’t matter, the play evoked such wonderful memories for me. Continue reading Review: Thirteen Hands (Alumnae Theatre)→
The Chance, playing at the Assembly Theatre in Toronto, feels “real” with “true” interactions
Hands up anyone else who has never seen a play by George F. Walker. Nor had I until Saturday when I saw the world premier of The Chance at The Assembly Theatre. I’m not sure why I hadn’t seen any of his plays before this, it wasn’t a conscious decision; more a case of never being in the right place at the right time.
Now that I’ve seen one I’m looking forward to seeing more. The Chance is funny, suspenseful, and a social commentary that never hits you over the head. It has strippers, bad guys, mistaken identity, a moral decision, a dead guy, cell phones, and a loan shark. Continue reading Review: The Chance (Leroy Street Theatre)→
Young People’s Theatre presents Bello, a folktale with scary moments, on stage in Toronto
On Wednesday afternoon my grandson Desmond and I went to see Bello at Young People’s Theatre. It’s billed as suitable for kids from six to nine years old. Desmond is six years and three weeks old. It was his expert opinion that one of the classes attending the performance was a kindergarten class and that the kids weren’t six yet. They seemed to manage just fine.
Bello is essentially a folktale “about a time when there were no phones, no cars, and no light bulbs…” and a young boy named Bern who gets lost in the snow on his way back from school. Continue reading Review: Bello (Young People’s Theatre)→
Toronto-based performer Jeff Ho interweaves piano with narrative storytelling in his play trace
Strange but “unlike anything” play takes to the Toronto stage
Alumnae Theatre presents a series of vignettes exploring generations and connections in Toronto
The Chance, playing at the Assembly Theatre in Toronto, feels “real” with “true” interactions
Young People’s Theatre presents Bello, a folktale with scary moments, on stage in Toronto