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.
Miriam Margolyes performs 23 of Dickens’ characters in the play. She is an amazing actor with a fabulous voice – or fabulous voices, all 23 of them. Think about it for a minute; 23 characters in a play, all performed by one actor and all brilliant. Her two character scenes are marvellous, her timing is perfect, her facial expressions are pure gold.
It’s a bonus evening, you’re entertained and educated.
In the end the play is about Dickens’ the man revealed through his characters, particularly his women characters. The characters Margolyes plays are based on people in Dickens’ life, people he cared for, loved and hated.
Soulpepper brings a Christmas tradition back to the theatre for another holiday season in Toronto
Michael Shamata adapted A Christmas Carol for the stage and directed Soulpepper‘s production which opened last night at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. It is a magical production; spare and lush at the same time. It’s the sixth time that Soulpepper has presented it and the first that I have seen it. It definitely won’t be the last. I can see it becoming a Christmas tradition.
If you’ve been to any of Ross’ other pantomimes you’ll know that just because it’s called Snow White doesn’t mean that it will resemble the fairy tale that you remember. It’s funny, silly, and good fun. Lots of ‘groaner’ jokes to make the kids laugh and enough ‘nudge nudge wink wink’ to keep the adults paying attention. There were local jokes and political jokes and local political jokes. There was even a Gangnam Style dance.
Tap Dogs opened last night at the Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre; six men, 80 minutes of tap dancing, and not a hint of “Tea For Two”
Tap Dogs is high energy, muscular tap dancing performed by six men wearing everyday clothes and Blundstone boots with heavy taps. A lot of the show is performed without music other than the percussion of the dancers’ feet. It’s interesting because the show is lit like a rock concert and there’s a fair amount of stage smoke that would make you expect pounding rock music. At times there is but it’s actually pretty unnecessary, the feet provide all the music the show needs.
Written by Kate Fenton, Mister Baxter was first performed at InspiraTO in 2010 as a 10-minute play and won the Audience Choice Award. In 2011, it was a 50-minute play at Fringe and was chosen as Outstanding Ensemble by Now Magazine. You know it must have something special to offer. Continue reading Review: Mister Baxter (The Quickening Theatre)→
