Village of Idiots struck a chord with me. And there is a pun in there, yes. Auto Reverse Theatre Company’s show about fatherhood is the very first show that I have ever seen that deals with the ups and downs of being a new dad. Or a dad many times over. Or an absent dad. Over the years the Fringe has seen many a show about motherhood – the joys and the conflicts that women face in their journey. Finally a show that opens up the other side of the discussion and luckily, it truly does it justice. The relationships in this show are so very real and well developed, as an audience member I felt instantly connected to their story. Continue reading Village of Idiots (Auto Reverse Theatre Co) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review
All posts by Winston Soon
Review: 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL
“Stumble out of bed and tumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition…” No, that wasn’t me yesterday morning, those are the lyrics of that iconic song “9 to 5”.
On Wednesday, June 29th, I attended the opening of 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL, based on the movie which also boasts the song. This touring show was brought to Toronto by Dancap Productions and is on at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts until July 10th. Continue reading Review: 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL
Review: After Akhmatova (Tarragon Theatre)
By Winston Soon
After Akhmatova was performed in the Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space.
Last night I went to go back in time, and back in time some more with Tarragon Theatre’s resident playwright Kate Cayley’s Canadian premier of After Akhmatova.
Those of us who remember the collapse of the Soviet Union remember being children who feared the Soviets. If you are as old as me, you might remember Gregory Hines trying to defect somehow through tap dancing in the movie White Nights or Sting’s slightly ignorant anthem “Do the Russians love their children too?” Continue reading Review: After Akhmatova (Tarragon Theatre)
Review: Brothel #9 (Factory Theatre)
By Winston Soon
The first thing that draws you into Anusaree Roy’s Brothel #9 is the brothel itself. With an amazing set created by Shawn Kerwin, you are immediately transported into the inner heart of a Calcutta ghetto, complete with hanging laundry and several colours of hard living adorning the walls. Your journey into their world is immediate; first with the set, and then with playwright and lead actress Annusaree’s Roy’s colourful dialogue, delivered while she sits on the floor and prepares a dinner of fish.
Joining me for this performance is a dear friend, Wanda. Wanda has had a rough year; she lost her husband and is parenting a two year old on her own, which might be why one of her first comments after the show was “I liked it because their lives are worse than mine.” Their lives are definitely worse than ours, we know this going in. With movies like Slumdog Millionaire and Born into Brothels now part of North American vernacular, we know a play about an Indian brothel will likely have its share of heartache.
Review: More Fine Girls (Tarragon)
By Winston Soon
In its 40 years the Tarragon theatre has created a type of Canadian theatre royalty, or probably the closest we will ever come to it. Those of us who studied theatre across the country studied names like Anne Marie Macdonald, Martha Ross and Leah Cherniak. So I was delighted to join a full audience on Saturday night along with my friend Shai to watch More Fine Girls from the women who helped create the stuff of which Canadian theatre dreams are made.