Review: The Trip to Bountiful (Alumnae Theatre)

The Trip to Bountiful is a touching tale of one woman’s devotion to her roots

The Trip to BountifulWritten by Horton Foote, The Trip to Bountiful at Toronto’s Alumnae Theatre evokes differences between city life and country life and between the needs of the elderly and the younger generation. But the heart of the story goes much deeper than that as it expresses one woman’s unshakable longing for her roots.

Mama Watts (Jane Hunter) is an elderly woman who’s cooped up in a Houston, Texas apartment at a busy street corner. She’s living with her son Ludie (Jamie Johnson) and daughter-in-law Jessie Mae (Kim Croscup). Mama Watts yearns to return to her hometown Bountiful (also called a “swamp” by Jessie Mae) and this desire is all-encompassing. She hasn’t been home for 30 years.

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Review: Mother’s Daughter (Soulpepper)

The daring third installment of the Queenmaker series explores the rise of Bloody Mary

Soulpepper has mounted the third play in writer Kate Hennig’s Queenmaker Trilogy, Mother’s Daughter is an enthralling and tense historical drama on stage at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts.

This play checks all the boxes for me: the writing is tight and Hennig weaves an interesting and engaging story with these characters from the Tudor era. The performances are great across the board and the technical aspects and set design are certainly impressive. It’s a great show, and I do recommend it. Continue reading Review: Mother’s Daughter (Soulpepper)

Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre Rusticle)

It may be cold out, but Theatre Rusticle’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is here to heat you up

Picture of Kwaku Okyere and Alexandra Montagnese in A Midsummer Night's DreamTheatre Rusticle has given new life to Shakespeare’s fantastical comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Their production, now on at Buddies in Bad Times, feels like an antidote for sorrows of the soul. It’s like a burst of summer love in the dead of winter.
It’s breathtakingly dreamy, intensely physical, and unrelentingly playful.

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Toronto Playlistings for the Week of January 20, 2020

Shows that Caught Our Eye in Toronto for the Week of January 20, 2020

Not that I am a winter superfan, but I admit I had been yearning a bit for a crisp white snowy day. With the weather the past few weeks, it had been hard to remember what season it is!  I do miss the idyllic winter I remember from childhood. And my kids missed making snowmen and tobogganing… and the hot chocolate and marshmallows afterward.

The thing adult me enjoys most about winter though is all of the amazing theatre. And we are in the midst of one of the best theatre seasons in awhile (in my opinion!). This week it’s our erstwhile Publisher Megan’s opportunity to let you know what shows this week have her itching to hit a theatre this week. Check out Megan’s ‘red’ listing of things that caught her attention and head out to see a show! Continue reading Toronto Playlistings for the Week of January 20, 2020

Review: Legally Blonde: The Musical (Hart House)

Picture of Emma Sangalli and ensemble in Legally Blonde: The Musical

Legally Blonde: The Musical is a delight

With sparkling pink enthusiasm, Legally Blonde: The Musical brings all the feminism and glitter of the original film and novel to the stage for Hart House Theatre’s 100th anniversary season. A wonderful homage to the original, this production addresses issues of sexual harassment, academic exclusivity, and touches (very, very lightly) on class differences. Continue reading Review: Legally Blonde: The Musical (Hart House)