Kinky? Serious? Dramatic? Comic? Suspenseful? Warped? Disturbing? Playful? Political? Role-bending? All of the above? Venus in Fur is a sex comedy turned on its birch-switched bottom. Don’t come expecting a frothy farce like Noises Off. Yes, there’s a scantily clad attractive woman. Yes, there’s a pedantic tight-assed frumpily dressed man. Yes, there’s a play within […]
An evening bookended by gifts. But first, a word of advice, O gentle reader, before you enter the theatre: The Gladstone bar is featuring eggnog, with or without Sailor Jerry rum. Order yours before the show for intermission. It’s very popular. The Radio Show has become a Christmas tradition at The Gladstone. As befits a […]
I knew we were in for a fun evening when the audience laughed within the first minute of The School for Wives. They kept laughing throughout the rest of the play. Understandable when you consider the quality of the script, the direction, and the acting. Moliere wrote The School for Wives the year he married […]
Heading in to David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross one wonders if The Avalon Studio production will compare favourably to the excellent movie version with Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin & Al Pacino. Be assured, this is no poor cousin but a relentlessly vicious and vital theatrical experience of Mamet’s world of shady salesmen and dark deeds. […]
On Sunday evening a cavalcade of theatre luminaries gathered in Bates Hall, Sandy Hill to honour the brightest amongst their ranks. The Prix Rideau Awards founded in 2006 celebrates locally produced professional theatre and artists in both French and English. It is inspiring to see categories, including best male and female performers, best director, emerging […]
As the virtual curtain fell on The Anger in Ernest & Ernestine this tweet went out: venue is insane but the talent is undeniable. The setting in the tiny basement of the Backpacker’s Hostel on York Street is uninviting. Seating –12 max- includes dingy stained sofas and cushions on the laundry room cement floor. With […]
It happens a lot in our mobile society. New neighbours move in. Somebody invites them for drinks, or dinner, or brings a casserole, or flowers. Before you know it, kindred spirits find each other. Friendships form around common interests and activities. There’s usually some wine or beer or spirits involved. Some of these friendships last […]
Picture this: You are sitting in The Gladstone with your father watching a play about the early history of the vibrator. Do you: a) feel awkward; b) laugh at the unusual situation; or c) become captivated by the delightful show in front of you. After viewing the very funny and intriguing production of In the Next […]
As a natural pessimist, I get antsy when a director stands in front of the audience at a season launch and announces that he’s directing a play because he was asked to and likes to work, giving no details as to the plot or the nature of the play, or even what makes it special […]
