All posts by Catherine Jan

A former freelance translator in Paris, Catherine Jan now enjoys writing in Toronto and about Toronto. Especially about Toronto theatre. She also blogs about translation, copywriting, editing and other word-related past-times at Catherine Translates. Are you on Twitter? Join @translatetrad‘s 2,000 followers who keep up with her workin’ girl tweets.

Review: Crawlspace (Videofag)

Karen Hines takes on Toronto real estate nightmares in her play Crawlspace at Videofag

Karen Hines CrawlspaceRenters, you’ll stay put after watching Karen Hines’ Crawlspace, a horrifying and enlightening story of home ownership playing at Videofag in Kensington Market. Inspired by a true Toronto real estate nightmare, Crawlspace will keep you from browsing MLS listings again.

It’s the kind of story you want to talk about as soon as you get home: “You gotta hear about Crawlspace — the mice, the holes in the wall, the piece of the house that went over the neighbour’s property, the deceitful flipping.”  Continue reading Review: Crawlspace (Videofag)

FringeKids! Club at the 2015 Toronto Fringe Festival

FringeKids! Club 2015Attention Toronto Moms and Dads, there is good, clean, hands-on fun to be had at the FringeKids! Club on the lawn of the George Ignatieff Theatre which is part of the University of Toronto campus. We got lucky this year! With these outdoor activities conveniently located just steps from the theatre entrance, the kids can grab a show and get in some puppet-making before heading home. Overall, the FringeKids! Club is a great place to get fresh air and exercise for young bodies and minds, and make new friends. And it’s all done without touchscreens!

Continue reading FringeKids! Club at the 2015 Toronto Fringe Festival

Aspergers: A Tale of a Social Misfit (Autistic Productions) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review

Photo of Adam Schwartz

Part of our Toronto Fringe Festival, Aspergers: A Tale of a Social Misfit is a joke-rich stand-up comedy act by Adam Schwartz. Playing at the Tarragon Theatre Solo Room and produced by Autistic Productions, this show will have you chuckling along with Schwartz as he makes fun of his own Aspergers-related misfortunes. And who knew that Ikea despises consumers with Aspergers?

Continue reading Aspergers: A Tale of a Social Misfit (Autistic Productions) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review

How Often Do I Dream (Transitus) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review

Photo from How Often Do I Dream

Produced by a new Halifax-based company Transitus, How Often Do I Dream is an intimate, touching performance about memory loss. Performed by Katie Dorian as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival, this multi-sensory session at  the Tarragon Theatre Solo Room gives us stories about Dorian’s grandfather’s dementia, and it also includes singing, tasting, smelling and touching–by the audience.

Continue reading How Often Do I Dream (Transitus) 2015 Toronto Fringe Review