George has always been passionate about theatre, but didn’t know it. As a young boy he was mesmerized by professional wrestling. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was an early role model. Shortly thereafter, the explosive histrionics of Pete Townshend would supersede this Canadian icon. George’s attention later turned to American theatre. Jello Biafra became a seminal influence. The “Do It Yourself” ethic was firmly embraced by Perry, and he ventured into the vast repetoire of artists like Paul Westerberg and Steve Albini. As a young adult, he was re-introduced to the works of Townshend. His then girlfriend, Michelle, was hugely impressed by the theatrical production of The Who’s “Tommy”. He meandered through factories, schools, border towns and Michigan for a very long time afterwards. He eventually landed in Toronto. All these influences were brought together in one kettle when George discovered Mooney on Theatre. He understands and personifies that theatre is indeed for everyone. To further this end goal, he contributes.
The Lower Ossington Theatre presents the cult classic musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch in Toronto
What is there to say about Hedwig and the Angry Inch other than go see it? The Lower Ossington Theatre is currently mounting this great night of fun, and if you get a chance, if you can navigate Toronto traffic hassles, I suggest you check it out.
The play is part monologue, part rock concert and all fun. The subject matter, vibe and time in history are all reminiscent of a time when the east and west were divided. Think Berlin Wall and think early 70’s David Bowie and you have an idea of what Hedwig is all about.
The Playwright Project presents Drunk Enough to Say I Love You, a story of romance and politics at Toronto’s Downstage
Passionate, independent theatre, being introduced to a playwright and a new theatre space for the first time: it must be Playwright Project time again in Toronto! This year four plays written by Caryl Churchill are being mounted by four companies at The Downstage. I hope I can fit all four into my schedule.
So far I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy Drunk Enough to Say I Love You with my friend Ron, and I loved it. Let me tell you why.
The company for ShakesBeer is three talented, energetic and well-versed Shakespeare aficionados. They’re actually out-of-town ringers, brought down to Toronto via York University.
Chutzpah aplenty, Matt Drappel, Jeff Hanson and Kevin Ritchie rip through all those dry plays we had to memorize in high school. ShakesBeer is hilarious from the moment the cast hits the stage. The performers wear over the top tights, which are pretty shocking at first. However, their comedic and theatrical chops soon take centre stage. It’s a tad like Rocky Horror in that the outfits soon move to the background and the talent comes to the fore.
Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness comes to life at Toronto’s Storefront Theatre in Dark Matter
Dark Matter is a play based on the Joseph Conrad novel Heart of Darkness. It’s currently onstage at a new and funky theatre on Bloor Street between Dovercourt and Ossington called The Storefront Theatre.
I suspect most people will know Heart of Darkness from the brilliant Francis Ford Coppola movie Apocalypse Now. It’s a movie that not only stands up to the test of time but improves with age.
The story is about a washed-out military captain who fails a psychological assessment is given a “can’t win” mission: seek out an insane, renegade employee, Kurtz, and bring him back to justice.
Unusual staging sets a unique tone to A Beautiful View playing at Toronto’s Factory Theatre
I was stricken when I first entered Factory Theatre’s Studio. Instead of the usual linear floor plan, the stage had been moved so that seats rose up on either side, butterfly like. The effect is that when you go see A Beautiful View, you are literally walking into a book, a diary. The stage is the spine, the seats on either side the pages, rising up and just waiting to be read.
