What better way to examine the complex landscapes of people than through dance? The Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre‘s Space Interrupted, playing at the Fleck Dance Theatre, uses linear and abstract themes to deliver a series of pieces that are both illuminating and familiar about the spaces between.
Continue reading Review: Space Interrupted (Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre)
What do you do when you are abandoned by your team and victimized? What do you do when the organization you are part of refuses to take action? In Gillian English’s one woman show Get Around Me playing at The Comedy Bar, we are left with only one answer: stand up and be heard.
Gillian English’s new one-woman show Get Around Me playing Sunday May 3rd and Monday May 4th at the Comedy Bar is a personal and significant story. While representing Canada as a member of the Australian Football League (AFL), she was sexually assaulted by a Canadian. The attack was actively encouraged by a member of Team Canada and while it was happening Team Canada members applauded and cheered. While her attacker was charged, the AFL has not penalized any other players involved.
How did English end up deciding to bring her story to the stage? Initially, she “was already planning to do a solo show about Aussie Rules Footy. But…had planned to make it a very positive story about how team sports had changed [her] life. Then [she] was assaulted and everything changed.”
Continue reading Get Around Me: an Interview with Gillian English
In order to change the world, all we need is a can-do attitude and the right mad woman. At least, that’s what Amicus Productions‘ adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot, playing at the Papermill Theatre, suggests.
When madwoman Aurelia (Janice Hansen) learns that her city of Chaillot is being taken over by corrupt, greedy, oil-seeking prospectors and business men, she enlists the town to help her take care of the problem.
Continue reading Review: The Madwoman of Chaillot (Amicus Productions)
Here’s a question for you: ever wanted to see a micro-example of pervasive racism on a Canadian stage? Well, if you ask me, Canadian Stage’s Spotlight South Africa festival has the perfect show: Chandelier at Berkeley Street Theatre.
Performance artist Steven Cohen describes his work thusly: “by my moving in a chandelier-tutu through a squatter camp being demolished-and filming it–that’s what I’m doing…a digital painting of social reality…” Essentially, Cohen is attempting to “shed light on what is seldom seen, by creating amid destruction.”
Continue reading Review: Chandelier (Steven Cohen and Canadian Stage)