All posts by Ryan Kerr

I Am Very Far (Pressgang Theatre) 2013 SummerWorks Review

I-am-Very-Far-Photo

I Am Very Far, playing at the Scotiabank Studio Theatre as part of this year’s SummerWorks festival, combines video, music and a team of actors to generate a cohesive impression of trauma, loss and memory as it affects the central character coping with the sudden death of his father. But like the themes represented, I Am Very Far loses direction halfway through, as narrative regresses into a blur of fragments and the audience feels very far, indeed, from what is happening on stage. Continue reading I Am Very Far (Pressgang Theatre) 2013 SummerWorks Review →

Review: The Lover (Three Peasants Theatre)

Stephan Ermel as Richard, Nicole Buscema as Sarah in The Lover

Three Peasants Theatre presents Harold Pinter’s The Lover at Toronto’s Alumnae Theatre

Three Peasant’s Theatre transforms the Alumnae Theatre into a 1960’s suburban British homestead in Harold Pinter’s The Lover. Director Peter Wylde created a multi-layered production, casting talented actors and treating even comedic moments with severity and intention. Continue reading Review: The Lover (Three Peasants Theatre) →

The Epitome of Regret (Mad Resilience)

After an exciting Toronto Fringe Festival, which proved yet again that creating some of the city’s best theatre only needs a shoestring budget and talent, my standards have again been raised.

However, when I went to see The Epitome of Regret—a new musical by Paul Morrison, Iain Gardner and Mark Datuin–just a week after the Fringe closed, I felt like I was stepping backwards. Continue reading The Epitome of Regret (Mad Resilience) →

Review: Over the River and Through the Woods (East Side Players)

David A Fitzpatrick - Eastside Players - Over the River and Through the Woods

Toronto’s East Side Players keep it in the family with their latest theatrical production

If you have yet to venture Over the River and Through the Woods to historic Todmordon Mills, you have good reason to now. The East Side Players has put together a heart-warming evening at The Papermill Theatre which is clever, funny and touching. My father and I both laughed heartily while pondering playwright Joe DiPietro’s eternal question: how do families weather the storm of relocation, ageing and the future without losing the common threads that bind them? Continue reading Review: Over the River and Through the Woods (East Side Players) →

Review: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (AngelWalk Theatre)

Dean Hollin, Alison O'Neill, Leslie Kay, Christopher Alan Gray - Photo by Raph Nogal Photography

Toronto can explore the elusive human connection with AngelWalk Theatre’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

A lot has changed in the last 20 years. I like to think that the way people relate to one other has been revolutionized thanks to some major shifts in technology. Social movements, online slacktivism and even our clipped computer-based chit-chat instead of long-winded phonecalls or “electronic mails” has produced a new breed of social networking. Every day I’m bombarded with stories of how impossible relationships thrive and how overcoming social adversity produces the richest results. These feel-good news stories challenge expectations of what is expected of us to the point of redefining the definition of success. I want to believe that we have evolved beyond conforming to an antiquated ideal to paving our own way to find true happiness (and maybe, love). Continue reading Review: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (AngelWalk Theatre) →