The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble is an emotionally filled story about Alzheimer’s playing at Toronto’s Factory Theatre
There were several reasons I had been looking forward to the Factory Theatre and Obsidian Theatre co-production of The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble, and they all had to do with people who had been involved in some way, from the playwright all the way to the Artistic Directors of the theatre companies who decided this show would be a good one to put on stage.
With all this backing me, I didn’t look into what the play was about. I like going into a show like that. Not knowing what to expect. I like it to reveal on its own, instead of me anticipating when certain things will happen. The show was fantastic, and it was wonderful to see it unfold without expectations. But I do wish I had known enough about it to bring along tissues. Lots and lots of tissues.
Raw and intensely thought-provoking, Taking Sides is playing at Toronto’s Al Green Theatre
What happens when good men do nothing, especially while stuck behind enemy lines? It’s a moral dilemma come to life in Chicken Coop Theatre‘s Taking Sides written by Ronald Harwood.
Taking Sides is a powerful story of a German conductor under review and scrutiny in the aftermath of the Second World War. Though he publicly opposed them, his favor among the Third Reich garnered him suspicion as a co-conspirator.
Hart House Theatre’s take on Twelfth Night is endearing but leaves much to desire for Shakespeare aficionados
Twelfth Night is not my favourite Shakespeare comedy, but it was the first I ever read. Back in ninth grade, I was introduced to the Bard with this sweet, saucy, and sometimes cruel tale of mistaken identity, trickery, and frustrated lovers. Hart House has staged a handsome production that showcases a beautiful set and lively performances.
The show is never boring, but neither is it particularly inspiring. Director Matthew Gorman has placed the action in a contemporary setting—a British-style pub. The aesthetic of khaki pants and woolen sweaters creates a homely atmosphere that put my companion and I in mind of Mumford and Sons. Continue reading Review: Twelfth Night (Hart House Theatre)→
Moss Park explores relationships through poverty, playing at the Theatre Passe Muraille
Moss Park, playing at Passe Muraille, opens with Tina and Bobby meeting in a park to try to plan a life that lifts them out of poverty. This is the second time George F. Walker has visited these characters, but you don’t need to have seen the first play (called Tough!) to understand the situation. Tina and Bobby have a toddler, conceived when they were both teenagers. Bobby has not been very involved with parenting, nor has he been employed for any meaningful length of time in recent years.
Akram Khan’sDESH is a modern and refreshing personal story told in dance, at Toronto’s Blum Appel Theatre
This rainy Hallowe’en Akram Khan’s newest solo had its North American Premier at Canadian Stage. DESH was a tour de force production created by a stellar team team of artists. Peeling off my wet layers in the lobby I was almost shivering with anticipation.
