Theatromania

West Side Story

Lauren Gillett — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:20:23 +0000

A time-honoured musical gets a fresh makeover Book by Arthur Laurents Music by Leonard Bernstein Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Directed by David Saint The First National Tour of West Side Story. © Carol Rosegg 2011. West Side Story has been romancing audiences for decades. Lucky for fans, the 1957 musical (inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet) with book by Arthur Laurents, [...]

The Real World?

Ava Baccari — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:50:58 +0000

A skewering family portrait of when art and life are tragically interchangeable By Ava Baccari Written by Michel Tremblay Directed by Richard Rose Translated by John Van Burek and Bill Glassco (Foreground) Tony Nappo, Sophie Goulet; (background) Cara Gee, Matthew Edison and Cliff Saunders. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann. If a mother’s worst nightmare is having to bury her child, then [...]

Bring It On: The Musical

Victoria Begin — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:30:17 +0000

Toronto audiences flip over this spirited musical comedy By Victoria Bégin Music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics by Amanda Green and Lin-Manuel Miranda Directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler Cast of Bring It On: The Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus. “Ever been to a cheerleading competition?” Bubbly blonde cheerleader Torrance (played by Kirsten Dunst) asks this question in Bring [...]

You Can’t Take It With You

Victoria Begin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:15:48 +0000

Family matters in this classic, feel-good comedy By Victoria Bégin Written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman Directed by Joseph Ziegler Krystin Pellerin and Gregory Prest. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann. The crackle of static can be heard on a swinging 1930s record playing in the moments leading up to the first act of Soulpepper’s You Can’t Take it [...]

Oil and Water

Lauren Gillett — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:13:03 +0000

Music and memory unite in this deeply moving production Presented by Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland Written by Robert Chafe Directed by Jillian Keiley Neema Bickersteth and Ryan Allen in Robert Chafe’s Oil and Water. Photo by John Lauener. Robert Chafe’s Oil and Water explores the remarkable true story of Lanier Phillips, the only African-American survivor of the wreck of the [...]