MATILDA: It’s the adults that are revolting in delightful Citadel musical
What a joyful, merry, nasty, chaotic and thoroughly enjoyable romp is this adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical, currently settling in for three more weeks at the Citadel Theatre. The much-awarded winning musical is still playing in London’s West End. It was a big hit on Broadway, and it was there that Citadel artistic […]
Lend Me a Tenor: The Farce is strong with this one
Back in 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber (yes – that Lloyd Webber, not yet called “Sir”) found a hidden theatrical gem. In fact, he personally produced its first major production in his Globe Theatre in London – called Lend Me a Tenor, by American comic playwright Ken Ludwig. Both the play and Ludwig were not well […]
REVIEW: All For Love one for all!
At the beginning of John Dryden’s All For Love a group of 10 jovial players come out and chide us gently. “What a flock of critics are gathered today,” they chuckle. “We are here to tell a tale that has oft been told … a wife and mistress, both of which are too good for […]
REVIEW: Catholic anti-gay doctrine attacked in Walterdale play
Her name is Blake. She’s 15 years old. And in Walterdale Theatre’s adventuresome production of Lucia Frangione’s Leave of Absence, she’s about to experience a final loss of innocence. It’s the kind of moral wrestling that’s tough enough when you have the benefit of maturity – but at 15, attending a Catholic school in a […]
REVIEW: Here she comes! Miss Teen a magical family comedy
Vancouver playwright Michele Riml is best known for her Sexy Laundry, a spirited comedy in which a middle-aged couple check into a posh hotel to rejuvenate their flagging 25 year marriage. A while back, the play was given a very funny mounting by director John Hudson for Shadow Theatre. This week at the Varscona Theatre […]
The nerve of Minerva lives on in magical new play
The name Houdini still hovers over the world of magic – almost 100 years after his death. The master of “escapology” took the hocus pocus out of the ancient prerogatives of priests and charlatans and turned it into show business gold. Houdini ruled over Broadway, Vaudeville and musical halls. So much so that names such […]
REVIEW: Blue collar drama a play for our times at the Citadel
With her Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat, playwright Lynn Nottage has created a gritty work that dramatically captures the tensions and pervasive feelings of anger and despair that have gripped middle America. This is a play for our times – an insightful work based on the lives of real people – putting a human face on […]
The Illusionists razzle dazzle Edmonton
The art of illusion is probably as old as civilization itself. Once the province of wizards and enchanters, it became a popular entertainment in the hands of Thurston and Houdini in the early years of the 20th Century – known now as “The Golden Age of Magic.” As our culture and society advances, seeing something […]
EDMONTON THEATRE 2018: The Colin MacLean Awards
If the Alberta economy is in tatters, it would be hard to tell from the number of plays and musicals to grace our stages this year. Theatre budgets may be suffering and costs ballooning, but we fortunate Edmonton theatre-goers have enjoyed a mountain range of productions. Like our Rockies, some were high, others not so […]
THEATRE: Oh! Christmas Tree, how lovely are thy branches
Anyone who doubts our desire to be entertained this Christmas only needs to check out the listings in the paper. However, in this whirlwind of off-the-rack predigested Christmas fodder offered, could I suggest an ornament for your season? It’s a play called Oh! Christmas Tree, part of Theatre Network’s Roxy Performance Series in a co-production […]
The Great Gatsby probes empty American Dream
As you enter the Walterdale Theatre these nights, there’s a party going on. There’s music, the clink of glasses and the babble of happy voices. You have stepped into the middle of one of Jay Gatsby’s infamous parties. There’s merriment everywhere – the ladies in their fringed Charleston dresses and the men gussied up in […]
REVIEW: Heavy elephant drama inspired by Lucy
As Romney, the marketing consultant in Workshop West’s production of Conni Massing’s new play Matara observes, “Everyone knows you really can’t call yourself a zoo without an elephant.” By now, everyone in Edmonton should know that this probably sums up much of the attitude that keeps Lucy, our lone elephant, from being trucked to warmer […]
