REVIEW: Fen a bleak portrait of muddy misery
In highly successful plays like Cloud 9 and Top Girls, English feminist playwright Caryl Churchill dramatically examines the abuse of power, sexual politics, women under duress and the evils of capitalism. She creates new forms and styles to present each of her plays – which often include humour and even farce. There is not much […]
REVIEW: We were so stupid back then
Watching the checkered history of gay rights in the United States, which continues in headlines still today, it’s tempting to point a superior Canadian finger. But our record is not that distinguished, either. As recently as 1981, Toronto police raided a series of bathhouses rousting out and charging homosexuals with the resultant destruction of their […]
Drowsy Chaperone a fresh, lively romp
The story of The Drowsy Chaperone might make a musical in itself. It began as a stag party lark from Toronto playwrights Don McKellar and Bob Martin (with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison). It was transferred to a modest production at the Toronto Fringe where it wowed the locals. So much […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Make Something Different
Since the death of Steve Steffler from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning on Sunday, it’s become clear how important he was to Edmonton’s music scene – and how much he’s going to be missed. He was always looking for something different. He took risks when booked bands at Bohemia, a funky little club on 97th Street […]
PLAYBILL: Homosexual scandal rocks theatre scene
Shocking news, everyone: There may be gay sex occurring right under our very noses inside Edmonton’s live theatre community – and not the “lighthearted and carefree” definition of the word gay, either, though it could be both. Won’t someone think of the children?! Concerned citizens must pay heed to this menace that threatens the moral […]
REVIEW: Only In Vegas a full meal deal
The Mayfield Dinner Theatre may have finally hit the wall with their Christmas show this year. Not that audiences have had enough—just try to get a table for their new show, “Only in Vegas.” Perhaps their winning formula of good food, seductive nostalgia and superlative musical production has reached saturation. Probably not though, because, as […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: A MIXED BAG
The weekend is a bit on the slow side in terms of big shows, but early next week, two critically acclaimed acts with extremely passionate followings land in Edmonton for a gig at the Winspear Centre, which is likely the best-sounding venue in the city and perfect for these two indie-folk acts. First up, on […]
Rebuild/Repair at war with stupid
We can argue about the dumb things the City of Edmonton does until we’re blue in the face – but sometimes all it takes is a song to cut through the BS. Such a song is Suicide Fence by the band Rebuild/Repair, referring to the anti-suicide barriers installed on the High Level Bridge that screwed […]
WEEKLY PLAYBILL: Mobile homophobia
You know you’re trailer trash when … … you own a home that’s mobile and five cars that aren’t. … your house doesn’t have curtains – but your truck does. … if anyone in your family has died right after saying, “Hey, watch this!” No, it’s not Jeff Foxworthy. Quite the opposite. These lines come […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Maybe it’s time for a little distraction – and so we can look forward to a visit from one of weirdest and most wonderful artists in Canadian rock: Brad Roberts from the Crash Test Dummies. At the Almanac on Friday as a duo, with guitarist Stuart Cameron, Roberts and his old band reigned supreme for […]
