THEATRE: Yuppies with kids behave badly in God of Carnage

If life has taught us one thing, it is this: If you want to anger someone, all you have to do is accuse them of being passive-aggressive. Want to piss them off even further? Show them you can dish out the “passive-aggressive” label, but can’t take it. This sure-fire method will have you pushing the […]

GIGGLE CITY: Nikki Payne an inspiration to those who have trouble saying ‘inspiration’

Here’s a question: Is Nikki Payne’s obvious speech impediment in any way funny on its own? Depends who you ask. All should agree that no professional comedian could reach her level with just one lisp joke. The Nova Scotia comic has been on TV, radio, moved beyond the comedy clubs into the theatre circuit – […]

REVIEW: Blind Date a good time with a ‘bad’ girl

So I go to the Citadel Theatre box office to pick up my reviewer’s ticket for Blind Date. The ladies give me my comp and slap a red wristband on me. “The hell?!” I exclaim. “Well, she pulls someone out of the audience and she doesn’t want to be picking media,” is their matter-of-fact answer. […]

THEATRE: Blind Date to break fourth wall in search of a good man

Hey guys: Imagine going on a date with a hot female clown who REALLY wants to get to know you – and an entire roomful of strangers gets to eavesdrop. It’s almost enough to make you want to give up hockey night in Canada, eh? Beginning previews on the Citadel’s Rice stage Saturday night, Blind […]

THEATRE: We can have lots of good fun that is funny in Seussical

Ever wondered how radically different things would be today if Theodor Geisel had not been hired by Warner Bros. to write the “Private SNAFU” series for the war department? I do. In fact the very subject keeps me up most of the Goddamn night. Geisel and Chuck Jones got together to produce the series to […]

Giant musicals invade Edmonton – it may already be too late

Musical theatre is taking over the world – and something must be done or we’re all going to wind up prancing gaily down the street in our bloomers belting out Tomorrow from Annie. Even to know what that is without looking it up is bad enough! Edmonton is well on the way to being overcome […]

REVIEW: Ridiculous can be fun in The Rocky Horror Show

Latex glove. Playing cards. Toilet paper. Flashlight. Confetti. The contents of the audience participation kit seemed a little intimidating at first glance, especially for someone whose only previous experience with The Rocky Horror (Picture) Show took place one Halloween 13 years ago under the influence of pink lemonade-vodka cocktails. I was ready to believe the […]

Get smurfed, zombified for Halloween at the Theatre Garage

One effect of the Generation X That Didn’t Grow Up is that Halloween has become a huge deal for grown-ups. Leave the kids to their cheapo costumes and their candy for one night. This Halloweekend belongs to the adults. If you haven’t yet decided what you’re going to be and want to impress everyone at […]

THEATRE: The Rocky Horror Show still has the power to shock, titillate

Some people are frightened by transvestites. Call it homophobia. Now combine that element with the traits of a cannibalistic, depraved, murderous, sex-crazed, mad scientist serial killer who kidnaps a young couple and forces them to do all sorts of perverted things and you begin to understand the enduring appeal of The Rocky Horror Show. The […]

GIGGLE CITY: Joe Flaherty will ‘do the Count’ at the Edmonton Comedy Festival

Joe Flaherty is fine with Count Floyd being his most famous SCTV character, but he can only do it in short bursts. Not because he’s tired or anything. It’s just that there’s not much material there. “He’s not even a real vampire,” Flaherty says. Don’t worry. The 70-year-old master of sketch and improv comedy wouldn’t […]

REVIEW: Tom Wood stunning as tragic hero in Death of a Salesman

Even non-theatre people are familiar with Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller’s bleak tale of Willy Loman and his family that ends in Loman’s death and dissatisfaction all around. It’s part of the high school canon of literature, and with good reason: life hasn’t really changed much since the show’s premiere in 1949.  The Citadel […]

THEATRE: New season ahoy!

From Fringe summer to subscription winter, the rhythms of live theatre in Edmonton are as predictable as a horse on a high fibre diet. No, that’s not the best image to go with some of the finest thespianism in Canada, but it just came out. Remember one of the cardinal rules of improv: what is […]