Review: "The Valley" at Theatre on the Ridge

Like many other Canadian playwrights, Joan McLeod enjoys writing about Canada. But what sets her apart is her desire to peel back the peaceful veneer of Canadian society and reveal the stark reality of conflict and unease that often goes unacknowledged. This is true of her 2013 play, The Valley, which takes an unflinching look at mental health and, more specifically, the interaction of on-duty police officers with citizens suffering with mental illness.

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Review: “Hypatia and the Heathens: A New Musical in Concert” at the Caveat

While it is easy to draw comparison to today’s political climate, it must be pointed out that the show itself is by no means a political bloodbath against Christianity or religion, but rather it is expertly grounded in strong characters and writing to explore a not-oft discussed time in history that can inform our present on multiple hot button issues from religion in politics to women’s rights.

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Review: "Freddie Falls in Love" at the Joyce Theater

Upon the announcement that “Freddie” would join the Joyce Theater’s 2019 season, I was simultaneously overjoyed and apprehensive. How could this bubbly eccentric style translate to the formality of the Joyce Theater?  How could Blackstone and a cast of primarily new dancers breathe fresh life into the show three years later? And how would audiences—both old and new—engage with “Freddie” today?

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Review: Theatre Frisco Presents “A Little Night Music”

Under the direction of Neale Whitmore, the talented cast and crew of Theatre Frisco crafted a vibrant and dynamic performance of Stephen Sondheim’s celebrated work, “A Little Night Music.” Their stunning production sprung to life with a high octane array of rich vocals and sleek choreography wrapped in the deep textures of romance and intrigue.

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Off-Broadway Review: “Little Gem” at Irish Repertory Theatre

Despite the challenges of the script, the three fine actors transcend the material to offer glimpses into the often-undisclosed problems facing three generations of women caught in restrictive matrices of expectation and oppression. It was wonderful to see Marsha Mason’s craft coalesce the threads of the three women-in-waiting to a settling down to sleep and all that metaphor encompasses.

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Review: “Romeo and Juliet” at Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

Rain could not stop this performance of one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays. The crowd gathered, umbrellas raised, to see Shakespeare in the Parking Lot’s production of “Romeo and Juliet”. This very enjoyable production took the classic story and gave it an 80s/90s spin, with costumes from those decades bringing the characters even closer to reality and allowing us to relate to them more than we already could.

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