Review: A Christmas Carol

Joseph Ziegler (photo credit: Cylla von Tiedemann)

Bah, Humbug!

by Cassie Muise

Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly old man, visited by three Christmas Ghosts who try to help him see the error of his ways before it is too late. A Christmas Carol is as thought-provoking, touching, and relevant today as it was when it was first written. 

Soulpepper rarely disappoints, and this is no exception. A Christmas Carol is a beautiful production from start to finish. It is just eerie and other worldly enough to honour the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, without being too scary. The few effects are strategic and effective, if simple.  I particularly enjoyed the dance component which allowed for interesting scene changes. It balances in a seamless way the comedy, joy, and love of Christmastime with the thought-provoking consequences of a life consumed by greed and selfishness. 

The Story: Interview with Esther Vallins on Half-Pint Theatre

Halfpint go BOOM!
by Cassie Muise

Esther Vallins is a born and raised Torontonian trained extensively all over Canada, including Randolph Academy and The Banff Centre. Her company, Half-Pint's first show, 'tick, tick... BOOM!' opened to excellent critical claim, and is now nominated alongside the likes of Stratford and Shaw for nine BroadwayWorld Awards. One of those nominations includes one for Vallins as Best Leading Actress in the production. (source: company website)

CHARPO:  Why start a new company?

VALLINS: One of the most valuable things I've learned being in the industry, is if the work is not there, create the work yourself. So that's just what I, and the ladies of Half-Pint Theatre did. As recent graduates of three different theatre schools, all of us found ourselves striving to succeed and get recognition, in a very competitive, tight community. We want to create the work not just for ourselves, but also for new artists who find themselves in a similar position to us. We're also all just so passionate about our wonderful city. Toronto has so much amazing talent, and there needs to be more companies showcasing what this town has to offer!

Review: Romeo and Juliet

Paolo Santalucia (photo credit: Daniel DiMarco)

Where we set our scene...

...and a Romeo to dream about

by Cassie Muise

Everyone knows the story of star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet. Whether you’ve seen it with Leo DiCaprio and Clare Danes, or The Lion King 2, the story of star-crossed lovers kept apart by a family feud is still as accessible as it is relevant today. There are many things to enjoy about this slick, well-polished production of what is arguably Shakespeare’s best-known play. 

As always, I am impressed with Hart House’s sophisticated, seamless execution. The lighting, set, and music are well used without being distracting. What is distracting, however, is the fact that it is set in modern day, hip-hop, gangster-overrun Verona. Although there were some gimmicks I appreciated about this – the boys using sunglasses instead of masks for the party, and the party itself a club with pulsing beats and crazy lights – I usually find modernized versions of R&J unnecessary, and this was no exception. In fact, by the second act almost all of the modernized elements had vanished, except the clothing. I wonder if this was an attempt to engage younger audiences. Although the cast brought this world to life with vim and vigour, I think that the approach they went for here is best left to West Side Story. They did it better. 

Review: Between The Sheets

Christine Horne and Susan Coyne. Photo Credit: John Lauener.

PTA (Parents, Teachers Animus)

by Cassie Muise

“Between the Sheets” is a fast-paced, high-stakes production about a parent-teacher interview gone wrong. When walking into the theatre, we are transported back to school. Indeed, the details of the classroom we see before us – the alphabet in large swooping letters, children’s art on the walls, and a break-down of the day including two “nutrition breaks” – is meticulously crafted and might actually be the set up from my third grade classroom. The specificity of this set helps to draw one in immediately, making the awkward opening music, assumedly designed to create tension, unnecessary. Kelly Wolf’s set with the words “Parent Teacher Interviews” glaring at you on the chalk board set us up just fine.

Jordi Mand has written an interesting, thought-provoking piece. I sincerely hope to see more work from her. As a new writer, her use of language is impressive. Having many family and friends who are teachers, I was impressed with the flow and “teacher jargon” sprinkled throughout the play. Being a teacher is more challenging than ever, and it is difficult to accurately capture their style of communication. Christine Horne gives a beautiful, complex, and natural performance as Teresa, the passionate Grade three teacher.

Review: The Sunshine Boys

Welsh (l) and Peterson (photo credit: Cylla von Tiedemann)

Talent Crush!

Sunshine at Soulpepper amid reflections on passing time

by Cassie Muise

I have always had a bit of a crush on everything Soulpepper. From the Distillery District, to the Young Centre, to the founding members – who doesn’t love Ted Dykstra’s Two Pianos Four Hands? Albert Schultz in The Odd Couple = talent crush! – so I was excited to get the chance to see their production of Sunshine Boys. Luckily, it didn’t disappoint my high expectations. Off the top the smooth, warm lighting transitions, ukulele and harmonica music, paired with the clean, flawless set bring the audience into the world of the play effortlessly.