One of the hardest parts about this global pandemic, for me at least, is the lack of live performance. Performances are being postponed or cancelled, festivals have had to lay off their employees, some have had to cancel their whole season altogether! It’s a very trying time for everyone, and while the value of the…
Stratford Festival’s Production of “The Front Page”
What's the latest scoop hot off the presses at the Stratford Festival? The Front Page, that's what! Marking Graham Abbey's directorial debut at the Festival, The Front Page is a hilarious, poignant work which is just as relevant and ruthless today as it was when it was written. The Front Page chronicles an evening in a courthouse…
“I talk of dreams” – Stratford Festival’s “Romeo and Juliet”
The story of Romeo and Juliet is so well known and oft told that it surprises me when someone says they haven't seen it on stage. I'm lucky to say that the 2017 production at the Stratford Festival was my third, and I have to admit, I think it is my favourite production to date. Director…
Stratford Festival’s “Shakespeare in Love”
I know this might come as a shock, but I have never seen the movie version of Shakespeare in Love. I mean, I own the movie: I bought it one time when it was on a great sale, but I never got a chance to watch it. So I wasn't totally sure what to expect…
Stratford Festival’s “The Hypochondriac”
The Hypochondriac may have started a little later in Stratford's season, but it was definitely worth the wait. A hilarious Restoration comedy which was just as relevant today as for Molière himself, The Hypochonriac is sure to tickle everyone's funny bone! I really enjoyed the frame narrative for the play; not only was it based on…
Stratford Festival’s “All My Sons”
I've always had a tumultuous relationship with Arthur Miller's works, I've been reading his plays since grade 12 and frequently found that I was disappointed; in the characters or the plot trajectory, nothing really grabbed me. All My Sons did everything but disappoint. Honestly, it totally redeemed Miller in my opinion, with this gripping, troubling, beautiful play.…
Stratford Festival’s “John Gabriel Borkman”
I had been greatly anticipating this show since it's announcement. I was excited to see a new Ibsen play which I new nothing about and which starred so many of my favourite actors at the festival. John Gabriel Borkman surpassed any and all expectations I had for the show, presenting an intriguing story beautifully told…
Flashback Friday – Stratford 2015
As I ready myself for a weekend of theatre at the Stratford Festival, I want to take a quick look back at the remaining shows which I saw from the 2015 season. On August first I was lucky to get to take in two shows: Carousel and Love's Labour's Lost. Both of them were fairly…
Stratford Festival’s “As You Like It”
I was so happy to take two of my dearest friends to Stratford for their first time to see As You Like It back in June. We had been planning the trip since last December, so we'd been counting down the months and weeks until we finally got to go! The show was well worth…
Stratford Festival’s “Pericles” and Director’s Day 2015
I was so excited to get to see a play by Shakespeare which I had absolutely no previous connection to whatsoever. This is such a rare occurrence for me, that when it does happen, it’s lovely to take advantage of. So I knew next to nothing going into the play, other than that Pericles was…
A View from the Box 