Category Archives: Comedy

Stratford Festival’s “Shakespeare in Love”

Posted in Comedy, Shakespeare, Stratford Festival, Theatre by

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 when we went to go and see the play. I knew it was a little historically inaccurate, and I knew that people LOVED it. I can now join the list of people who LOVE that story. 

One thing I hadn’t known going in was that Tom Stoppard was involved in writing this story. That small fact gave me a whole different perspective on the piece. Stoppard’s works are brilliant, and this one is no exception. The integration of Shakespeare’s works into the world around him, the nods to the real people who were instrumental in Shakespeare’s success, and just playing with the conventions of the period (a woman on stage?!? Never!) and using it all in a way that is so smart and humorous, I was thoroughly entertained. While  it’s certainly a play which rewards those who are familiar with the period and its players, this was a show that had everyone laughing!

Being able to have the sets and costume designs from the West End production was a real treat! The set was beautiful, with the wood panneling looking so much like Shakespeare’s Globe. I was amazed by the number of places the actors had to run up and down, in and out of the woodwork. It was totally mesmerizing! The costumes were equally beautiful, intricate and transportive; showing the extravagance of court and the simplicity of everyday life. From lace and pearls to leather and linen, they were all dressed perfectly. The addition of on-stage musicians also enhanced the Renaissance feel, and it was so great to see those musicians playing actual roles within the play. 

Like Humphrey (Will Shakespeare) and Shannon Taylor (Viola de Lesseps) lead the incredible cast, full of Startford’s finest playing Elizabethan England’s finest. Notable mentions going to Tom McCamus (Fennyman), Stephen Ouimette (Henslowe), Micheal Spencer-Davis (Tilney), Saamer Usmani (Christopher Marlowe) and Brad Hodder (Ned Alleyn) just to name a very few. It was a great joy for me to see these people who I’ve read about, studied and imagines brought so beautifully to life. I could hardly contain myself as they talked about Beaumont and Fletcher, had Hemmings and Condell as part of Shakespeare’s cast, John Webster being uber creepy and gory (sings of things to come), Tilney being such an uptight Master of Revells; I was in my glory. 

I cannot express how much I enjoyed Shakespeare in Love. I look forward to a rainy day off where I can finally watch the award winning film of one of my newest favourite stories. If you’re in Stratford this weekend, make sure to catch this amazing play on Sunday for its final performance.

Stratford Festival’s “The Hypochondriac”

Posted in Comedy, Moliere, Stratford Festival, Theatre by

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 the true facts surrounding the original play itself, but also was a great nod to the time period in general. I loved the Commedia Dell’Arte performance, the juggling and music and tumbling, all beautiful examples of the kind of street art which was so prevalent at the time and heavily informed Molière’s theatre. We also get to see Molière’s company preparing for the performance, totally unaware of what will befall them later in the evening. When the “doctors” came out at the end of that section with the cell phone, I nearly feel out of my chair laughing; I love it when they’re able to give the standard “Please turn off your cell phone” message in a unique and funny way. 

The appearance of King Louis further solidified the time period for the piece, but then also gave context to the many nods which are given to him throughout the play. It also added a level of meta-theatricality, making the frame all the more complete. 

However, at the end of the play, when the play within the play is over, and Molière (Stephen Ouimette) has taken ill, that meta-theatrically comes into play again as La Thorilliere (Ben Carlson) calls out “Is there a doctor in the house?” Reality comes crashing in on the hilarity we have just witnessed. This sobering ending was totally smashed to bits at the performance I attended, where someone said back “I’m not a doctor, but I’m a dentist!” We all laughed at the spontaneity of the whole incident, and yet it’s one of the things that make theatre the beautiful art it is; no one had ever shouted back before, the cast was flabbergasted! And yet that afternoon that lone voice responded to La Thorilliere’s pleas. And who knows if it’s happened again since? These one-off experiences make the show all the more memorable.

However the expert acting in this show is what’s truly memorable! Ouimette especially was pitiful, hilarious and yet loveable; a perfect Restoration lead. He was supported by a large, impressive cast, including Brigit Wilson, Trish Lindström, Ian Lake, Luke Humphrey and Shannon Taylor. They were truly able to bring not only Molière’s story, but his whole world to life on stage. And some of the cast exhibited extraordinary tablets: from tumbling to juggling to music and dancing, the expertise of the whole cast was truly put on display, and made for a feast for the eyes.

The Masque at the end of the play has to be one of my favourite conclusions to one of Molière’s works, as Argan (Ouimette) becomes the solution to his own ailments, and we can see a clear path to happily-ever-after for the characters involved. It provides a perfect juxtaposition to the ending to the play itself as I had mentioned previously; once Argan’s problems are solved, Molière’s begin. 

One of the things that I found the most interesting was how a modem audience was able to connect so fully to this play. Often times with Restoration comedy, there are so many jokes which are couched in inuendo or timely references that they don’t play well for a modern audience. Yet because this play deals with the human body, our health and the medical system, it remains totally relatable and still hysterical for today’s theatre-goers. It actually gives the show the same kind of universally human qualities that we see in other of our most beloved plays. 

The Hupochondriac closes on the 14th, so make sure to catch this hilarious comedy!

Stratford Festival’s “As You Like It”

Posted in Comedy, Shakespeare, Stratford Festival, Theatre by

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 the wait, and was way beyond expectations.

The setting for the show was wonderfully done; from the costumes to the hair, they didn’t miss a beat at making sure we knew it was the 80’s! Setting it in the East Coast made it even more fun. It really helped with the inclusive feel of the show (more on that to come) and gave a whole different kind of energy and life into the performance. The singing and dancing was infectious! We couldn’t stop smiling and danced all the way to the car. The set itself was beautifully simplistic and malleable, making each location distinct and lovely; the Forest of Arden being the most beautiful of all.

As I mentioned earlier, the show asks for full audience participation, and what a joy it is to do so! Upon entering the audience is asked to take a small bag with several items inside (most of which you get to take home!) and you are given instructions by Hymen herself (played by Robin Hutton) as to what props to use when. It was great fun and made for lots of laughs. One of my favourite moments happened in the second scene of the play, as Celia (Trish Lindström) is trying to comfort her saddened Rosalind (Petrina Bromley), Celia takes away the tub of ice cream that Rosalind has been devouring, and offers it up to an audience member. “Sure! I’d love some!” I said, and next thing I knew I had a tub of ice cream with a scoop or two of vanilla left in the bottom. With a thumbs up from Celia I figured I’d likely not get an opportunity like this again, so I enjoyed the rest of the ice cream throughout the next scene. What a treat! We laughed about it all through dinner! We loved getting to be trees in the Forrest, waves in the sea, and a lush meadow fit for a wedding. If you love to feel like a part of the show, you’ll love this production!

Aside from the setting, Jillian Keiley made another fascinating choice which I really enjoyed seeing played out: the Duke and Jaques were both women in this production. It was a very interesting contrast to the usually male dominated sphere of the Forrest. The Duchess Senior (Brigit Wilson) is surrounded by her people, and is therefore more safe than Rosalind and Celia would be on their own. But Jaques’ character is even more layered in this production, and made her even more interesting.

Jaques was portrayed by Seana McKenna, who outdid herself once again with this role. Hearing her say one of the most famous speeches in the Shakespearean Cannon (“All the world’s a stage…”) was even better than I had imagined. What fascinated me most was Jaques’ position as a voyeur, and how that was manifested in this play. It is frequently mentioned how melancholy Jaques watches the world go by, commenting on things as (s)he goes, however in this production, the voyeurism goes to the extent of Jaques having cameras and notepads, ways of recording what (s)he sees. The notion that (s)he was, in the court at least, some kind of reporter makes total sense, and also explains some of the melancholy that (s)he finds in the world. It was brilliant!

These are truly just some of the highlights of what will always be a memorable show to me. The whole thing created such a perfect image of what this play can do, and where Shakespeare’s words can take us, it’s well worth seeing. Bring the family and go on a theatrical adventure! I truly can’t recommend this show enough! For ticket information, visit http://www.stratfordfestival.ca

Stratford Festival’s “Pericles” and Director’s Day 2015

Posted in Comedy, Shakespeare, Stratford Festival, Theatre by

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 one of the most complex plots I had heard of. I was absolutely blown away with what director Scott Wentworth did with the piece.

How we got to experience this play was wonderfully unique and something that I hope to do again. We got to take part in what is called Director’s Day, where we have a pre-show chat (and lunch!) with the director, then we see the show (or you can see another one) and then you come back for a Q&A and dinner! The way the day is organized is beyond awesome, and they certainly have the whole thing down to a science. But to hear about the play from Mr. Wentworth himself was wonderful, as he was able to give us enough of an idea about what we were going to see that we could understand what he wanted to accomplish, but he certainly didn’t spoil anything for us either. And to get to hear his thoughts about directing and what it means to be a director was really inspiring for me as I was just embarking on my first directorial venture.

When I first saw that the play was set in the Victorian period, I was a little hesitant and didn’t really understand, but then I thought about the ideas of expansion and colonialism and thought, ok. But then to hear Mr. Wentworth talk about it, about the taboo subjects that the Victorians appalled but Shakespeare could talk about, and how he wanted to see “what they were so afraid of,” it made it even more enjoyable. And yet the play just seemed to feel right, and not just because of what I had heard beforehand, it just suited the out of this world plotline and wonderful characters.

The costumes and sets for this play were beautiful, and allowed for the audience to be transported to the various locations that Shakespeare requires. The set especially was beautiful for the scenes at the abbey, where the walls were filled with lit candles. It was mesmerizing and yet didn’t detract from the scene. What was even more amazing was when the rest of the cast came out to act out the shipwreck and removed Pericles’ clothes and passed around his boat. To watch them move as a single unit and become what is so hard to depict was awesome, and one of the moments that still stands out in my mind.

The role doubling for each adventure Pericles embarks on was rather amazing, and forced us to draw the parallels that Mr. Wentworth wanted us to. Wayne Best certainly went through the most drastic changes between roles, and that made it all the more incredible to witness. And while it seems like that would be confusing, it somehow flowed so well that I never felt confused. The plot seemed so linear despite it having a rather circular pattern to the plot.

Mr. Wentworth’s focus on the female characters of the play was really refreshing and certainly came through in his choices. By having a woman, who turns out to be Pericles’ wife, narrate the play as the goddess Diana instead of Gower was inspiring, and added an energy that wouldn’t otherwise be afforded this text. It really turned our attention to the women in Pericles’ life and how his choices affected them as well. The reunion of Pericles and Marina actually had me in tears, and while it was sort of the penultimate reunion, it certainly was the one with the most emotion behind it.

The other highlighted element was the music, which I truly loved. The fact that it was based on a poem and written by Mr. Wentworth’s wife was just delightful, and added this mystical element to the show. Music has this ability to tie all of the ideas of the play together, and create this familiar and unifying element that even aided in the emotional reunion of Pericles and Marina. It was totally unexpected and yet felt completely organic within the play itself.

This is all apart from the incredible acting in this production. This text is not easy, nor is having to play multiple roles throughout the production, and yet it was handled flawlessly. Evan Buliung was amazing as Pericles, and was supported by Debora Hay, Wayne Best and many more in a stellar cast. I cannot wait for the movie version of this production to come out. To have the ability to relive it over and over is thrilling!!

Stratford Festival’s “The Taming of the Shrew”

Posted in Comedy, Shakespeare, Stratford Festival by

I was so happy to be back in Stratford again this summer! The Taming of the Shrew holds such a special place in my heart because it was the first Shakespearean show I ever saw, and my first Shakespearean show at the Festival, way back in 2003 and so was one of the reasons that I set my life on a theatrical path. To get to see the show again, as my first performance of the 2015 season, and done in such a beautiful manner was fabulous; I so thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing from start to finish.

One of the things that I loved right off the bat was that the used the frame narrative that is included in the play, and yet is so often disregarded. And of course, in true Chris Abraham fashion (He’s the director, and one I adore), there was an even outer frame that began the moment we came in and made the frame within the play itself easier to understand. It was so lovely to have the actors breaking the fourth wall before the show and coming around to talk to us. From there, one of the actors played a disruptive audience member, who then becomes the drunkard that the ‘actors’ convince into being their lord and for whom they present the play. It was all so brilliantly done, and made the little scholar in me so happy!

In the outermost frame, where the actual actors were breaking the fourth wall, Tom Rooney gave a little speech about gender and disguise and how they work in this play. I was very happy that they made a point of this for two reasons: 1) it plays into what the next frame deals with and then the subject matter of the play itself, 2) It hearkens back to the way the play would have originally been done, with boys dressed as girls, and this of course also affects Kate’s final speech, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

The whole play was done very traditionally, which I certainly appreciate. The stage even looked like the Globe Theatre with its giant red pillars and square thrust stage. The costuming was also very traditional with beautiful ruffs and gorgeous gowns for the ladies. One of the elements I loved the most was the musicians live on stage. They were such a fun element of the play, and completed the traditional feel. It was like they had their own little part in the play, made their own comments through their music, and really were another element of comic relief. I thought it was simply delightful!

Ben Carlson and Deborah Hay played Petruchio and Katarina, and they were both experts at their roles. Deborah was a fierce, forceful and frightening Kate, while Ben’s Petruchio was tough, tempering and (at times) terrible. They were a perfect match. Having seen Deborah play the demure Bianca, it was amazing to watch her be so vicious playing Kate. The two of them were so physical, and that added a whole different element to their relationship, and yet made the taming all the more noticeable. The fact that the two of them are married in real life just added another level to the story that was so rife with frames and layers.

These two were equally matched by the rest of their cast, who performed wonderfully. The whole thing was a joy to watch from start to finish, and that always has to do with the cast as a whole. They brought such life and vivacity to the play, and I didn’t feel like a single person was miscast. It was truly a great deal of fun to experience.

Last, but not at all least, I’d like to talk about Katarina’s final speech. There’s always a great deal of criticism about it because to a modern audience it sounds so patriarchal. And yet I felt like this production handled it in an excellent way. It seemed to me that Kate believed what she was saying wholeheartedly, which I do really like because then the transformation that Petruchio has made, but also that she has made for herself is complete and therefore the ending can be a happy one. During her lessons to the other wives, Kate does make it clear that while you should obey your husband, he should be worthy of the obedience, and while they mere fact that she says to obey them is patriarchal, there is the element of choice, which ads a flair of feminism. But for me, it was the final moments, where she held out her hand to Petruchio, and just before she lets her hand fall, he rushes up to take it. I felt like in that moment, the two of them agreed that their lives were a partnership, and that she isn’t his servant; that as long as she will be faithful to him, so will he to her. While it was only a gesture, and I can’t know if it was meant to have that meaning I endowed in it, but I felt like it was a really great way to deal with what can otherwise be an antiquated and demeaning speech for women.

It’s amazing to get to see a play that you saw when you were much younger. It’s a great way to see how much you’ve grown and how your attitudes have changed and how much more you know. I can’t wait to see what I’ll think of it in another 12 years!

The Taming of the Shrew runs into October! For tickets you can follow the link here: http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/OnStage/productions.aspx?id=29356&prodid=57753

University Players’ “The Nerd”

Posted in Comedy, Theatre, University Players by

Okay, so I know this is a long time coming, and no lies, I have very little excuse as to why I haven’t written this review yet. But better late than never!

This experience was very interesting for me, as I got to see the final performance of the final show of the University Player’s season. And while this play was not what I’d call a traditional comedy, it was wonderfully funny, and is well worth seeing if it’s ever on in your area.

The Nerd is the story of a man who for his birthday wants to invite the man who saved his life during the war. However, the guest who arrives to his dinner party isn’t quite who he seems to be. The hilarity that ensues is almost too much to bear! Honestly I thought my sides would split or my lungs would give out I was laughing so hard. The comedy is physical, witty and tension based humour that just had us all on the edge of the seat!

The performances were wonderful. The contrast of characters involved in this play made for easy and hilarious comedy. Everyone’s performances were fabulous, and for Alice Lundy, Andrew Iles and Hailey Joy it was a wonderful show to end their University Player’s careers. Special mention has to go to Isaiah Kolundzic who played Rick Steadman, the ‘war hero,’ the absolute absurdity of his character was amazing, and I honestly had to be talked into the fact that it was Isaiah at all. His mannerisms and characteristics so perfectly contrasted the other characters that I just had to laugh.

I don’t really want to spoil the whole show, because honestly I hope it gets done more, but the end few moments make the whole play worthwhile. I was so disappointed that the couples beside me left at intermission, because they truly missed the punchline of the play! While it’s not all that conventional, it made it all the more fun for me. I love getting to experience new plays, and while I normally like to read the play beforehand, I was so happy to have taken the advice of my friends and just went and experienced it. It made it so much more enjoyable.

I’m looking forward to many new experiences with next year’s UP selections.

Drawing Board Production’s “Working Title: Undecided”

Posted in Canadian, Comedy, Theatre, Windsor by

There are few things more exhilarating than getting to see a world première of a play. What can only make the experience better is when you have the absolute honour of knowing the artists involved in such a marvellous creation. Working Title: Undecided was presented at the University of Windsor at the inaugural UWillDiscover Research Conference (they won 2nd place in the performance category), as well as in the Jackman Centre for the Dramatic Arts on March 29th. Never fear! There are still a few more chances to catch this fantastic show!

One person shows should be a category of theatre unto themselves given their extraordinary nature. It is no easy feat to control a room on your own for over an hour, yet Working Title: Undecided’s star Tamlynn Bryson did just that. She was enchanting and amusing, letting us all into the mind of Tess, a woman with a very big decision on her hands. The way she was able to involve the audience in so many ways was wonderful, fun, and impressive, and will continue to work well for their future performances. Tamlynn was able to take the audience on a trip through all of the varying emotions facing Tess in a way that made the audience invested in the outcome of her decision while also having their own hopes for what her answer will be. Tess became very charming, and as an audience member I started to care about the conclusion of the play and what she was going to do because you really felt like you got to know her personally over the course of the play. This, of course, is also not easy to do, but by the reactions of the other audience members at the end of the play, they were similarly affected. Having the ability to not only connect to one’s audience but also to keep them fully engaged for such a long time is, to me, the sign of a well-seasoned actress, and I’m sure that Tamlynn is going to have a bright future in the theatre.

Tamlynn’s partner in crime for this piece was Kyle Kimmerly, who helped to not only direct the play, but also wrote it with her. The topic for the play (which I shan’t reveal, it would give too much away) is a fun one, and one that any audience member can relate to in some way. But then to hear about what a collaborative process it was and continues to be, and the amount of improvisation that is involved (because of the audience involvement) makes it all the more of an amazing feat. Kyle’s direction allowed for that collaborative process to have this beautiful outcome, and really tell Tess’ story in this fun, original way. For two young actors, who are just on the cusp of their careers to create something this impressive and this entertaining is truly awesome. When the play finished, I was blown away to think that I know the two brilliant minds behind this work. The creativity and style of both of these fine artists permeated the work and made it a true pleasure to watch.

I honestly cannot urge you enough to get out and see this wonderful new Canadian play for yourself! They will be showing the play at the Old Walkerville Theatre in May and in June at the Ottawa Fringe Festival. Please get out and see this award winning show and support some wonderful local actors!