“What is Hell?” Take Wilde, famously charged with indecency in a time where it was still illegal to be queer who said: “We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.” Or take Huxley, who was so much more than the dystopian fiction we’re forced to read in school, who said:…
The content warnings for Vitals on Factory’s website are: “This play contains explicit descriptions of violence, gore, sexual assault, animal and child abuse and self-harm including suicide. It is not recommended for younger audiences.” As such, my review will also be touching on these topics. If you’re planning to see the show, please heed these…
“We hide our memories, but never bury them” Adeeb dreams of his homeland: Syria. But when he dreams, the faces are foreign to him, so is the place, and yet he has the undeniable feeling that it’s his home. Aksam Alyousef’s Karma, directed by Pleiades’ artistic executive director Ash Knight, blends past and present to…
Where you do find inspiration? In nature? Other art? Or maybe even in another person? When the muse calls, no matter where you find it, you always feel compelled to answer, even if answering it might take over your life. Christina Anderson’s How to Catch Creation, directed by Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu, examines the lives of…
We’ve all heard of those reality dance shows which were massive hits in the 2000’s: “Dance Moms” or even “Toddler and Tiaras”, and we know the drama which occurs both on and off the stage. Clare Barron’s Dance Nation, directed by Diana Bentley, brings that drama to life right before your eyes. With a cast…
Dear Lev, You don’t know me, but I’m lucky to get to see your Uncle Andrew’s work here in Toronto. He’s written a play about your great-grandfather, your pradid in Ukrainian, and he’s written it to you. To help you, and frankly all of us, understand a little bit more about the world as it…
“Odoobina’anangoog, that’s a perfect name for you: She Holds Up the Stars” Misko’s new name on the rez suits her perfectly – arms outstretched towards the heavens, she’s learned more about her heritage in the last few weeks than she has for many years before that. However, the incident that brought her to the rez…
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Or is Mary a whore? Or is Mary the mother of two Apostles?…
For what would you sell your soul? To save the reputation of a family member? To get medicine for your sick child? Or to create the most perfect sandwich in the world? Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s initially sounds like an uplifting comedy about second chances, and though that all does come to pass, there’s also a…
“It’s as if we’re being shown how the world is fragile, but oh how it twinkles” Now, more than ever, we’re witnessing the fragility of the world: climate disasters are becoming more frequent, humanity is being divided on seemingly every issue, wars are constantly perpetuated, and the cost of living is progressively going up. Matthew…
A View from the Box 