Category: Theatre in Ottawa and the region

#Faustus at Arts Court Theatre: Reviewed by Laurie Fyffe

#Faustus at Arts Court Theatre: Reviewed by Laurie Fyffe

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#Faust

 

#Faustus                   Photo Andrew Alexander   William Beddoes as Faustus

The first shock that lands from #Faustus is the language. Against the backdrop of a visual barrage of what looks like a WikiLeaks spill of internet data mixed with images and headlines Faust, William Beddoe, plunges into a poetic narrative, courtesy of Christopher Marlow. And herein lies the superior strength and the challenge of this intriguing show. The signal conveyed by all that computer imaging is that we are in modern times. So it takes the ear a few moments to adjust to the poetically packed verse. One asks, where are we? Where is Faust? Aha, he’s in front of the computer screen of the world, contemplating the meaning of life. Human kind is devolving into chaos and Faust wants answers.  At any cost.

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Opening night at the Fringe with Laurie Fyffe: The Geography Teacher’s Orders

Opening night at the Fringe with Laurie Fyffe: The Geography Teacher’s Orders

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The best Fringe shows arrive on the heat wave of a summer storm and hit just as hard. The lighting strike of revelation contained in the first three Fringe upon which I binged Thursday night was that the Fringe is thriving as a forum for plays that pack a political punch or grapple with challenging source text and big themes. New artists make their debut, while experienced professionals push boundaries.

The Geography Teacher’s Orders

Marta Singh has been circling the theatre scene via the storytelling circuit for a number of years. I was immersed in an earlier version of The Geography Teacher’s Orders in 2015 when she performed the piece for Ottawa StoryTellers at the National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage. But the startling relevancy of Singh’s tale of a truly terrifying teacher is even more compelling, funny, and chilling now than it was then. This story is a sword of truth that cuts with a sharp edge. Singh’s flash from her adolescent past, played out in the shadow of post Junta Argentina, is a haunting memory that vividly brings to life the epic struggle between teacher and student. Will the geography teacher succeed in bringing her class to order? More to the point of her twisted, dictatorial understanding of education will she bend their individual and collective will into blind compliance as she assaults the sacred bastions of collective action and solidarity. Or, will the students succeed in staging a counter rebellion of compassion, fighting, in the case of one, with words mightier than her sword of oppression. You really do start to feel the rise of an inner democratic cheering section.

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Ryan Pepper’s first night Fringe: Drunk, Josephine, House Rules

Ryan Pepper’s first night Fringe: Drunk, Josephine, House Rules

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Reviewed by Ryan Pepper

Drunk : Text gives audiences a musical theatre love letter to Broadway

It’s not surprising that Drunk Text from Miltonbone Productions started as creator Mathieu Charlebois’ graduation recital at Carleton University. The play comes across as a young person’s love letter to Broadway, complete with all the tropes that Broadway fanatics love. Over the course of the hour-long production, there are songs about following your dreams to New York City, a song about an ex-girlfriend plotting her revenge on her almost-fiance, love songs, and songs about seizing the moment. This earnest musical fully embraces the Broadway cheesiness of musicals like Dear Evan Hansen, a world full of people bursting into feelgood show tunes. …

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Dr Faustus meets cyberspace: the past and the future collide in perfect harmony!!

Dr Faustus meets cyberspace: the past and the future collide in perfect harmony!!

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Mephistopheles  arrives.    Photo Andrew Alexander  #Faustus

 

In a small empty space illuminated by several enlarged computer screens, a shadowy figure sits contemplating the lists of glowing symbols, mathematical signs, and strange calculations whizzing along in front of us. This is the current knowledge of the world enticing the ambitious Faustus who wants to meet Mephistopheles  as he vows  to give his soul to the devil. …

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OLT: Political Correctness Moves Over for the Fun of Farce

OLT: Political Correctness Moves Over for the Fun of Farce

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Move Over Mrs Markham.   Photo:Maria Vartanova

Move over Mrs Markham By Ray Cooney and John Chapman

Ottawa Little Theatre  Directed by Venetia Lawless

The name of playwright Ray Cooney has been closely associated with farce since he first appeared in the famous Whitehall farces with Brian Rix in the 1950s and 60s. His familiarity with the genre encouraged him to present his own brand and one of his comedies, Run for Your Wife, ran for nine years in London’s West End, with some 17 of his other farces notching up long runs and many of them showing up regularly around the world, particularly in community theatres.  …

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Orpheus chalks up another winner with Mamma Mía

Orpheus chalks up another winner with Mamma Mía

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Photo Allan Dean, Tanya (Stefania Wheelhouse) Donna (Nicole Milne). Rosie (Christine Moran).

Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus  and some songs with Stig Anderson, Book by Catherine Johnson.  Originally conceived by Judy Craymer. Orpheus Musical Theatre Society.   Directed by Shaun Toohey

Perhaps it’s the moment when Nicole Milne, spellbinding in the role of Donna, communicates the yearning poetry of The Winner Takes It All. Or maybe it’s the explosion of comedy, colour and ensemble expertise that occurs on the beach with Lay All Your Love On Me.

Again, perhaps the most memorable moments come with the emotional impact of soon-to-be married Sophie’s I Have A Dream when Meaghan Chapin wistfully sings it at the very beginning and then invests the material with a different texture at the very end. …

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Mamma Mia: ABBA’s music soars into the Mediterranean sky.

Mamma Mia: ABBA’s music soars into the Mediterranean sky.

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Photo Alain Dean
Pierre Sirois as Pepper and Stefania Wheelhouse as Tanya

As the orchestra under the direction of Chris Santillán pumped out the first ringing notes , the first pounding   beats of the overture performed by the electronic keyboards, acoustic instruments, percussions and other sounds of the time,  Mamma Mía, left us with   powerful memories of Orpheus Musical Theatre  that will certainly carry us through the summer. It included a packed house at the Centrepointe, an audience barely able to contain itself, trembling with excitement and shrieking with joy after almost every musical number. It all exploded like a huge love in- style 1970s- of proportions that I have never seen before in that theatre. …

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Lucid Dreams: A beautiful, whimsical performance full of warmth

Lucid Dreams: A beautiful, whimsical performance full of warmth

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Image courtesy of Once Upon a Kingdom Theatre

Lucid Dreams
Production: Once Upon a Kingdom Theatre, Ottawa
Director: Ekaterina Vetrov

What an exciting piece of news for the Ottawa theatre community: Once Upon a Kingdom Theatre will be representing North America at the 15th World Festival of Children’s Theatre in Lingen, Germany in June 2018. As over 80 theatres all over the world competed for a chance to participate and only 18 were  selected, this surely calls for a celebration! Let me introduce you to this extraordinary children’s theatre group.

Founded by director Ekaterina Vetrov in 2008, they have been producing highly imaginative and artistic programs which attract children and adults alike. It combines diverse cultural backgrounds and artistic experiences into unique performances. Of course, such a success is not possible without hard work and a cohesive vision. These young and talented artists are truly hard workers, and Ms. Vetrov, the artistic director, manages to bring her very ambitious vision to life through educating young talents in all aspects of theatre: kids learn acting, dance, music, set design, costume design, make-up design, lighting design, stage management and theatre criticism. The results are nothing short of miraculous, which is also the best word to describe their latest show, “Lucid Dreams,” which is the one that will represent North America in Europe. …

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Mamma Mia! Fun for All at Orpheus

Mamma Mia! Fun for All at Orpheus

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Photo by Alan Dean. Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus  and some songs with Stig Anderson

Book by Catherine Johnson  Originally conceived by Judy Craymer

Orpheus Musical Theatre Society  Directed by Shaun Toohey

Thank You For The Music…and the performances, energy, lighting, colour and overall fun of Mamma Mia! The Winner Takes It All in terms of enjoyment and packed houses with this Ottawa premiere — especially when the production is of top quality as delivered by the Orpheus Musical Theatre Society. …

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2 Pianos, 4 Hands: A Mostly Light-Hearted Musical Comedy

2 Pianos, 4 Hands: A Mostly Light-Hearted Musical Comedy

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2 Pianos 4 Hands  Bruce Kulak, Max Roll

 

1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, ON

As the first offering in the 1000 Islands Playhouse’s summer 2018 season, 2 Pianos, 4 Hands (a Marquis Entertainment Production) serves up delightful music with a mostly comedic and light-hearted story. Being a production which has received prestigious awards and has travelled to many places overseas, one may wonder whether the same  ‘big stage’ experience may be had in the modest Springer Theatre. Any doubts on this front, however, were instantly put to rest; this production, directed by one of the show’s co-creators, Richard Greenblatt skilfully packs classic and pop piano tunes and comedic storytelling together in a largely entertaining production. …

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