Social Issues - According to the Chorus and Wildcat

I thought I would catch up a bit and  chat about a couple of shows I saw that I didn't have time to blog about at the time. Sometimes I get busy... I still have a post to write about my last day of Fringe this summer as I usually collapse after Fringe wraps up that whatever I see on the last day gets neglected... Anyhow, I digress... 

I say two pieces this fall that were both heavy on social issues, each of them approaching them in a very different way. 

The first, According to the Chorus, was presented as the October production at Walterdale Theatre. It told the story of the backstage of a Broadway show during the mid-eighties during the height of the AIDS crisis. The show also alluded to other social issues, eating disorders and domestic violence, but these were not dealt with in as much depth. It was a clever way to talk about what was going on at the time, as Broadway was no doubt hit harder than other industries with illness and death. We heard about this from the perspectives of the chorus girls and saw the impact of the disease on the stage manager Vander (played by Josh Young) who seemed to shrink before our eyes throughout the show. The show was definitely telling this story from a new perspective - that of those observing it happen while it is not happening to them. I felt the script could have used a little more work as it seemed to want to lean into comedy and petty disputes, but I was very impressed with the actors who did the work to make the world feel real. 

The second, Wildcat, at first glance seemed to be about a former union activist searching for relevance as she ages, however, it shifted to be really about catfishing and online fraud and a unique way that elderly people might be caught up in giving away their money to unsavory people. I will admit, I feel that the activism storyline that kind of bookends the piece could have been eliminated and it would have been stronger. The clever set-up for the catfishing and how the problem is solved is the shining diamond of the play. That's where the story moves and gets entertaining and engaging, and I think it tells a story that we all need to hear to protect ourselves. I'm getting older and I could see very clearly how someone, lonely and isolated and wishing for their past could get swept up in the danger. I think the bookends about activism might have come from the inspiration for the characters and the perception of a necessary backstory, but I think it might be a case of less is more - OR - maybe there's actually two plays there - maybe there's a play about the Activist that earns the ending epilogue.  It is a fun piece of theatre and the acting is excellent (Michelle Fleiger, Maralyn Ryan, Melissa Thingelstad, & Graham Mothersill). The second act gets very funny and dangerous and there's some terrific choreography used to help support the story-telling. I'm certainly still thinking about it, & that's always what you want from theatre! 

A Nostalgic Theatre Adventure Continues with Beehive: The 60's Musical!

The Cast of Beehive: The Musical
- supplied

On Thursday night I had a wonderful time revisiting the music of the 1960s with St. Albert Dinner Theatre's Opening Night of Beehive: The 60's Musical. The show was handily directed by Caitlyn Tywoniuk with Music Direction by Dalton B. Terhorst. It featured a talented collection of 6 singer/actor/dancers who wove together a journey through the pop music of the 1960s. While I was not alive for most of the 60s (note: I say most of as I was born during the tail end of the decade) I was very familiar with most of the songs due to growing up with the radio on and absolutely loving the 60s girl group sounds! I also directed and performed in a similar show, Shout!, a number of years ago at the Fringe and there were some overlaps in song selection. Needless to say, I was quietly singing along to many of the songs in Beehive! 

The cast was very well suited to the music, both in voice and dance (choreographed by Sabrina Thieven). Their harmonies were bang-on and each of the 6 actors had moments where they could shine. Josephine Herbut as Wanda, skillfully guided us through the journey, and I loved all her songs. Her voice never falters and has such a beautiful tone which is perfect for the music of the era. Her renditions of Walking in the Rain and The Beehive Dance were simply terrific! Sika Clarke as Pattie is a powerhouse vocalist which leads to a dynamic version of You Don't Own Me. I absolutely loved everything that Renee DeSilva-Bissell (Jasmine) sang as she is remarkably vocally flexible. Her Diana Ross inspired, You Can't Hurry Love, is a showstopper. Melanie Dobos (Allison) has a bright youthfulness and elegance that is charming in her rendition of Where the Boys Are. Chrissie Palacios (Gina) stands out when she delivers the classic, (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman, and Kelsey Hoople (Laura) channels Janis Joplin with a warm and smoky medley including Cry Baby and Me and Bobby McGee. Through all the songs, the cast works as a true team backing each other up with energetic dance and tight harmonies. They also don't limit themselves to the stage, but literally work the crowd with shout-outs and weaving through the audience to make the whole thing more immersive. It was a fun ride! 

I should also mention, that this company is a dinner theatre, so the evening starts with a buffet meal which was delicious. This was also the company's first foray into producing a musical and they've done a terrific job with an excellent piece of theatre!

Beehive: The 60's Musical runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until November 22nd. Tickets are $70.00 and that include dinner and the show and can be purchased here. 

Theatrical Nostalgia - Billy Bishop Goes to War and Morningside Road

It's interesting that after seeing Big Stuff on the weekend, the next two shows I saw this week learned in heavily to feelings of nostalgia. Nostalgia for eras of history I wasn't even born yet for (WW I and WWII). I had a fascinating conversation after the second one about why we see so many shows dealing with periods of history from before we were born that we somehow are still cognizant of - perhaps due to cultural storytelling in our lifetimes - but also wondering about how'd we write about our youth which was more the 1970s and 1980s and how and why we'd tell those stories... 

I took in the inaugural production from Edmonton Repertory Theatre Company this past week. For their first production they mounted a Canadian Classic, Billy Bishop Goes to War starring Steven Greenfield as Billy Bishop and Cathy Derkach on piano and supporting vocals and sound effects. This is not the first time I've seen this play, in fact I have seen it twice before, but it is a show worth revisiting, and if you've never seen it you should. A large part of that is the excellent script and how it tells and shows the real Canadian World War One hero, Billy Bishop. It's a terrific story with songs and in this production it is animatedly told by Greenfield. He is certainly up to the task of playing the unexpected hero. Known as the worst student ever to come out of the Royal Military College, Bishop becomes a flying Ace in WWI and shoots down a remarkable amount of German planes and receives the highest of military honours for it. Greenfield is physical and flexible as he plays not only Bishop, but a plethora of other characters. He is supported throughout this by Derkach, a gifted pianist and vocalist. I feel this is one of the plays that every Canadian should probably see, and this production, directed by Gerry Potter, is an excellent interpretation of it. The play explores themes of heroism, the cost of war and the brutal realities of conflict, and the creation of a national hero.

The Edmonton Repertory Theatre Company has taken up residence at the Biederman Theatre (inside Lifestyles Options Retirement Community - 17203 99 Ave NW). This is a new space for the Edmonton Theatre community and it's a lovely one. Free parking is available to the West of the building. Billy Bishop Goes to War runs from October 24-November 8, 2025. Tickets run from $23-$40 and are available here.

I also had the opportunity to see the newest iteration of Morningside Road at Shadow Theatre. I had seen the first version of this lovely musical at Fringe in 2023 and recommended it to everyone at the time. The updated version is an expanded two act musical with a full band and additional musical numbers. Morningside Road tells the story of a Girl (played by playwright & composer Mhairi Berg) and her grandmother Elaine (Maureen Rooney). The two are close and the Girl has always been entertained by the stories her grandmother has told her about growing up on Morningside Road in Scotland and how she met her grandfather during World War II before the two of them emigrated to Canada to start a family. As they revisit the stories Berg plays the younger Elaine and we meet her grandfather in the past who is known as the Lad (Cameron Kneteman). But grandmother Elaine is starting to experience dementia and as she deteriorates her stories change and we discover that the actual past was somewhat different from what she's been relaying over the years. I do not want to give too much away, but let's just say, secrets are revealed. The music (by Berg and Simon Abbot) is gorgeous and takes up more space in the story than in the original Fringe production. I absolutely loved That Blessèd Wedding Day and Christmas Stockings and I think those were both new or at least more developed! All three performers are lovely singers and committed to telling this story. I did wish that I was experiencing it for the first time, however, because I knew the big secret so the reveal had less impact on me. I'm curious, if you are seeing it for the first time, how that discovery rings with you.  

I'm so impressed with Shadow Theatre for investing in this show. I love that they are looking at what local artists are doing at Fringe and helping to develop those works further. We have so much incredible talent creating new work in the city and this was a real treat to see in the mainstage season. 

Morningside Road runs to November 2nd so you need to catch it quickly. I was meant to see it a week earlier but shows were canceled due to illness, so I am sorry this is coming so close to the end of the run. Tickets are $25 - $40 and can be purchased here. 

Big Stuff at the Citadel - what are you holding on to?

This weekend, my Mom and I went to Big Stuff at the Citadel Theatre. The show features improvised moments and scenes within a framework wherein actors Naomi Sniekus and Matt Baram tell stories about all their "stuff" (physical) and their "stuff" (emotional and memory). They relate their meeting and tell the stories of their parents who have now all passed away. Throughout the show (and this is the improv stuff), the audience reveals stories about their things. When you arrive at the theatre, there's a notecard on the seat that you write about an object that you have that reminds you of someone close to you. During the show, at key moments, a card is drawn and that audience member is encouraged to tell their story and this is woven into the overall narrative. They also ask questions, like who has been married the longest, which my Mom won at 62 years (she said 62 but remembered later on the way to the car that it was actually 63 years). It was such a lovely show. Very funny both in the planned story and in the quick thinking incorporation of the prompts peppered throughout the show, but is is also touching and heart warming. So it's completely fair to mention that I laughed and I cried and I loved it! As we were leaving my Mom said, "Now that is the kind of theatre I want to see!". 

I've seen Sniekus and Baram before in Toronto in 2013. They are just as quick and in sync today and in a city like Edmonton with such good Improv, they are holding their own with this phenomenal show. It's a must-see!

Big Stuff runs at the Citadel Theatre in the Rice until November 9th. Tickets are $40-$69 and can be purchased here. 

Unicorns and Tigers... A Zoological Start to the Theatre Season!

The Pink Unicorn by Elise Forier Edie - Northern Light Theatre
Directed by Trevor Schmidt and starring Patricia Zentilli

Brianne Jang BB Collective Photography

I saw this play 10 years ago at Northern Light Theatre and loved it. It has come back to me several times a year when things would happen in the world, or when I would encounter magical children as a teacher, or when I would read a certain book (This is How It's Always Is by Laurie Frankel). It's that kind of play. This production was just as good as the show I saw so long ago and hits as hard (or harder) because the rhetoric has gotten worse in recent years, so it feels even more necessary. As Trisha Lee, Zentilli leans into the flaws of her character and that searching that every parent does to make the right choice. She is luminous and questing and we feel for her as she struggles to do the right thing in a world she is completely unprepared for. At the core of the story is love. Love for a child no matter who they are, and trying to find the ways to show that love and support them even if it feels foreign and strange. It is a true testament to unconditional love of a parent for their child. It is also about Trisha recognizing her own relationship with judging people and working to overcome that. Once again, you recognize the small-town close-mindedness and the wacky misfit characters that populate it, as well as those that cannot bend to show love and acceptance because of being so invested in their judgment and their need to be "right". 

I loved the journey that director Schmidt took us on. It's pacing is fast, but slows for thought and reflection. Trisha moves more in this production and this pulls us is. I also really loved Schmidt's set design, so I wanted to give that a shout out. It's a humongous papercraft window box of a small town Texas field, set off by pink swirls. Simply beautiful and giving a frame to this touching story of mother and child. Whether you saw this before or not, I highly recommend. 

Tickets are $37.00 with Pay-What-You-Can and 2-For-1 performances and can be purchased here.  

The Life of Pi - The Citadel Theatre 
Based on the novel by Yann Martel; Adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti
Directed by Haysam Kadri

Photo Credit: Nanc Price

I've been really looking forward to seeing The Life of Pi at the Citadel Theatre. It is one of my favourite books and so many friends who saw it earlier in the run told me it was marvelous. It also has puppets that were created by a former student so I was especially invested! It did not disappoint. The creation of the world is magical - puppets tend to up the theatricality and magic of a show! But the colours or the world and the manipulation of all the animals is very well-done and you are simply immersed in Pi Patel's journey. From the zoo in  Pondicherry, to the tempest tossed cargo ship, to the lonely but crowded lifeboat, this production has managed to capture the feel and mood of those presented in the book. I re-read the book in the three days leading up to seeing the show so it was all present in my mind. I didn't mind the changes and I think leaving off the extra layer of story being told to the novelist was a strong choice for the play (we did not need another layer) instead bringing the hospital in Mexico in at the beginning and having Pi relate the story in a book-ended manner. I loved that I could hear actual lines that I had just read, but delivered in a way that was alive, honest and present. 

The cast as a whole is very committed to serving this story. No one has much down time as many of them switch from puppeteer to character and back. The flow is incredible. The anchor to it all is Davinder Malhi as Pi and he is simply wonderful. You feel his joy and despair as well as his anger and need to survive. It is resilience demonstrated masterfully onstage. His nemesis, Richard Parker, the Bengal Tiger he shares the lifeboat with, is a worthy scene partner to Pi. The puppet is gorgeous and wild and manipulated with strength and artistry by Braydon Dowler-Coltman and Troy Feldman. Kudos to them for making him come alive, and to Puppet Director Dayna Tietzen for all the puppet work. I really want some of those stunning flying fish just so I can make them flutter. 

It was one of the best shows I have seen at the Citadel in recent years. I highly recommend! 

Tickets for The Life of Pi are $40.00 - $147.00 and can be purchase here.  It looks like several nights have limited availability which can make ticket prices increase, so buying earlier rather than later is recommened. 

Fringe Full of Stars - Thursday, August 21, 2025 - Peter Pan, Opera, A White Tiger and Jeopardy!

Quiz Icarus

This was definitely a show for ME! As many of you know (maybe you don't, but if you follow me on Instagram - you KNOW) I am a big Trivia buff. My husband and I (and sometimes my youngest son) play trivia on a regular basis - minimum twice a week, but sometimes more. We're also BIG Jeopardy fans and we PVR it daily to watch together and have done so for years. We also have a big place in our hearts for anyone on Jeopardy who is from Canada. So, about the show, Nam and Aaron are two Canadians who got on Jeopardy in the last few years and they were telling their stories about their love of Jeopardy, and all things Trivia and the lengths that they (and many others) went to in order to prepare for "The Show!" Each had a slightly different journey and different outcomes, but I was captivated by their Boot Camp recollections and thoroughly wowed by the name-dropping (Mattea! Juveria! OMG!!). As an avid viewer I remembered both of them, particularly Aaron's episode. Anyhow, in a dream-come-true moment, I got to go onstage and participate in a 10 minutes Jeopardy round. I did not win - I knew answers, but it is very much a buzzer game and my buzzer game sucked. The other audience member participating did win and got $100. I was jealous... the guys didn't even want a picture with me afterwards like they did with Sarah... That's the difference between a player and a champion, I guess... But I still had a lot of very nervous fun! 

Paloma and Joy

This production by Whizzgiggling was a bit different from their past few shows - a little darker and more serious as it explores the exploitation of foreign workers through the use of a German white tiger (Magda - played by Kristin Johnston) brought into the tired magic act of Paloma (Cheryl Jameson) and Joy (Michelle Todd). Paloma is the big bully of the two, but the dimmer Joy doesn't really help things. The play culminates with a near fatal attack after Paloma pushes things too far. I guess if you are going to poke the tiger, so to speak, it's important to understand that at some point they might poke back. There's a terrific opening sequence from Jameson and Todd, a fantastic cabaret song performed by Johnston, and all three actors commit fully to their roles. It makes you think. 

Peter Pan Cometh

I'd been waiting for this show and it did not disappoint! It's Peter Pan meets Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh and the the juxtaposition is wild. I am not as familiar with Iceman as I am with Long Days Journey into Night (Peter Pan is a no-brainer - I was in the musical years ago!), so I read the wikipedia article before seeing the show. The man in front of me watched the 4 hour movie version before coming. I don't know if you need to be that prepared. It's surprisingly fitting, and those surprises make you laugh and lock in. I was totally engaged from the moment it began. Very smart and clever, and well-acted and directed, and these folks clearly know their stuff when it comes to creating an out-of-the-box theatrical experience. Go see it! 

Dressing Requiem

I don't usually go to the opera at Fringe, but the title was recommended a few times to me during Word of Mouth chats so I thought I would check it out. There's some fine singing in this show who's premise is that the show is cancelled and the cast decide to reminise their favourite songs as they wrap up the dressing room. This allows the cast to share a greatest hits of Opera for the audience. My favourite performances were Udite (Donizetti), Vilia (Lehar), Habanera (Bizet) and the final number, Nessun Dorma (Puccini). 

I am taking today off and then tomorrow, Saturday, will be my last day! I hope you all have a terrific final weekend of Fringe Full of Stars!

Word of Mouth - Fringe Full of Stars - Wednesday & Thursday (Aug 20 and 21)

It's Two Days Worth of Word of Mouth, because I was so tired on Wednesday evening that I didn't get them posted! THe good news is, I have a lot of new titles that might give you some cool ideas for the last weekend of Fringe! So take a chance on one or two of these shows that friends and random strangers told me about!

Word of Mouth

Wednesday, Aug 20 & Thursday, Aug 21st, 2025!

1 Small Lie: Martin Dockery
Rat Academy 2
Victor & Victoria's Terrifying Tale of Terrible Things
Carole of the Belles
Flora & Fawna Face Their Fears
The Witches
Jem rolls ADVENTURES IN CANADIAN PARKING LOTS
Lousy Parents
The Stakeout
Hamlet & Iago
Fear Fables: The Horror Drag Anthology
Chase Padgett: How To Play Guitar (Poorly)
Peter Pan Cometh
Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody
Cabaret of Legends
Sam's Clam & Oyster Bar
Assassins
Riot!
Marv n' Berry
A Kind of Electra
Moonshine
Lost Sock Rescue Society
Joan of Arc Ascending
The Last Perfect Game: The Jerry Stephenson Story
Colonial Circus
Motherhood
Plan V
100% UnTrueBadour!

Happy Fringing everyone! I hope you stumble into something fantastic!