The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson at Shadow Theatre
March 18-April 5, 2026
2 hours (including 15 minutes intermission)
Starring: Aimée Beaudoin, Alexandra Dawkins, Jaquelin Walters, & Kijo Gatama
Directed by: John Hudson
Photo Credits: Marc J. Chalifoux Photography and Video
Tickets are $25-$40 and can be purchased here.
There are also Wednesday matinees, pay-what-you-can and 2-for-1 nights for financial and schedule accessibility.
This was a terrific show with four strong actors taking on the challenge of playing reimagined historical figures from the height of the French Revolution. I was familiar with "let them eat cake" Marie Antoinette (Beaudoin) and the murderer of Marat, Charlotte Corday (Walters) but not playwright Olympe De Gouges (Dawkins) or champion of freedom and democracy, Marianne Angelle (Gatama). Fortunately there is a nice page or two in the program for background on all four of the historical figures, but don't worry, you don't need the background to get the play. For me it was great to skim that before and read more afterwards! This play imagines what if the four of these women converged at the time of the French Revolution. With three of them coming to playwright De Gouges for her writing skills to help them tell their story, write political pamphlets, develop their last words and plead their cases to the world. While these four were unlikley to have met in real life, putting them together onstage provides many opportunities for tension and humour.
It's very funny and fast paced. I am pretty sure that several of the actors have backgrounds in clowning as the physical commitment and choices are no-holds-barred. Gunderson's dialogue is modern yet feels entirely appropriate and helps to create many moments of laughter. Early on in the play, which is somewhat meta in it's construction, they discuss that a play that starts off funny and ends seriously and maybe has a few songs, is best (I don't have the exact quote). There is music, and references to both
Les Miserables and
Hamilton, which feel perfect and expected so there's a bit of delight when they happen. The cast works well together as an ensemble, with no weak links. Beaudoin is hysterically funny at times and seems to be channeling Marilyn Monroe and Moira Rose - I loved her! Angelle and Corday come at different angles as proponents of their causes and it works. Gatama's Angelle demonstrates maturity and calm, while Walter's Corday is fiery and impulsive. Two sides of the revolutionary coin. The Playwright De Gouges is in the middle and I reflected most on her role as she wants to act, but is hesitant because of the consequences. Dawkins skillfully walks this line between action and inaction, showing real indecision and rationalizing.
I loved the set (Cindi Zuby). I'm a sucker for a beautifully painted floor. As a former set painter I know the incredible work put in to create things like that. But not only did it create the writer's room of De Gouges, but the pattern on the floor at times suggested prison bars, and the set and lights (Ken Matthews) created a stylish upstage guillotine, for when that was needed.
As mentioned, it's funny at the beginning and serious at the end. The historical write-ups give you a head's up (see what I did there) about what happens to them in real life. It's an engaging ride and highlights many things about the impact of revolution - what the women were doing (often omitted from history), and what happens when a leader is removed and what moves into the vacuum (it's not always what you expect). I did reflect about a lot of things happening in the world today and what could happen. I also thought about the role of artists - should they not be speaking out more boldly? Some are today and attempts to silence them have been noted. Will those in power go further? That's got to be a fear...
Cry-Baby! The Musical presented by Uniform Theatre at The Roxy (Theatre Network)
March 19 - 22, 2026
Nancy Power Theatre
120 minutes with an intermission
Cast: Gab Gagnon, Arden Phillips, Renell Doneza, Jacob Holloway, Amanda Neufeld, Matthew Gregg, Megan Holt, Sarah Kyle, Sika Clarke, Lucas Paterson, Benjamin Healey, Rhiannon Eldridge, Kit Brooks, Gunho Kwak, John Avila, Ethan Lang, Robyn Clark, Damon Pitcher
Director: Lauren Boyd
Musical Director: Mackenzie Tennessen
Choreographer: Jason Hardwick
Photo Credit: Mat Simpson
Tickets are $32 (including fees) and can be purchased here.
Usually I wait a couple days before writing because I need to let my thoughts percolate, but there are only two performances left (
as of writing this) and I don't want you to miss out. This was such a good show. It's not for everyone, but if you love really well-done musicals and the off-centre humour of John Waters, then you should definitely go to this show.
Cry-Baby! is a musical adaptation of the John Water's film of the same name. It tells the Romeo & Juliet-like story of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker (Gabriel Gagnon) and Allison Vernon-William (Arden Phillips). Allison's a square and Cry-Baby is a drape (delinquent). Of course, there is conflict between the drapes and the squares, leading to arson, false charges and incarceration of the drapes, and then a prison escape. A lot happens! And it's so fun in a campy, raunchy way!
There is so much awesome about this production. The cast as a whole are great singers and dancers. Jason Hardwick's choreography is clever and funny, and the cast delivered it with 100% commitment and excellent execution! This is the second show I've seen him choregraph this season, and I want to see him choreograph even more around town! The score is a mix of rockabilly, blues, and swing, featuring songs like "I'm Infected," "Screw Loose," and "Nothing Bad's Ever Gonna Happen Again". Music Director Mackenzie Tennessen conducts a fabulous band to make all the numbers rock. Both the leads, Gagnon and Phillips, are excellent singers who definitely know how to sell a song - "Girl, Can I Kiss You With Tongue" is a ridiculous treat to watch. Stand-outs in the show include Amanda Neufeld as the likely insane Lenora Frigid who is obsessed with Cry-Baby. Her comedic gifts abound! Renell Doneza is outstanding vocally and we were very fortunate to get to hear him riff on "Jukebox Jamboree" and "Jailyard Jubilee". He can sure sing and it's incredible!
The cast is also 100% committed to telling the story. This is a great collection of actors who were able to sell the campiness of the story. This is not an easy feat. But they all seemed to know how far to go and when to give focus to story. All this while singing and dancing!
The show also has a super fun set (Will Chichak) and costume (Logan Stefura) aesthetic that helps support all the cool directorial choices (Lauren Boyd). I loved the themed costume details and the ice cream coloured squares contrasted delightfully with the darker dressed drapes in black leather and appliqued denim. The set was cleverly transformed by banners moving it from park, to country club, to junkyard, to jail. Very fun and it worked so well!
I'm so glad that I caught the show - I wish I'd seen it earlier so I could have told you all about it last week! I have seen many a Uniform Theatre show in the past, and they are certainly living up to their high standards with this one. It is also terrific to see this Fringe-formed company branching out to producing in the main theatre season and taking risks with a show of this size and complexity and doing it so well.
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