Tiny Beautiful Things at Shadow Theatre - Theatre for Your Soul!

 Tiny Beautiful Things at Shadow Theatre
Photo Credit: Marc J. Chalifoux Photography and Video

In Tiny Beautiful Things by Nia Vardalos (of My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame), anonymous online columnist “Sugar” receives letters asking for advice, to which she responds with reflections on her own life which helps those seeking guidance (and the audience) with their own challenges. Michelle Todd is perfectly cast as Sugar (aka author Cheryl Strayed). Todd is warm and empathetic, and makes you believe that Sugar is in a good place now, but that there have been many terrible things in her life that she has overcome. The portrayal is honest, emotional when necessary, and layered with a gentle humour. The letter writers (played by the trio of Michael Peng, Brett Dahl and Sydney Williams) embody a wide variety of humans seeking advice for a wide variety of life challenges. Their portrayals are also honest and generous to each other and the audience. Peng is particularly moving as father in mourning. I was worried that a play based on letters back and forth would become a bit 'talking heads' but directors John Hudson and Lana Hughes have wisely created a world where Sugar interacts with her petitioners in conversation - they are welcome in her home (an adorable set designed by C.M. Zuby). It's dynamic and healing. 

 Tiny Beautiful Things at Shadow Theatre
Photo Credit: Marc J. Chalifoux Photography and Video

I mention that it felt a bit like therapy (in a good way) as the stories told by Sugar made me reflect on my own past and current emotional challenges. I am still thinking about some of these things several days later. With laughter, some tears, and some gentle introspection this show is one that will feed your soul. If you don't connect to all the stories, you are bound to relate to a few of them. 

Tiny Beautiful Things is presented by Shadow Theatre at the Varscona Theatre and runs until May 12th. Tickets are $25-$38 and there are Pay-What-You-Can nights. You can purchase tickets here. 

Since we haven't been able to travel much... Why not go to Destination Wedding? At the Fringe!

 

Hey Everyone! After not being able to go last summer (but still buying the t-shirt for the Fringe that Never Was), I was at the Fringe once again yesterday! I arrived a little early to meet up with my Fringe-going partner Anne Marie, and grab a Green Onion Cake (no Fringe is complete without at least one). I was very happy that the gated entry was changed to Pay-What-You-Will as I do not think I could have justified the cost otherwise as I was really just in it for the green onion cakes. I am and have always been an Innie (Indoor shows) when it comes to the Fringe, but I do understand the challenges of trying to run the Festival and wanting to compensate those outdoor artists without the increased physical contact of passing the hat. 

Anyhow, about the SHOW! I chose Destination Wedding presented by Whizgiggling Productions, directed by Trevor Schmidt and featuring Michelle Todd, Cheryl Jameson and Kristin Johnson. It was a fun show, with each of the actors playing two roles (a primary and secondary one). I chose this show because it looked fun and because of the track record of the company and the performers involved and I was not disappointed. The script is slick and witty, and the three main characters are definitely well-defined and relatable, and although they are very different from each other, it was not hard to imagine them as long-time friends. It's more than just a gathering of women over cocktails in an exotic resort, however, as there is a murder/suspicious death. Our job as audience members is to sort through the layered clues to perhaps make a decision about who did what. We don't however, get all the answers. There's an Online Poll you can do after the show to register your guess for the murderer. 

Overall, the show was fun and bitchy - with the patterns of friends who know each other well and who have entertained and irritated each other for years - and although I wanted more answers, I'm totally cool with not knowing everything. It was a great choice for my return to the Fringe!

Tickets are going fast for this one - the performance we went to was Sold Out and many of the performances left have limited availability. You can get your tickets here. 

Also - for those wondering about Covid Safety. The spacing was great in the venue and the line-up. Masks are required inside (except for that one table of ladies who obviously felt it wasn't required for them). There's sanitizer and masks if you forget yours. Even the line-up outside was well spaced. It was nice to see the show, laugh along with others in that special unity of an audience, and not worry about being safe.