Teatro Live! Closes their Season with a very funny production of The Odd Couple!

Marc J Chalifoux Photography 

Summer is really such a great time for theatre for me! I love it when you leave the theatre and it's still a little light out. Even better when the show is a comedy, like Teatro Live's production of The Odd Couple, which I took in on Friday night. If you are around my age (and even younger since there was a reboot in recent history) you are no doubt familiar with Oscar Madison and Felix Unger (played in this production by Alexander Ariate and Andrew MacDonald-Smith), the mismatched roommates from Neil Simon's play. The two are physical foils, which ups the ante on their character's personality conflicts, and this production puts their physicality to good use, particularly with MacDonald-Smith's height and long legs making seemingly inhuman movements around the furniture and Ariate's flopping on couches. The physical humour alone makes this show tremendously entertaining!

Marc J Chalifoux Photography 

But it's the scenes with the accidental roommate's poker buddies and the Pigeon Sisters that had me the most entertained. Not surprising when you consider the group of assembles artists - all of whom could (and most have) anchor a Teatro show themselves! The poker buddies (Garrett Ross, Matt Busby, Bernardo Pacheco, and Oscar Derkx) give more depth to the recognition of the disparity of personalities between Oscar and Felix, and their banter is very fun to watch and listen to - particularly the contrast between the old (Oscar's toxic waste level of cleanliness) and the new (Felix's immaculate and antiseptic environment). From their reactions, you understand that neither extreme is particularly healthy. 

Marc J Chalifoux Photography 

The Pigeon Sisters, Cecily (Kristin Johnston) and Gwendolyn (Jenny McKillop), add for another level of tension between Oscar and Felix. Oscar is looking for a wingman, but Felix's impending divorce is too new to make him a suitable one. Johnston and McKillop are hysterical as the British girls from upstairs with backcombed hair and synced responses. I was very glad to see them return in the third act! 

There's a lot to laugh about and for those who were fans of the movie and the TV shows, I think it's well worth the nostalgic trip to the theatre. It's a nice reflection on friendship and compromise, but above all makes for a laughter-filled night of theatre on a summer evening! 

The Odd Couple runs until July 27, 2025 at the Varscona Theatre. Tickets range from $25-42 and there are also special event nights, like Pay-What-You-Can on Tuesdays. Tickets can be purchased here. 

Busy Weekend! Theatre with Catalyst, The Varscona and The Citadel!

It was a busy weekend of theatre for me! Felt like old times! Three performances in three days!

On Friday, I took in The Invisible - Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare presented by Catalyst Theatre at the Eva O. Howard Theatre at Victoria School for the Arts. This was the last professional show i saw before the great pause and much of what I reflected on then, still holds true. You can read my original review here. The show has had some cast changes, but they are still a phenomenal ensemble of actors with no weak links. It's a terrific piece of theatre that reveals stories of women during World War II - stories we don't often get to hear. As I said before, it is one of my favourites from the company and remains so! 

The Invisible runs to October 5th with tickets priced between $26.83-$51.83. You can purchase them here. 

On Saturday, I went to The Varscona Theatre Gala. It was a lovely night with a variety of performers (House of Hush Burlesque, Die-Nasty, Lindsey Walker, and the Jambo Brothers), terrific food, and a silent auction (yes I 'won' something!). It was hosted by Kendra Connor and Jason Hardwick and told us about what was coming up in the theatre this next season. We saw a scene from The Noon Witch which will be part of the Teatro Live! season and Die-Nasty improvised Waiting for Godot: The Musical. All in all a terrific night! If you missed it, and want to support The Varscona either by donating or buying tickets to their shows, you can check them out here.   

My theatre weekend wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with A Streetcar Named Desire at the Citadel Theatre. It is an excellently done production. I will admit, Streetcar is a favourite of mine. I was an ensemble member in a production about 25 years ago, and I have always loved Tennessee Williams' plays. As I mentioned, this production is very well executed. The entire cast is up to the task and Stanley (Stafford Perry) and Blanche (Lindsey Angell) are phenomenal anchors to the piece. I was also particularly impressed by Sheldon Elter as Mitch, who gave a real layered and thought-provoking performance. The show is about 3 hours long, but does not feel long. It moves along and keeps the audience engaged. It's not often that you get to see these classic pieces, and it is nice to see it done so well. They've added live music to the transitions to create the mood and feel of New Orleans in the 1950s. These are all excellently done, but I wondered about whether this was necessary. It's hard to say, because after the show, my companion's first comment was about how much she liked the music! It certainly showcased some tremendous talent!

A Streetcar Named Desire runs to October 13th. Tickets are priced between $40-$125.00 and can be purchased here. 

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. 

Robot Girls is full of Laughs and a Love for Science at Shadow Theatre!

If you’re looking for a show on in Edmonton this week and next, I highly recommend Robot Girls presented by Shadow Theatre at the Varscona. It’s a brand new work by Trevor Schmidt about about a school science club at an all-girls junior high school. The four actors (played by Larissah Lashley, Hayley Moorhouse, Abigail McDougall and Jayce McKenzie) are letter perfect as grade 7, 8 and 9 students who endeavor to build a robot in their club to go to an international science competition. Their teacher advisor is missing in action, so it’s all up to them to figure out how to get the work done.

As a junior high school science teacher myself, I was both tickled and impressed by the portrayals. McKenzie is simply hysterical as the grade 7 club member Vanessa. She's filled to the brim with a golden retriever puppy energy that feels all too real. Moorhouse, on the other end of the age spectrum, plays the senior member of the club, grade 9 Bloody Mary, with just the right amount of distain and compassion for her younger club mates. In the middle, we have two grade 8 of varying temperaments; Lashley with her student council Vice President authority, and McDougall who just needs a club to be in while she balances the demands of her family. I was struck by how accurate (in a heightened way) the three ages were portrayed. You wouldn’t think there was a wide difference difference between a grade 7 and a grade 9, but there is, and this show capitalizes on it and really makes it work. It was also terrific that these weren't 'mean girls' or 'troubled girls', but real kids who happen to be smart and like science and want to belong somewhere, which is far more my experience with the age group. 

The laughs start immediately with this show. Schmidt has a knack for writing funny and truthful, young female characters. Co-Directors John Hudson and Lana Michelle Hughes keep the action moving with clever lights and robot dancing. The pace is brisk and tight. The relationships are honest, sometimes unintentionally hurtful, often touching, and most of all very humorous. 

Of course it’s not all simple. With the lack of a teacher in the room, the four girls must figure everything out on their own both with the robot building and how to deal with each other. Mistakes are made, but then fixed, and the future for women in science looks very hopeful.

I can’t overstate how funny it is, and how much the packed opening night audience was howling with laughter. If you have a daughter or granddaughter, or niece, aged 12 and up, I highly encourage you to take them to see this show. It might be really cool for them to recognize themselves on stage (whether they are a science kid or not). It’s more about the relationships than the science, but the science is pretty cool, too. It’s Spring Break next week so you could take your kid and they don’t have to get up early the next morning for school.

Robot Girls by Trevor Schmidt runs to March 31st at the Varscona Theatre. Tickets are $25-$38 with a Pay-What-You-Can night (at the door), and can be purchased here.

Photo Credit: Marc J. Chalifoux Photography and Video