The Crucible

If you have never seen The Crucible, take advantage of this production, because it is not likely to get any better. It is a great cast and a great production of a great play.

The most frightening thing is how relevant the issues still are today. Superstition, mass hysteria, hatred of women, and manipulation of religious beliefs to support punishment are still common all over the world. Arthur Miller wrote this play in response go the injustices of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, that sentenced him to jail for refusing to name names. This morning the Globe had an article about a Russian band (all three women) on trial for criticizing the government and for doing it in a church, thereby offending some people who thought they were possessed by the Devil. Too close to home, or at least too close chronologically. The Salem witchcraft trials could return again at any time.

Stuart Hughes, Patricia Fagan, Oliver Dennis and Joe Ziegler all deserve applause for their excellent performances.

Speed the Plow

I hated the first fifteen minutes of this play. Nobody talks like this, or maybe everybody talks like this. It is irritating to watch.  The dialogue bounces back and forth between the two characters, Jordan Pettle and Ari Cohen, each protesting friendship, gratitude, luck, thanks, etc,etc, all with a complete lack of sincerity. You just know that one will screw the other, given half a chance! And along comes Karen (Sarah Wilson) to provide the chance. 
Eventually, you settle into the rythmn of the play and enjoy the battle without ever really knowing who to root for.
David Mamet is generally considered a great American playwrige, but I remain unconvinced.

Henry the Fifth

Des McAnuff's last opportunity to direct a play by Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival was certain to be a block buster. Henry the Fifth provides the scope, with the hero king, the battles, the comedy and the love scenes. McAnuff took advantage of it all. The staging was tremendous, over sized and glorious. The cast was excellent, with Aaron Krohn in the lead, Tom Rooney as Pistol, Randy Hughson as Bardolph, Lucy Peacock as Pistol's wife, Gareth Potter as the Dauphin and Bethany Jillard as the Princess Catherine and Ben Carlson as Fluellen. The large cast was full of other great actors filling smaller roles. In spite of all of this, the production was good but not fabulous. I think McAnuff forgot about the words. The two big speeches are almost passed over. Some people felt that Aaron Krohn was not up to the role, but I think this was a failure by the Director, not the actor. This was particularly evident in the St Crispin's Day speech. Krohn was left alone on the stage, speaking to an almost invisible group of followers located on the floor at the foot of the stage. Instead of inspiring his men, he seemed to be talking to himself. This reduced the impact of the speech to the point where it was just another speech and not the most important speech in the play.

Hirsch

I had been looking forward to this play since I read Martin Knelman's book Stratford Tempest in which he claimed that Hirsch could not warm to Stratford as a town because it was not Winnipeg! And the Winnipeg enthusiasm was indeed a part of this one act tribute to Hirsch. He spent his teens in Winnipeg, living with the Shack family in the north end, and demonstrated his passion for theatre and storytelling early on, founding the Manitoba Theatre Centre in the 60's. The play is a review of his life, from his point of view and the point of view of the actors and managers who had to deal with him. Alon Nashman who wrote and stars in it, becomes Hirsch, temper and all. Many scenes are very funny; others are quite sad. You get a sense that the man was both brilliant and difficult. There are many in jokes, funnier to the members of the sudience who actually knew and worked with Hirsch, but still accessible to a general audience because they become caricature.

The Best Brothers

We can all imagine what it will be like, if we have not already had to deal with it - how to deal with the death of a parent. What to put in the obituary, what kind of funeral to have, what kind of food to serve. Totally unimportant, but decisions that seem so critical at the time. Daniel MacIvor has written a delightul comedy that will survive the test of time. He captures the family dynamics perfectly, even if your family does not include a gay member, in this production played to perfection by John Beale as Kyle Best. MacIvor himself played the older brother Hamilton. The two bicker constantly, but in the end begin to understand each other and themselves better. Each puts on a green hat and gloves as he takes on the role of Mother, a hilarious character in her own right. Enzo the dog is the key to the relationships. You leave almost wanting a dog of your own.

Wanderlust

Robert Service was a famous Canadian poet (not great, but famous) whose two most famous poems - The Shooting of Dan McGrew and The Creation of Sam McGee - are well known to the nation. A musical about the life of Service using his poems seemed like a natural with Morris Panych, Marek Norman and Ken Macdonald handling the creative and you should have a recipe for a blockbuster. Add Tom Rooney in the lead role, with Dan Chameroy and Randy Hughson supporting and the mix is promising indeed. Robin Hutton was charming as Louise (aka the lady known as Lou.)Lucy Peacock was an over the top drunken landlady. But the big surprise was Rooneynas a singer. Is there anything he can't do? The result was a fun evening of theatre, but unfortunately not a smash hit. There were a couple of excellent dance numbers, but the score was unmemorable, even for the well known numbers based on the famous poems. It is worth seeing, but won't be remembered. It seems that writing a hit musical is not easy.

The War of 1812

Sub-titled The History of the Village of Small Huts, this is one of a series of plays about Canadian History by Michael Hollingsworth. If only historynhad been presented like this - we might all know a lot more about our country and how it happened.
Eight actors ppaly about fifty characters, aided by white make-up that lends a kabuki note, large wigs and body parts, and frequent short black outs.
It was a terrific evening of theatre, different from the usual production and a very fitting choice for Canada Day 2012. Stephen Harper and the folks in Ottawa might not have appreciated the shots taken at all generals and politicians, but it was a lot more fun than the serious commercials that Heritage Canada has released to celebrate the war of 1812 as a defining moment in our history.

A Man and Some Women

Once again JackieMaxwell has unearthed a gem by Githa Sowerby. A man (Graeme Somerville) sacrifices his career to do what is expected of him - provide a home and an income for his wife and sisters.
They expect him to do it, so do not waste time being grateful, or even thankful. The portrait of a marriage based on nothing is particulalry hard to watch. Jenny L. Wright is particulalry awful in her constant demand for more money. we liberated women have to supress an urge to smack her and suggest she get a job. The two sisters , played by Kate Hennig and Sharry , demonstrate what happens when boredom is the only option. With no income, no husband and no hope they become selfish, entitled and demanding.
Marla Mclean, who has a job and an income is the author's heroine. She can be unselfish and caring, looking after her nephew and after Jack. with her support, Jack finally stands up for himself and leaves. he women are not destitute - he is not such a cad as to leave them with nothing, but they will finally have to recognise that there is a limit to the money available. If they want more they will have to earn it, but you know that of course, they will not.
A great cast did an excellent job of presenting a social critique, without the need to harangue the audience. Shaw himself could have learned a few things from Sowerby.