Urban Shocker
Doyenne
Pity the poor theatre reviewer - they can never walk out, no matter how awful it is.
You seem to go to everything.
You seem to go to everything.
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Live Theatre in Toronto
- Thread starter Benc7
- Start date
Benc7
Active Member
South Pacific-Four Season Centre
THIS is what a musical should sound like! The Four Season Centre was the perfect venue for one of the most talented casts I've heard in a long time. Their voices were terrific, the orchestra superb, and the acoustics...wonderful.
I've never seen South Pacific on stage; I'm familiar with all the songs, but hearing them in context for the first time put a very different spin on them. "Happy Talk" isn't a happy song; it's a desperate one. I've only heard it done as cheery little tune. There are depths to this musical that I hadn't known about,dealing with racism and hate.
Coincidently, PBS broadcast 'South Pacific' the night before I saw this in Toronto. Same production, with a different cast. The cast on stage here is superior in every way.It reminded me (again!) that there's NOTHING like seeing a LIVE performance. Wide-screen HD can only serve as a very, very, very distant second-best.
http://www.dancaptickets.com/pages/south-pacific
Three hours, one intermission.
THIS is what a musical should sound like! The Four Season Centre was the perfect venue for one of the most talented casts I've heard in a long time. Their voices were terrific, the orchestra superb, and the acoustics...wonderful.
I've never seen South Pacific on stage; I'm familiar with all the songs, but hearing them in context for the first time put a very different spin on them. "Happy Talk" isn't a happy song; it's a desperate one. I've only heard it done as cheery little tune. There are depths to this musical that I hadn't known about,dealing with racism and hate.
Coincidently, PBS broadcast 'South Pacific' the night before I saw this in Toronto. Same production, with a different cast. The cast on stage here is superior in every way.It reminded me (again!) that there's NOTHING like seeing a LIVE performance. Wide-screen HD can only serve as a very, very, very distant second-best.
http://www.dancaptickets.com/pages/south-pacific
Three hours, one intermission.
Yes, absolutely -- I also saw it yesterday. I've seen it on stage before, and this was by far the best production I've seen.
TonyV
Senior Member
We're going to see South Pacific on September 1st. I can hardly wait, especially considering the reviews it's gotten.
South Pacific is the musical of musicals. Good of Benc7 to note that this story isn't piffle, it is taken from an award-winning and very thought-provoking book.
South Pacific is the musical of musicals. Good of Benc7 to note that this story isn't piffle, it is taken from an award-winning and very thought-provoking book.
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Benc7
Active Member
What the Butler Saw-Soulpepper Theatre
The title refers to a peep show, once popular in Edwardian England. I guess the humour in"What the Butler Saw" may have been popular, edgy or provocative in late 60's, early 70's Britain, but, like the Edwardian peep show, it isn't anymore. (Was the word 'rape' ever funny?) There are laughs to be had, and the actors (brave, energetic souls!) try hard. Too hard. And the sometimes witty script tries hard. Too hard. Anyway, everybody puts in far too much effort for far too long. Farce is a delicate balancing act, and this one tips over under its own weight.
This is Soulpepper's second attempt at staging (reviving?) a Joe Orton play, the first being "Loot" produced last year. In my opinion, Joe Orton's life was far more interesting than anything he wrote.
Two acts, one intermission
http://www.soulpepper.ca/performances/10_season/what_the_butler_saw.aspx
The title refers to a peep show, once popular in Edwardian England. I guess the humour in"What the Butler Saw" may have been popular, edgy or provocative in late 60's, early 70's Britain, but, like the Edwardian peep show, it isn't anymore. (Was the word 'rape' ever funny?) There are laughs to be had, and the actors (brave, energetic souls!) try hard. Too hard. And the sometimes witty script tries hard. Too hard. Anyway, everybody puts in far too much effort for far too long. Farce is a delicate balancing act, and this one tips over under its own weight.
This is Soulpepper's second attempt at staging (reviving?) a Joe Orton play, the first being "Loot" produced last year. In my opinion, Joe Orton's life was far more interesting than anything he wrote.
Two acts, one intermission
http://www.soulpepper.ca/performances/10_season/what_the_butler_saw.aspx
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TonyV
Senior Member
South Pacific was wonderful.
Rogers and Hammerstein do brilliant tunesmithing, and that's just the start. The story is an excellent one and this is brilliantly sung and acted. I wish I could go again but I've got committments.
For those of you who like musicals - and this is the musical of musicals, try to grab a seat before the run closes, it's highly worth your while.
Rogers and Hammerstein do brilliant tunesmithing, and that's just the start. The story is an excellent one and this is brilliantly sung and acted. I wish I could go again but I've got committments.
For those of you who like musicals - and this is the musical of musicals, try to grab a seat before the run closes, it's highly worth your while.
Tewder
Senior Member
I loved it too but I thought the guy who played Emile was as wooden as one of the palm trees.
TonyV
Senior Member
That is pretty much true enough, but he was obviously chosen for the vocal gifts.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
I adopted his "You were born with your legs apart. They'll send you to your grave in a Y-shaped coffin." as my personal golden rule many years ago. I'm profoundly moved by his inspirational writings.
Benc7
Active Member
Doc-Soulpepper Theatre
First off, thank you, Urban Shocker, for reminding me of one of the best lines in "What the Butler Saw". EEK!
I'm glad to see that "Doc" by Sharon Pollock, has extended its run to Sept 25. It's a terrific piece of theatre featuring a superb cast.
A woman comes home to visit her ailing father, a doctor in Nova Scotia who has devoted his whole life to his patients, to the detriment of his family. A series of Plexiglas dividers on stage serve to separate rooms, characters, and time as the actors go back and forth over the years to re-examine their lives together. R.H Thompson is wonderful as the lead character. Jane Spidell as his wife gives a stunning performance. The rest of the cast is excellent. An amazing play!
Two Acts, one intermission.
http://www.soulpepper.ca/performances/10_season/doc.aspx
First off, thank you, Urban Shocker, for reminding me of one of the best lines in "What the Butler Saw". EEK!
I'm glad to see that "Doc" by Sharon Pollock, has extended its run to Sept 25. It's a terrific piece of theatre featuring a superb cast.
A woman comes home to visit her ailing father, a doctor in Nova Scotia who has devoted his whole life to his patients, to the detriment of his family. A series of Plexiglas dividers on stage serve to separate rooms, characters, and time as the actors go back and forth over the years to re-examine their lives together. R.H Thompson is wonderful as the lead character. Jane Spidell as his wife gives a stunning performance. The rest of the cast is excellent. An amazing play!
Two Acts, one intermission.
http://www.soulpepper.ca/performances/10_season/doc.aspx
Benc7
Active Member
DanCap Announces 2011 Season
From the Toronto Star:
"The shows involved (9 to 5, The Addams Family, Next to Normal, Come Fly Away, Memphis and a revival of South Pacific) "
Good to see that the Four Seasons Centre will be in use during the sumnmer months again!
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/theatre/article/874310--dancap-s-award-winning-2011-lineup
Not on sale yet, but here's the link the Dancap website:
http://www.dancaptickets.com/
From the Toronto Star:
"The shows involved (9 to 5, The Addams Family, Next to Normal, Come Fly Away, Memphis and a revival of South Pacific) "
Good to see that the Four Seasons Centre will be in use during the sumnmer months again!
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/theatre/article/874310--dancap-s-award-winning-2011-lineup
Not on sale yet, but here's the link the Dancap website:
http://www.dancaptickets.com/
Benc7
Active Member
Fernando Krapp Wrote Me This Letter: An Attempt at the Truth-Canadian Stage
I liked this play about a man who writes a letter to a woman, marries her and then...what? Tries to drive her crazy? Tries to own her completely? Tries to figure out what's true or not?Something got lost in the translation from German to English. I think it might be clarity.
I guess my problem is with Matthew Jocelyn's translation and direction; the former is too stilted and the latter too farcical;this is a dark play and should have been played straight. But, that's just my opinion and I did enjoy this ninety-minute production.
I loved the set and the lighting; really great use of the space. It closes on Oct 16.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. Big changes!
http://www.canadianstage.com/fernandokrapp
I liked this play about a man who writes a letter to a woman, marries her and then...what? Tries to drive her crazy? Tries to own her completely? Tries to figure out what's true or not?Something got lost in the translation from German to English. I think it might be clarity.
I guess my problem is with Matthew Jocelyn's translation and direction; the former is too stilted and the latter too farcical;this is a dark play and should have been played straight. But, that's just my opinion and I did enjoy this ninety-minute production.
I loved the set and the lighting; really great use of the space. It closes on Oct 16.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. Big changes!
http://www.canadianstage.com/fernandokrapp
Benc7
Active Member
Soulpepper Theatre Announces 2011 Season
Big, fat, whopper of a season from Soulpepper for 2011! Twelve new productions and five remounts!
Oleanna by David Mamet,
The Fantasticks by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare,
a double bill of e.e. cummings in song
Window on Toronto, Guillermo Verdecchia’s
Fronteras Americanas,
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams,
Exit the King by Eugene Ionesco,
White Biting Dog by Judith Thompson,
Arthur Miller’s The Price, a new version of
Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts by Panych
and a double bill of two highly regarded one-act works — The Aleph and The Kreutzer Sonata.
Remounts:
Our Town, Billy Bishop Goes to War, The Odd Couple, The Time of Your Life, Parfumerie.
http://www.soulpepper.ca/newspepper/brochure.html
http://www.thestar.com/entertainmen...r-puts-its-heart-into-it-with-record-17-shows
Big, fat, whopper of a season from Soulpepper for 2011! Twelve new productions and five remounts!
Oleanna by David Mamet,
The Fantasticks by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare,
a double bill of e.e. cummings in song
Window on Toronto, Guillermo Verdecchia’s
Fronteras Americanas,
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams,
Exit the King by Eugene Ionesco,
White Biting Dog by Judith Thompson,
Arthur Miller’s The Price, a new version of
Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts by Panych
and a double bill of two highly regarded one-act works — The Aleph and The Kreutzer Sonata.
Remounts:
Our Town, Billy Bishop Goes to War, The Odd Couple, The Time of Your Life, Parfumerie.
http://www.soulpepper.ca/newspepper/brochure.html
http://www.thestar.com/entertainmen...r-puts-its-heart-into-it-with-record-17-shows
Tewder
Senior Member
Just how many times do they feel the need to do "Our Town"?
Benc7
Active Member
The Andersen Project-Canadian Stage Company
Originally a commision from the Kingdom of Denmark to celebrate the 200th birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, this 2005 production finally makes its Toronto debut. One man (the man in this production being Yves Jacques) plays all characters on a very slick, multi-media set, the sort we've come to expect from Robert Lepage. Fredric, an albino songwriter from Montreal, has come to the Paris Opera to write a libretto based on an Anderson fairy tale. The people he meets, the machinations of art and sexual identity, overlayed with both Andersen's Dryad fairytale and his sexual ambiguity, make for a terrific play. And a very, very funny one!
Be warned! This is two hours and ten minutes without an intermission. That really pushes the limit for a one act play. I enjoyed every minute of it, but there was much grumbling around me.
http://www.canadianstage.com/andersenproject
Originally a commision from the Kingdom of Denmark to celebrate the 200th birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, this 2005 production finally makes its Toronto debut. One man (the man in this production being Yves Jacques) plays all characters on a very slick, multi-media set, the sort we've come to expect from Robert Lepage. Fredric, an albino songwriter from Montreal, has come to the Paris Opera to write a libretto based on an Anderson fairy tale. The people he meets, the machinations of art and sexual identity, overlayed with both Andersen's Dryad fairytale and his sexual ambiguity, make for a terrific play. And a very, very funny one!
Be warned! This is two hours and ten minutes without an intermission. That really pushes the limit for a one act play. I enjoyed every minute of it, but there was much grumbling around me.
http://www.canadianstage.com/andersenproject