I have been remiss in keeping you informed with some of the goings on beyond the borders of Canada’s Ocean Playground for the past few weeks, and I owe many apologies for completely dropping the Toronto Fringe Festival ball. I’m so sorry I missed it. It passed me by completely with nary even a shout-out. I hope that all the shows were great successes, it seems as though Torontonians ventured out in droves to support the arts, and I couldn’t be happier! It is been a tumultuous couple of weeks with starting my first two weeks of teaching nearly entirely sold-out camps for 4-6 year olds at Neptune Theatre School, acquiring a nasty virus we’re all hoping is not any strain of Swine Flu, having two computers crash (one twice) and still dealing with pesky schoolwork haunting me from my academic adventures. That said, there still seems to be an awful lot to tell you, so, as Matthew Amyotte would say, without any further ad-uh—let’s see what’s-a-goin’-on in your neighborhood!

            First and foremost, I have just recently become aware of Canopy Theatre in Toronto, which is a nine year old company dedicated to fostering and showcasing the talents of young and emerging artistic professionals in the production of outdoor classical theatre in downtown Toronto. Romeo and Juliet opens on July 15^th at Philosopher’s Stage at Philosopher’s Walk (80 Queen’s Park) and runs until August 1^st. The mandate of this theatre company is the creation of assessable theatre, and so not only does Canopy allow you to get your Shakespeare fix without a hefty trip to Stratford, its ticket prices are excruciatingly reasonable ($10.00 for adults, $8.00 for students/seniors and PWYC performances on Wednesdays). Andrea Wasserman, Canopy’s Artistic Director directs, and the show is produced by Doug Floyd through Hart House Theatre and Evelyn Wiseman. Matt Gorman Assistant Directs, Susan Bond provides dramaturgy and the play stars Tyrone Savage and Cosette Derome. Bring Your Own Blanket. This is a production of the world’s most famous love story that everyone will be able to enjoy! 416 946-0314 or email info@canopytheatre.ca.  

            If you loved Spring Awakening earlier this year in Toronto, and if you’re eagerly awaiting news of Jake Epstein’s first week as Melchior in the National Touring Cast, I have been told that you must ensure a seat in the audience for the Canadian Premiere of the American musical bare presented by Waters Edge Productions. According to its website, “bare is a pop-rock musical about the coming-of-age of five high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school. Knowing their stay in this insular world is drawing to a close, each of them question where they are in their lives and what the future holds in store. Answers are sought in the church confessional and in less formal venues including a stage, a rave, and a well-locked dorm room. The story focuses in on a secret love affair between two boys, Peter (played by Wade Muir) and Jason (Graham Parkhurst). Though Peter is ready to tell the world about their relationship, Jason fears the repercussions. bare is the beautiful and moving story about love, fear, acceptance and finding yourself.” Bare opens July 17^th at Hart House Theatre (7 Hart House Circle, Toronto) and plays Wednesday-Saturday until August 1^st, 2009 at 8:00pm with a 2:00pm matinee on Saturday. Tickets are $35.00 for adults and $25.00 for students and seniors. For tickets visit UofT Tix.

            If you’re looking for a fun little frolic in Barrie, and in the heat of the summer, who isn’t (?!), Da Capo Productions is presenting the delightful Charles Schultz/ Clark Gesner/Andrew Lippa musical You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Barrie Downtown Theatre (1 Dunlop Street). It boasts of a stellar cast: Trevor Campbell (Charlie Brown), Ari Weinberg (Snoopy), Lizzie Kurtz (Lucy), Ryan Kelly (Schroeder), Gabi Epstein (Sally) and Christopher Wilson (Linus). The direction and choreography is by Donna Marie Baratta and the Musical Directing by M.J. Johnson. The show plays July 27, 2009 until July 31^st, 2009- Monday/ Friday at 1pm and Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday at 7pm. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for children and seniors. For reservations please call 705 717-9776 or visit the website.

            Also in Barrie this summer you can catch a creation from Mamma Mia/ We Will Rock You star Adam Brazier called He Sings She Sings at the Gryphon Theatre (1 Georgian Drive). Here is the blurb from the website: July 22^nd at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, July 23^rd and 24^th at 8:00pm for $29.00 ($25.00 for 2:00pm), “created and directed by Adam Brazier “songs from some of Broadway’s best musicals including A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Annie and The Full Monty, will leave you singing and smiling. A cast of two(Brazier with Melissa Thomson-Hicks and Mark Selby on the keys) embarks on a wonderfully humorous look at modern-day relationships through the revealing words and music of the most beloved tunes of all time!” Sounds like the potential for a charming evening! For more information, visit this website.

            Since I dropped the Toronto Fringe ball, but I am a big fan of Chris Craddock, a brilliant playwright/performer from Edmonton who started in the Edmonton Fringe Festival years ago, I am going to plug his show Moving Along, hoping that all you in Toronto saw it and relished it for every exquisite moment and that you will help me pass the word along to the citizens of Winnipeg. Moving Along begins at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival (Canwest Performing Arts Centre 2 Forks Market Road) July 15, 2009 at 11:00pm, Thursday July 16^th at 5:00pm, Friday July 17^th at 10:30pm, Tuesday July 21^st at 7:15pm, Thursday July 23^rd at 12:00pm, Friday July 24^th at 9:30pm and Saturday July 25^th at 12:00pm. Here is what other reputable people had to say about Craddock and his show: “The writing is as electric as the chair and the performance will make you gasp!”- Liz Nichols, The Edmonton Journal, “Craddock is nothing less than brilliant”- Martin Morrow The Calgary Herald, and “This show is brilliant!… See it! See it! See it!”-Kurt Spenrath See Magazine. I rest my case.

            Summer is always fraught with Shakespearean offerings what with classical works under canopies and in parks and parking lots alike. In Edmonton, for example, the Freewill Shakespeare Festival has kick-started with Comedy of Errors and Titus Andronicus which play on alternate evenings at 8:00pm Tuesday through Sunday until July 26^th. There are matinees at 2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. For tickets visit Tix on the Square or call 780-420-1757.

            Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare’s goriest of tragedies, is (obviously) the inspiration for Stewart Lemoine’s newest revenge comedy Mother of the Year now playing at the Varscona Theatre in Edmonton. Check this out! “In July 2008, the largest Teatro cast in many a season convened for the premiere of Stewart Lemoine’s A Rocky Night for his Nibs. Box office records were shattered as a riot of summer fun was had by all. Teatro’s July offering for 2009 is entitled Mother of the Year, and it’s another big 'un, a grandly scaled companion piece to the Free Will Shakespeare Festival's concurrent production of Titus Andronicus. This potent new Lemoine offering looks directly into the dark eyes of ambition and revenge and returns their cold gaze with a dazzling smile

Set in Edmonton during the 1980’s, Mother of the Year unfurls the dramatically hilarious saga of a pair of rival meat packing companies and the families who run them. It’s a fast-paced, shockingly Shakespearean display of simmering resentments, disastrous marital alliances, quiet double-crosses, and bold betrayals, all played out in a world strongly reminiscent of such classic Reagan Era prime time soap operas as Dynasty, Dallas, and Knot’s Landing.

Coralie Cairns, previously seen in Teatro’s At the Zenith of the Empire and The Velvet Shock, returns in the role of Vitellia Fane, the fire-breathing matriarch of Fane Foods, with Ron Pederson and Farren Timoteo as her hapless sons. Julien Arnold plays hooky from the Free Will Players this season, to appear as Granger Haverly, proud CEO of Haverly Meats, father to two coltish daughters portrayed by Briana Buckmaster and Shannon Blanchet, and employer of two assistants with very different notions of loyalty, played by Jana O’Connor and Davina Stewart. Andrew MacDonald-Smith appears as a mysterious newcomer among the sexy slaughterhouse crowd, and Jeff Haslam and Sheri Somerville smolder as unscrupulous contractors whose dealings with the Haverlys and the Fanes help precipitate the torrents of calamity and carnage that conclude the play.

Stewart Lemoine directs the proceedings with whimsical gravity, while set and lighting designers Paul Bezaire and Scott Peters create an opulent Romanesque vision of Edmonton in its Pocklingtonian heyday. Costume designer Leona Brausen has a ball, outfitting everyone in shoulder pads, sequins, and appliqué. In a long overdue return to Teatro, stage manager Michelle Chan uncorks the champagne, hoses down the abattoir, and hands out the volumnizing gel.

Mother of the Year runs at the Varscona Theatre from July 9 to 25. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with additional matinee performances on Saturdays at 2pm

Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors on Wednesday through Saturday evenings. All seats on Saturday afternoons are $15, and Tuesday evenings are Pay-What-You-Can.

Also, anyone with a ticket stub from the Free Will production of Titus Andronicus will receive a $10 discount on a single regularly priced ticket for Mother of the Year, and Mother of the Year ticket holders will receive the same discount at Titus Andronicus. This deal is available at the door only!

For reservations, call 780 433-3399, Voice box #1.Tickets also available through Tix on-the-Square at 780 420-1757 or www.tixonthesquare.ca

AT THE VARSCONA THEATRE 10329 – 83 AVENUE.”

Also at the Varscona, if you’re in Edmonton, you’re not going to want to miss the Season Finale of Oh Susanna!—the live, improvised Euro-style variety show hosted by the indominable and ultra glamorous Susanna Patchouli. It has been an entire decade of frivololity- so come kick off at the party that tops them all—featuring the divine charms of co-host Eros, God of Love and the antics of the Compania del Mambo, plus a cavalcade (a freakin’ cavalcade!!) of special guests! Laughs! Music! Cocktails! The party starts at 11pm on Saturday July 25^th at the Varscona Theatre (10329-83^rd Avenue, Edmonton.) It’s surely a celebration not to be missed!

I am hesitantly going to post the news that Anthony Rapp, the original Mark in Jonathan Larson’s 1996 musical Rent, who reprised his role in the 2006 Chris Columbus film adaptation told me that as far as he knows, Toronto will be added to the list of destinations for the National Touring Company of the musical in which Rapp plays Mark and Original Cast Member Adam Pascal reprises his role of Roger. I will post more information as soon as it becomes available, in the meantime, you can catch the scoops from this website.

Lastly, I wanted to draw your attention to the fact that I have enabled the comment option at the bottom of each of my blog posts. I do encourage you all to leave comments and opinions and to further discussions of the issues that the blog attempts to raise. I also encourage you to embark in discussions with one another as well as just with me, as that will help develop a more unique and strong sense of community here at TWISI. Please, do bear in mind to be considerate and respectful, and that this blog tries its best to be a positive space, and while of course criticism is welcome, I would like to gently discourage anything that resembles overt “bashing”. Enjoy! And thanks for visiting!

By Damien Atkins

Adam Brazier is a phenomenon. He is well known for his gentlemanly demeanor, his beautiful voice, for many roles from Shaw to Mamma Mia to Broadway, and for his willingness to pull on some fishnets, both in the Christmas Panto, and in his Dora winning turn in The Rocky Horror Show. He is a lovely man, a magnet for many complimentary adjectives, but when I went to write about him I realized that I didn't know that much about him. So I subjected him to a 26-point questionnaire, and even though he is in the middle of a directing gig (his first? I think so!) he graciously obliged forthwith. What follows are my questions and his answers:

1. What's your middle name? Answer: Mathew (one T because my father can't spell)

2. What's your porn name? Answer: Fred Pennock

3. Least favourite food? Answer: Cucumber

4. What is a surefire way to make you barf? Answer: Listen to the CATS soundtrack.

5. Favourite part you've ever played. Answer: Carnivia Von Botox

6. Canadian theatre hero(ine). Answer: Ed Mirvish

7. Favourite movie last year. Answer: Dark Knight

8. Most embarrassing situation in which you have fallen asleep. Answer: Airplane toilet

* Author's note: I find his response to this question intriguing. And a little alarming. Anyone else?

9. If you could add anything to your Dora acceptance speech, what would it be? Answer: ...and to all my teachers in theatre school I’d like to say "go fuck yourself"

* Author's note: This response is bracing, no? Admirable. 50% chance he is being saucy, of course. One would have to ask him in person and search his face for irony. 

10. Except for blue, (because almost everyone answers blue!) what is your favourite colour? Answer: Red

11. Whose hair do you covet? Answer: Andrew Kushnir....seriously, that's versatile hair.

* Author's note: Andrew Kushnir is my partner and I can vouch for the hair. It is delightful.  

12. If you had to lose a finger, which one would you choose? Answer: This one.

13. Favourite place to visit? Answer: I've been to paradise but I’ve never been to you.

14. What do you do when you're on a plane? Answer: Fly...or fall asleep on the can.

15. Strangest place you have had sex. Answer: Playground of a church. It was sacrilegious.

16. Do you read poetry? If so, whose? Answer: Does Dr. Seuss count?

* Author's note: Yes, he does. He is definitely a poet. People who don't like Dr. Seuss are Nazis.

17. Favourite fiction book. Answer: A million little pieces. (get it?...fiction....nothin' eh?)

18. Guilty pleasure (music). Answer: Michael Jackson

19. What's your least favourite thing about mini donuts. Answer: The calories (although Tiny Tom uses trans fat free oil)

20. What (if anything) would you like to change about yourself? Answer: I have no will power.

21. Who has the best eyes in cinema? Answer: Jennifer Connelly

22. Where would you like to be in 5 years? Answer: On top of Jennifer Connelly

23. Where, aside from Toronto, would you like to live? Answer: Chicago 

24. Favourite musical theatre song. Answer: Act one finale to "Sunday in the park with George".

25. Number of times you have seen "Titanic". Answer: 1/2 a time

* Author's note: This is a shame. 

26. How do you sign off on your emails? (I use "Much love") Save the Whales....collect the set.

What have I learned from my little questionnaire? Well, for one thing - Adam Brazier is, in addition to being a great talent, a great sport. 

And he is sneaky funny. You will miss his performance at your peril. 

The End. 

Come see Adam Brazier perform live at: SING OUT, LOUISE!:  Monday, March 9th, 8pm. $25.00. Buddies in Bad Times.

416 975-8555
         Toronto’s Biggest Theatre Stars.

By Adam Brazier

I have known Patricia Zentilli for 5 years. During those 5 years I have learnt the following facts about her.

 The chief export of Patricia Zentilli is awesomness.

 Patricia can sneeze with her eyes open.

 Unlike most people, Patricia can eat just one Lay's potato chip

 There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Patricia allows to live. Which is plenty cause she’s a vegan.

 Patricia Zentilli can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves.

 If you spell Patricia Zentilli in Scrabble, you win. Forever.

 In the Bible, Jesus turned water into wine. But then Patricia turned that wine into a cosmopolitan with a garnish of pineapple.

 Time waits for no woman. Unless that woman is Patricia Zentilli.

 When Patricia falls in water, Patricia doesn't get wet. Water gets Patricia.

 Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee. Except Patricia Zentilli.

 It takes Patricia Zentilli 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.

 Also she sings really good.

Come see Patricia Zentilli perform live at: SING OUT, LOUISE!:  Monday, March 9th, 8pm. $25.00. Buddies in Bad Times.

                           Toronto’s Biggest Theatre Stars.

ALL TOGETHER. ALL STAR. ALL FABULOUS.  

I am incredibly excited and proud to announce a new venture that my blog is embarking on beginning TOMORROW Saturday, February 21^st, 2009 and ongoing until March 8^th, 2009 in promotion for the Buddies in Bad Times Fundraiser SING OUT, LOUISE- Monday March 9^th, 2009 at Buddies- presented by the incredible Sharron Matthews (who is ALSO performing in Sharron’s FEBRUARY SUCKS Party Friday February 27^th, 2009!) 

The cast for this incredible theatrical extravaganza is MIND-BLOWING. There’s a little somethin’ for everyone!

Damien Atkins. Thom Allison. Adam Brazier. Jenni Burke. Sara Farb. Greg Gibson. Wayne Gwillim. Reza Jacobs. Michael Hughes. Lily Ling. Patti Loach. Sharron Matthews. George Masswohl. Jamie McKnight. Ari Weinberg. Patricia Zentilli.

I could write for days about how phenomenal these artists are- but I don’t want you to have to just take my word for it. And, now you don’t have to! Starting tomorrow, there will be SPECIAL SURPRISE GUEST BLOGGERS RIGHT HERE to share with you in creative, new, dynamic, poetical ways just how special an event Sing Out, Louise will be. One Surprise Special blogger every single day RIGHT HERE until March 8^th!

Keep checking back! You WON’T want to miss this!

SING OUT, LOUISE!:  Monday, March 9th, 8pm. $25.00.
                           Toronto’s Biggest Theatre Stars.

ALL TOGETHER. ALL STAR. ALL FABULOUS. 

416 975-8555. 

It is always a pleasure to sit amongst the Toronto theatre community, and Sunday night at the Anyone Can Whistle musical concert at the Diesel Playhouse was no exception. The audience was perfectly radiant and included some of the city’s most renowned performers, along with students so recently out of theatre school, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had brought their headshots/resumes in their backpacks. The cast of the concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved flop was strikingly similar to its audience. Blythe Wilson, famed for her seasons at the Stratford and Shaw Festivals gave a beautiful performance as Fay Apple, an uptight, yet brazen nurse at the local Cookie Jar for the Socially “Pressured”. Her renditions of “Anyone Can Whistle”, “There Won’t Be Trumpets” and “See What It Gets You” tore through the theatre like bolts of energy. Kate Hennig was delightful as Cora Hoover-Hooper infusing the mayoress with a perfect mixture of sassy cruelty. Adam Brazier’s J. Bowden Hapgood was delightfully charming, Jonathan Monro and his gorgeous voice shone as the defrocked preacher Treasurer Cooley and the choreography by Sam Strasfeld was so lively and perfectly suited, I wished that he had blocked the entire show. Richard Ouzounian’s narrator was sheepish, but lacked the presence and charm that overflowed from the others onstage. He recited Arthur Laurent’s book like one trying to remember his grocery list.  The ensemble was made up of eight remarkably young and talented performers whose energy radiated from the stage, into the audience, and back out again. The orchestra was simply to die for. In short, Anyone Can Whistle had all the makings of a lovely night at the theatre. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. There is a song in the Second Act called “Everybody Says Don’t” which refers to the courage it takes to speak out against injustice and authority, and since I firmly believe that it is the young theatre-makers who will inherit the Toronto shaped by those men in power today, I feel it is my duty as a person who cares to ask the pertinent questions.

              I was initially struck by the way this show was marketed. Why had Arkady Spivak and Richard Ouzounian decided to do a concert version of this show? If they wanted to stage Anyone Can Whistle, why not just stage it? Is this one step into the process of doing a fully staged version of the show? If so, why was there no mention of this in the programme? Is it a benefit concert like the one for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis staged at Carnegie Hall in 1995? I looked to Ouzounian’s Director’s Note for answers and was not surprised with what I found. I read about how 14 year old Richard became enchanted with Anyone Can Whistle in 1964 and after speaking about the show’s brief run he writes, “it’s nearly 44 years later, but the time has finally come to share my feelings with you.” Has it been Ouzounian's dream to direct Anyone Can Whistle and to cast himself as the Narrator for 44 years? Was he concerned that the socio-political climate of the world today would not be sympathetic to the show’s messages of corruption within the government and its web of hypocrisy?

            At its most basic, Ouzounian’s desire to share Anyone Can Whistle with Canadian theatre audiences is wonderful. The show has only been revived a handful of times and I agree that it is an important show that can become a major musical theatre event in the lives of its audience. That said, it strikes me that Ouzounian would choose to mount a concert version for two performances in Barrie and one in Toronto, with direction that lacked any semblance of clear concept and left a large portion of the audience unable to follow the convoluted story. Surely taking a risk and investing in a longer running, fully blocked version of the show, with a director who makes clear, deliberate creative choices, would be more conducive to Ouzounian’s goals of sharing this musical with the people of Toronto. Or is this not the ultimate goal?

            Like in Anyone Can Whistle at times I feel as though I am a "cookie" in a Jar, watching helplessly as those in positions of power in this city create illusions to justify and conceal their personal agendas. Richard Ouzounian is The Star’s theatre critic and it cannot be denied that his opinions on actors, theatre companies, directors and performance choices influence and affect the success and failure of theatre in Toronto. Why, then, am I not dazzled by his acting skill and directing choices? Why do I fail to see even the semblance of skill and choice? Who has given this man such clout within this community and why? Ouzounian has said that I think he is a bad person, which could not be further from the truth. I even see a glimmer of myself in the 14 year old Broadway geek he depicts in his Director’s Note. At the same time, I have questions. I am still idealistic enough to believe in fairness and balance and a theatre community that prizes talent over politics. Perhaps it is naïve to believe such a community could exist, but, as Sondheim himself wrote, “I insist on miracles, if you do them, miracles, nothing to them… I say don’t- don’t be afraid.”