Today, For Now

new best friend—School of Contemporary Dancers

This play is a lot of things: fast, furious, frantic, frenzied, frenetic, feverish—the only thing it’s not is funny.

Ray Yuen

James & Jamesy in the Dark

James & Jamesy—

Finding new and interesting ways to present a show can be a challenge, and playing with the lighting the way these two do is one of the more original ideas I’ve seen. It must have been a nightmare for the technician. Although, while it’s cute for the first 20 minutes, I found the middle of the show dragged, and then picked right back up in the last half hour. The kids in the audience disagreed, and proved the performers have a very strong instinct when it comes to playing with children. This is a fun one to take the kids to, even if they need a touch of a reminder that this is marketed as family friendly sometimes.

Arden Pruden

Mother’s Little Secret

Broken Record Productions—School of Contemporary Dancers

I chose this because I wanted to see what some of Winnipeg’s veteran actors had to offer. I was not disappointed. The senior, and I mean seriously senior members of the cast were the most competent. It was a pleasure to see that age only added to their talent; and their joy in performing was obvious. The two younger members of the cast were still slightly struggling with some lines at this late date, but this did not affect the enjoyment of the show. A very clever script by Jo McDonald with a surprise twist. Worth seeing.

Lisa Campbell

She Was a Great Dad

Jeremy Productions—Onstage at Pantages

Based on a true story, this tale draws you back to the big band era and what it takes to be a hit musician. In one word, it takes a penis. What if you don’t have one?

This thoughtful bio relates what people are willing to do to succeed if they’re passionate enough about their trade. The journey depicts an era that is vastly different than the one we live in today. I’m not saying that our society is completely enlightened—it’s not be any means, but we have come a long way in the past century. It’s important to revisit our histories to understand where we came from, and Susan Jeremy takes us ably through this glimpse of the past.

Ray Yuen

Kafka and Son

Theaturtle—Asper Centre for Theatre and Film – U of W

At approaching thirty shows this year, this is the finest performance I’ve seen. The audience was dumbstruck at the end of the show, until they burst into relentless applause. This show has toured around the world to well-deserved five star reviews. If I could only recommend one show this year, this would be my choice. This is what theatre should be. Perfection!

Lisa Campbell

ONE DATE CITY

It’s All Relative Productions—Pantages Studio

I am soooooo glad that I’m married and so far removed from the dating world. In my day, looking for a date meant going to the Palomino Club; now it doesn’t seem that you can date without a phone. Even if I managed to get a hit through the multitude of dating sites, I don’t think I can engage in the lingo (Ghosting? Catfishing? Backsliding? Un-cuffing? Bread-crumbing?).

Then what happens when you actually get to meet a date? That’s what One Date City is all about. This warm and fuzzy exploration teaches us that it’s all right to seek Mx. Right; it’s also all right to be single. Everything is all right so long as you’re happy with yourself. And again, I’m so happy that I’m married!

Ray Yuen

Fractured Expectations

Timeless Weaver—Son of Warehouse

I have to wonder what the construction process looked like, as while the show was clearly scripted, it was also clearly improvised. There was a certain lack of tightness that did the show an injustice overall, that could have been fixed should they have solidified their story-lines sooner. That being said the performances were all around strong, and at times all too relatable. My attention never dropped (especially not when I heard my own name used by a friend in the show- for a homeless woman of all people), though the shifts in tone at times gave me whiplash. Funny and devoted actors, all they needed was a tighter presentation.

Arden Pruden

Final Four

ZList Productions—John Hirsch Mainstage

Part Gong Show, part Survivor, and part Big Brother, with the magnetism of none. From the description, this show had so much potential. It could have been a serious show with real competitors and genuine talent, or it could have been a comedic farce filled with laughter. I’ll give it credit for trying the latter but it just wasn’t that funny.

Problems start with the initial conception of the talent contest. Ok, you have a he-man, macho type—that’s good. Then you have a geeky type—that’s good too. However, the geeky entrant should use his brain to outwit his competitors; instead, there was nothing cerebral about his character at all. Enter the prissy participant who gets by on appearance—that’s fine too, but they never played that up. There should have been prancing about and soliciting votes by enticement. What’s the story with the mass murderer and the hippie? I understand the farce is supposed to be silly but this is just silly without merit or direction.

Ray Yuen

Sex? But I’m Canadian!

HappySad Theatre—Onstage at Pantages

Full disclosure, I have absolutely zero idea what radio programme is being parodied in this show, but this lack of previous experience had little impact on my enjoyment of the show. Nico Dicecco tells us a few stories about a middle aged couple who are introduced to Fifty Shades of Grey, and embark on a sexual journey of unprecedented proportions.

Dicecco has a natural charisma and charm in his storytelling. At times I found myself laughing, and at other times cringing as unfortunate and embarrassing circumstances befell our formerly more wholesome couple.

What’s fun about this show is the relatable content. Perhaps I speak for myself, but I think finding new ways to explore and experiment with our partners is an important and exciting part of relationships. Sometimes this happens early on, and other times it happens after 20 years of marriage. Human beings are complex beings, and sometimes we have desires and interests that may remain unknown to even ourselves until the right opportunity presents itself. However, sometimes having that part of our lives blatantly displayed to our family and friends can be horrifying, but I think that human sexuality is worth celebrating and being open about. Take some risks kid. Have some fun!

Calantha Jensen

A Sad-Ass Cabaret

TJ Dawe—Dragon Arts Collective

Based on the name and the write-up, I expected an array of boohoos but many of the stories aren’t sad at all. They’re sometimes feisty, sometimes angry, but always spirited. Veteran Fringer Dawe delivers the tales while each bio has accompanying songs. There are some problems with the singing falling off key but they still manage to achieve a mood of melancholy.

I am curious about the red lighting throughout the show. Normally, red associates with anger and blue connotes sadness. I would rather see the blue since the continuous red cut through my eyes like lasers into my brain. Sorry but I had to put on sunglasses 10 minutes in, which helped a bit.

Ray Yuen