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Photo Credit: Mirvish Productions Canadian writer David West Read’s 2019 musical &Juliet is a vibrant jukebox reimagining of Juliet Capulet’s (from Romeo and Juliet) fate. Depicting an Anne Hathaway (William Shakespeare's life — not the iconic Devil Wears Prada actress!) who challenges her husband's chosen ending, &Juliet follows Juliet and her friends, May, Anne, and the nurse, as they embark on a journey to Paris, experiencing life on their own terms. Featuring hit songs by

Photo Credit: Mirvish Productions Some Like It Hot, written by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, burst onto the stage of Ed Mirvish Theatre with riveting vocals and a supportive ensemble in glamorous attire. Based on the iconic 1959 film of the same name starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon, the play follows Joe (or Josephine), a saxophone player, and his friend Jerry (or Daphne), a cellis

Photo Credit: Mirvish Productions Filled with crackling jokes that bounce like corn kernels in the microwave, Shucked pops onto the Princess of Wales stage with humour, warmth, and irresistible charm. Written by Robert Horn, and brought to life by American country music composers Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Shucked takes place in Cob County, a fictional secluded Midwestern town famously known for its abundance of corn. However, when the once-fortuitous corn crop begins t

During a performance: While watching a performance, taking physical notes is impractical. So, it is recommended that mental notes be taken for what went well, what resonated with you, and if there were choices made by the artistic team that made the performance effective. However, mental notes are not infallible. So, after a performance, a critic may input all their mental notes onto their phone or take them down somewhere. After the performance, for an enhanced critique, tak

Critiquing theatre does not mean writing full-on praise or criticism, but rather writing an evaluation of the actor’s excellence. It’s about the holistic picture of theatre, such as whether or not the thematic message was effective. Being accustomed to the genre of performance and the “norms” for that genre allows an insightful yet impartial critique to emerge. In critiques, it’s essential to describe the context of the performance. Before entering a theatre, some key points

Photo Credit: Mirvish Productions The iconic West End jukebox musical We Will Rock You has returned to Canada after nearly twenty years. Featuring songs from the legendary British rock band Queen, We Will Rock You , directed by Steve Bolton, is set in the futuristic and hypertechnological Earth, iPlanet, that is dominated by mass conformity and the omnipresent Globalsoft Corporation—itself ruled by the Killer Queen. In this world, music is forbidden, and rock n’roll is unhea

Photo Credit: West End Studio Theatre American playwright A. R Gurney’s iconic 1981 play The Dining Room is a theatrical marvel, consisting of eighteen unique vignettes that chronicle the influence and decline of White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) culture in America. Spanning multiple families and time periods (and united by one dining table), the play’s characters are varied and eccentric; there are over fifty of them. Yet, director Yo Mustafa and his cast of eight actors

Photo Credit: Mississauga Symphony Youth Orchestra Classical music has the reputation of being gatekept and pretentious. Yet, the Mississauga Youth Symphony Orchestra proves that classical music can be fun for the whole family. In their heartwarming performance of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 (one of the composer’s most lighthearted works), the ensemble captured the pastoral charm of the symphony and showcased the joy of collaborative music-making and the earnest dedication that d

Photo Credit: Crow's Theatre Dave Malloy, composer and playwright of the majestic production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, returns with a subtle but socially scathing musical performance in Octet . Set in the deeply familiar present of the 21st century, Octet reveals the compelling inner clandestine worlds of eight internet addicts who meet weekly at a support group in the basement of a church. Featuring eight characters from all different walks of life, Mall

Photo Credit: Bruce Zinger. Pictured: Hannah Galway and Christopher Gerty. In showcasing the ritual and spirituals inherent to the human experience, Procession serves as a turning point for the National Ballet of Canada. The production magically and abstractly conjures the invisible forces that bind us together: our communal moments of mourning and celebration, and our shared expressions through folk dance, song, and ceremony. Procession masterfully exhibits the power of th

Photo Credit: Mirvish Productions Moritz von Stuelpnagel’s unique adaptation of Peter Evans’ Ava: The Secret Conversations showcased the cast’s acting prowess and quirks of joy and humour. However, the production fell short, as it lacked depth in characterization, featuring inadequate prop choices, and disregarded basic theatre etiquette. From 1988 to 1990, Ava Gardner, an icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood, participated in several interviews with the journalist Peter Evans