Chekhov's Three Sisters: Plenty of emotion and serious intensity
One of the great things about attending the Stratford Shakespeare Festival each year are the hidden gems we discover. We know there will be some great theatre, because that's what Stratford does, but each year we attend a couple of productions and we're not sure what to expect. One of the hidden gems this year is the Stratford production of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. <br /><br />
Wilde masterpiece both a great comedy and serious social commentary
As I sit and watch the Stratford Festival production of Oscar Wilde's, "The Importance of Being Earnest", I am reminded that this is really the granddaddy of most modern day sitcoms....only this one is written quite a bit better than many. Still, the barrage of witticisms and one-liners, and the undercurrent of sarcasm that ebbs and flows beneath the piece would do any Hollywood comedic hack proud....it's really great stuff.<br /><br />
Stratford Festival' West Sde Story: Serious emotional intensity
A couple of weeks ago when we made our first trip to Stratford Festival for this year, we stayed at a charming B & B called "Breaking Bread", and our hosts told us something very interesting over breakfast......they said one of the national theatre critics had called Stratford's "West Side Story" the best piece of thestre he'd ever seen. When I'd ordered my tickets for the giant of a musical, I wasn't sure why because I've seen it several times....I hadn't been enthused, but now my appetite was whetted.<br /><br />
Stratford Review: Very funny "Forum" leaves Stratford patrons laughing
As I've mentioned before in my reviews, I was not a fan of musicals back in the old days before I discovered live musical theatre. I could not get into movie musicals and found them generally uninteresting and sort of boring. So, I'm not sure how I managed to see the musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", when it first appeared in movie form back in the late '60's/early '70's. But my memories of seeing it are that it was one of the funniest movies I'd ever seen....<br /><br />
REVIEW OF CYRANO DE BERGERAC AT
When John called and asked us if we wanted to go to see Cyrano de Bergerac in Stratford, as he was unable to use his tickets, I jumped at the chance. I think Colm Feore is one of the strongest actors at the Festival this year, and he plays the title role. Luckily, Jim and I had no commitments we couldnt get out of that day, so we took John up on his offer<br /><br />
Phedre failed to lift me up and take me away......
I am, by nature, the type of guy who really enjoys a piece of serious theatre......I will travel a long way to see something that is desparately bleak and grim, if only it offers up great emotion and makes me feel something wonderful. I have said before in my reviews that I expect a great piece of theatre to lift me up and take me away......away from the mundane and dreary everyday of life.<br /><br />
