Iceland
At Presentation House until March 29, 2015
Bad things often happen to bad people. But bad things also happen to good people.
Lindsey Angell as Kassandra in Iceland. Credit: Tim Matheson
Mozart & Salieri
At Jericho Arts Centre. Must close Saturday, March 14, 2015
What makes Mozart & Salieri work is young Cate Richardson. In whiteface, with a little rosebud mouth and thin, arching eyebrows, she seems perpetually on the verge of bursting out laughing. Or sharing a secret like, “Isn’t this completely silly and fun?”
Cate Richardson as The Player in Mozart & Salieri. Credit: David Newham
The Competition is Fierce
At The Shop (125 East 2nd) until March 22, 201
Chelsea Haberlin, co-artistic producer of ITSAZOO, says that the company has always believed that “theatre should be a party – a night out that is as cool as a concert” but most concerts don’t have guys running around bare-assed with their manly parts dangling, throwing poo or stabbing each other.
Chris Cochrane as John in The Competition is Fierce. Credit: Gaelan Beatty
Cat Killer
At Presentation House until March 15, 2015
As you may have assumed, I’m not a video gamer. Plain old reality is hard enough to deal with; virtual reality scares the wits out of me. And the bewildering array of aggressively marketed ‘iThings’ seems to me a technological iCancer, invading our private lives and keeping the natural world at a distance.
The Whipping Man
At Pacific Theatre until March 21, 2015
Comparisons to Scarlett O’Hara’s return home after the fall of the Confederate Army are unavoidable in this Pacific Theatre presentation of The Whipping Man: a former Southern mansion reduced to filthy rubble, smashed floors, exposed lath, an ornate chandelier fallen from the ceiling and resting askew on the floor. Faith, loyalty and betrayal: it’s all here.
Giovanni Mocibob, Carl Kennedy and Tom Pickett in The Whipping Man. Credit: Damon Calderwood
Sister Judy
At the Arts Club Revue Stage until March 21, 2015
Writer/actor/director Shawn Macdonald humanizes Sister Judy (Jenny Wasko-Paterson) and Father Frank (Mike Wasko) in his new play, Sister Judy, subtitled A Love Story. It’s less about Catholicism – although there is some passionate debate about the existence or non-existence of Jesus Christ – and more about love in all its manifestations.
Lili Beaudoin, Jenny Wasko-Paterson and Mike Wasko in Sister Judy. Credit: David Cooper
Cadre
At The Cultch until March 8, 2015
“This. Is. My. Land. This. Is. Not. Your. Land.”
Omphile Molusi and Lillian Tshabalala in Cadre. Credit: Ruphin Coudyzer
The Mountaintop
At the Arts Club Granville Island Stage until March 14, 2015
Portraying Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. must be like portraying Mahatma Gandhi or Jesus Christ: it comes with a lot of responsibility. And we all know how the story ends.
Dion Johnstone as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in The Mountaintop. Credit: David Cooper
Oklahoma!
At Studio 58 until March 1, 2015
If anyone can breathe life into Oklahoma! it’s Studio 58. But these young theatre students don’t just breathe life into it, they give it a facelift, knee and hip replacements and a spanking new heart.
Alexandra Wever as Laurey in Oklahoma! Credit: David Cooper
Valley Song
At Gateway Theatre until February 21, 2015
The rich, earthy smell and feel of the land tilled by character Abraam “Buks” Jonkers is tangible in this Gateway Theatre production directed by the company’s artistic director Jovanni Sy.
David Adams as Buks in Valley Song. Credit: David Cooper