Latest news with #ShawFestival
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Wait Until Dark is a drowsy, dull thriller in need of more thrills
Title: Wait Until Dark Written by: Frederick Knott, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher Performed by: Kristopher Bowman, Sochi Fried, JJ Gerber, Martin Happer, Bruce Horak, Eponine Lee Directed by: Sanjay Talwar Company: Shaw Festival Venue: Festival Theatre City: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Year: Runs to Oct. 5 What's frustrating about Wait Until Dark, the drowsy, dull thriller devoid of thrills now playing at the Shaw Festival, isn't really the acting. And it's hardly the sets or costumes, either: Both ably capture the wartime paranoia of 1944. Director Sanjay Talwar, too, does his best with the material and infuses the play with a quick pace that keeps the runtime mercifully short. But Jeffrey Hatcher's text, an adaptation of Frederick Knott's 1966 play – a story best known for the 1967 film adaptation starring Audrey Hepburn – is clunky and confusing, a confounding choice for the festival and a script that ought to swim with the fishes. At least on paper, the story is rife with suspense: Susan, a blind housewife (Sochi Fried) must outsmart three charlatans (Kristopher Bowman, Martin Happer and Bruce Horak) who are on the hunt for a doll filled with heroin. As it turns out, Susan's unwittingly had the doll in her possession all along – her husband Sam (JJ Gerber) was tricked into transporting it by a woman who has since been murdered. Natasha, Pierre and the revival of a lifetime at the Royal Alexandra Theatre Canadian Stage amps up the angst in outdoor production of Romeo and Juliet With only her wits and a petulant teenage neighbour (Eponine Lee) to save her, Susan is in quite the pickle. And, broadly speaking, such pickles tend to make for fascinating theatre. Not so here. Hatcher's script, which resets Knott's play to the 1940s, spends a curious amount of time explaining how the criminals communicate with one another – their system relies on opening and closing Susan's blinds, which are quite noisy, so Susan quickly senses that something's not right. By the time the central conflict of the play becomes clear, there's been so much extraneous explanation of how blinds work that the whereabouts of the doll and its illicit contents feel almost irrelevant to the stage business at hand. As well, much of the humour baked into Hatcher's text makes Susan – and more troublingly, her disability – the butt of the joke. 'You're a clever blind girl!' one of the gangsters cackles with surprise near the end of the play. In 2025, that remark lands with the dull thud of a dozen steps backward for disability representation in Canadian theatre. There are a few fine performances in Talwar's staging: Fried adds some depth to the flat-as-a-pancake heroine, and Bowman, Happer and Horak each play the bad guy with a convincing level of gruff rancor. Lee is perhaps the standout as bratty teen Gloria – she adds a lightness to Talwar's production that keeps the scenes, painful as they are, ticking along. As mentioned, Wait Until Dark, at the very least, is nice to look at. Lorenzo Savoini's naturalistic set encapsulates the gloomy damp of a basement apartment in Greenwich Village, complete with vintage appliances in the kitchen and antique light fixtures screwed into the walls. Working together with costume designer Ming Wong, Savoini conjures a living space that is both sanctuary and lair, full of tactile cues to help Susan get her bearings (against the wishes of her captors). The problem with a production whose strengths are almost entirely visual? The final 20 minutes or so of Wait Until Dark takes place in a near-blackout, save for a deep blue wash that presumably ensures the actors don't hurt themselves as they manoeuvre the stage (Louise Guinand is the lighting designer). A climactic cat-and-mouse sequence in the lightless apartment leaves Hatcher's script to carry the action of the play on its own merit – a tough ask, given there's hardly any. There are better shows to see at this year's Shaw Festival – Gnit, Tons of Money, Major Barbara – and better ways to enjoy Knott's original story. (I'd recommend the film.) But Wait Until Dark is well past its best-by date, and there's no amount of set-dressing that can mask the creaks in Hatcher's script.
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Award-winning filmmaker and playwright Michael Melski dies at 56
Award-winning playwright and filmmaker Michael Melski, from Sydney, N.S., is pictured. (Source: IMDB) Family and friends of award-winning playwright and filmmaker Michael Melski, from Sydney, N.S., have shared news of his death and messages of condolence on social media after he died Friday. He was 56. Melski's plays were featured on stages across Canada, including his 2001 Merritt and Dora-nominated play, 'Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad', which was named one of Canada's top 10 plays of the year by the Toronto Star. His award-winning films included 'The Child Remains', 'Charlie Zone', and the documentary 'Perfume War'. He served as an artist-in-residence at the Shaw Festival, Neptune Theatre and Eastern Front Theatre, where his play 'Creepy and Little Manson' debuted in 2016. In addition to his other achievements in film, television and theatre, Melski received the Halifax Mayor's Award for Achievement in Theatre in 2006. Family members said they were surprised and saddened by his passing and that funeral arrangements will be announced soon. Michael Melski Award-winning playwright and filmmaker Michael Melski from Sydny, N.S., is pictured performing outside with a guitar and a microphone. (Source: Facebook) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Shaw Festival 2025: What shows to see — and skip — this season
From a new adaptation of a classic 'Narnia' story to a revival of the beloved Cole Porter high-seas musical 'Anything Goes,' there's no shortage of offerings at this year's Shaw Festival. The repertory theatre company in Niagara-on-the-Lake is presenting 10 mainstage productions for its 63rd season, which runs through December. Here's a comprehensive guide of what to see — and skip — this year. This roundup will be updated throughout the season as more shows open. Gabriella Sundar Singh as Anitra and Qasim Khan as Peter in 'Gnit.' This play by the American dramatist Will Eno is billed as a 'faithful, unfaithful and wilfully American reading' of the Henrik Ibsen classic 'Peer Gynt,' about a restless young man who abandons his bride-to-be and sets off in search of his true self, only to turn bitter and disillusioned. The two-act work flirts with surrealism and realism and, like its original, is filled with wry humour and deep existentialism. Artistic director Tim Carroll directs this production, staged in-the-round and featuring Qasim Khan as the titular anti-hero. Until Oct. 4 at the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre. This psychological thriller premiered on Broadway in 1966 and was later turned into a classic film starring Audrey Hepburn. It follows a woman who is blind and finds herself targeted by a gang of criminals after her husband unwittingly takes possession of a drug-laced doll. With her husband absent, she's forced to outsmart her assailants by relying solely on her gumption and the help of her cunning young neighbour. This revival, directed by Sanjay Talwar and starring Sochi Fried, uses Jeffrey Hatcher's new adaptation of the play, which sets the action in the middle of the Second World War. Until Oct. 5 at the Festival Theatre. Jeffrey Hatcher's adaptation of the classic Broadway play needs to cut to the chase and trim all Gabriella Sundar Singh as Barbara Undershaft and André Morin as Adolphus Cusins in 'Major Barbara.' The sole Shavian work programmed in the Shaw Festival lineup this year, this social satire follows a Salvation Army officer and her estranged father. A provocative and witty comedy of ideas, Shaw's play explores timeless themes of poverty, religion and war. Canadian director Peter Hinton-Davis leads this lean, modern revival, featuring festival regulars André Morin and Gabriella Sundar Singh, the latter starring as the title character. Until Oct. 5 at the Royal George Theatre. Mary Antonini as Reno Sweeney with the cast of 'Anything Goes' at the Shaw Festival. When you think of classic Broadway, 'Anything Goes' ought to spring to mind. Cole Porter's musical romp on the high seas, which premiered on the Great White Way in 1934 starring Ethel Merman, is filled with standards like 'You're the Top,' 'It's De-Lovely' and its tap-dancing title number. Associate artistic director Kimberley Rampersad is directing and choreographing this revival, featuring Canadian Broadway alum Mary Antonini as Reno Sweeney, a nightclub singer and former evangelist who finds love and a boatload of hijinks aboard the S.S. American. Until Oct. 4 at the Festival Theatre. Director and choreographer Kimberley Rampersad's lustrous production of the Cole Porter classic From left, Elodie Gillett, Dieter Lische-Parkes and Daniel Greenberg star in the Shaw Festival's production of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.' Co-adapted for the stage by Selma Dimitrijevic and Tim Carroll, this new production of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' marks the Shaw Festival's final foray into the land of Narnia after 'The Magician's Nephew' (2018) , 'The Horse and His Boy' (2019) and 'Prince Caspian' (2023) . Based on the first novel in C.S. Lewis's 'The Chronicles of Narnia' series, the play with music follows four siblings who discover a magical kingdom thrown into perpetual winter by an evil witch. Dimitrijevic directs this production, which stars Jeff Irving, Alexandra Gratton, Dieter Lische-Parkes and Kristi Frank as the Pevensie children. Until Oct. 4 at the Festival Theatre. Is it a panto or a musical? This stage adaptation of C.S. Lewis' classic novel has no clue what Julia Course as Louise Allington and Mike Nadajewski as Aubrey Henry Maitland Allington in 'Tons of Money.' A man who's deep in debt finds out that he's the recipient of a significant inheritance. How can he pocket the moolah without paying back his pesky creditors? Such is the premise of 'Tons of Money,' a century-old British farce by Will Evans and Valentine (the pen name of Archibald Thomas Pechey). Director Eda Holmes, a name many Shaw Festival regulars will instantly recognize, helms this production with a starry ensemble cast that includes Mike Nadajewski, Julia Course, Marla McLean and Qasim Khan. Until Oct. 5 at the Royal George Theatre. An ensemble cast led by Mike Nadajewski shines in this uneven play filled with plot holes and
Globe and Mail
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
From a Mahabharata sweep to a Gen Z musical theatre boom, here's how the 2025 Dora Awards played out
Why Not Theatre's massive, intricate production of Mahabharata swept the 2025 Dora Awards, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced at the awards' in-person ceremony at Meridian Hall on Monday evening. Mahabharata, presented in Toronto for the first time this spring by Canadian Stage, walked away with five wins across acting, directing and design categories in the General Theatre division, including outstanding production. It's a welcome sweep for a deserving piece of theatre. First presented by the Shaw Festival in 2023, the show is fresh off a short run of performances at Lincoln Center in New York. Mahabharata and A Strange Loop win big at the 2025 Toronto Theatre Critics' Awards While both halves of the two-part endeavour were nominated in several categories, this year's Dora jurors came together to celebrate the first half of the production, subtitled Karma, The Life We Inherit. Other winners in the General Theatre division included the ensemble of Flex, co-produced by Crow's Theatre and Obsidian Theatre Company, and the scenic designers for seven methods of killing kylie jenner, another collaboration between Obsidian and Crow's. Wonderful Joe creator Ronnie Burkett and Flex lighting designer Raha Javanfar went home with Dora wins for costume design and lighting design, respectively. Meanwhile, the Independent Theatre, Musical Theatre and Theatre for Young Audiences divisions saw a much more varied slates of winners. Makram Ayache's The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers won the award for outstanding new play in the Independent Theatre division – Toronto audiences can look forward to experiencing more of Ayache's work when The Green Line plays at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre this fall. Coal Mine Theatre's electric production of People, Places and Things won four awards across acting and directing categories, including outstanding production. Last Landscape, a physical work about the relationship between humans and the environment, was singled out for its sound design and for its scenography, which included whimsical puppets and surprisingly large sets constructed entirely from recycled materials. Snubs and surprises from the Dora Award nominations CORPUS's production of Mukashi, Mukashi rounded out the division's design categories with wins for outstanding costume and lighting design. Over in the Musical Theatre division, an emerging company of Gen Z artists beat out far more established companies in a number of competitive categories. Shifting Ground Collective left the 2025 Dora Awards with three awards – including outstanding production and the coveted Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award – for its production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Unsurprisingly, A Strange Loop, co-produced by the Musical Stage Company, Soulpepper Theatre, Crow's Theatre and TO Live, won the Dora for outstanding performance by an ensemble, as well as an individual award for Malachi McCaskill in the leading role of Usher. Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White won the Dora for outstanding new musical or opera. (The category is split between the Musical Theatre and Opera divisions.) The show also received a nod for its ensemble in the Opera division. Rounding out the Musical Theatre division was Canadian Stage's holiday pantomime, The Wizard of Oz: The Toto-ly Awesome Family Musical, which was singled out for Ming Wong's costume designs. While Soulpepper Theatre's production of Alligator Pie dominated the Theatre for Young Audiences division at this year's Doras with four wins, two other shows walked away with trophies: Evan Bawtinheimer's Patty Picker won the Dora for outstanding new play, while Alexandra Laferrière won for outstanding performance by an individual in Roseneath Theatre and Black Theatre Workshop's production of Taking Care of Maman.
New York Post
24-06-2025
- New York Post
4 Canadian roadtrips with a luxury twist
O Canada! She's a beauty but she's also at your convenience. Hop in your car, aim the GPS north and you've got an international trip. But where to go? We tapped Lonely Planet's Caroline Trelfer to offer some classy destination dupes that sub in for a few of our favorite summer escapes this side of the border. Swap the North Fork for Niagara-on-the-Lake Drive time from NYC: About seven hours. 4 Drink in this wine-soaked border town. Destination Ontario Vibe: Small town Victoriana. What to expect: This breezily charming, retro-accented small town anchors one of Canada's best wine regions and comes complete with killer waterfront perches. Mark on a map: Niagara-on-the-Lake sits right on the border with America, just across the river from Youngstown. Where to stay: Embrace the maximalist 19th-century vibe of the town by staying at the historic Prince of Wales hotel. with wood-paneled walls and overstuffed chairs. Or, opt for the riverfront Harbour House Hotel, which has a superb spa. What to do: There are more than 100 wineries here, all specializing in cool climate varietals so take your pick (book a tour with the Winery Guys so you can really indulge). 'This is one of the few places in the world known for ice wine, made with grapes picked and pressed several months after the initial harvest while they're still frozen in December or January,' said Trelfer. Once you've sobered up, head out to the Shaw Festival, named after George Bernard, which runs through the summer and fall drawing a quarter million folks each year. One highlight for 2025: Cole Porter's classic 'Anything Goes.' Where to eat & drink: Pick up a Canadian-style, crunchy-topped butter tart at the Niagara Home Bakery, Trelfer added, but sit down for supper at Treadwell Cuisine, a high-end farm-to-table spot with a superb locally skewing wine list. 'The best value is the three-course dinner tasting menu, with or without pairings,' she said, which starts at $84 per person. Need to know: It's home to North America's oldest golf club, a nine-holer on the shores of Lake Ontario established exactly 150 years ago — and open to the public for tee time. Swap the Adirondacks for the Laurentians Drive time from NYC: Around nine hours. 4 These lush mountains will have you riding high. Gaelle Leroyer Vibe: Canuck country living. What to expect: This is a winter ski destination that's more than appealing in summer and fall, with more than 16 parks and reserves in the region. 'They're known for rolling hills, thousands of fresh-water lakes and cozy log-cabin chalets,' said Trelfer. Mark on a map: Val David is the regional hub. Where to stay: The seven minimalist A-frame cabins at Farouche Tremblant are embedded in a 135-acre forest, allowing complete natural immersion, plus there's a small Nordic farm on the property for locavores. What to do: Bike a stretch of the 140-mile Le P'tit Train du Nord, a one-time railway line turned activity track or head to the Mont Tremblant ski resort, which is quilted with biking trails outside ski season. Parc National du Mont-Tremblant features 400 lakes and six rivers, and is the ideal place for a hike or two amid rare silver maples and red oaks. Where to eat & drink: Come for a Quebecois specialty at breakfast or lunch at the 80-year-old diner, Au Petit Poucet — try the maple-smoked ham, or pouding chômeur, a syrup-drenched bread pudding. Make sure to spend a summer evening on the terrace at the Archibald Microbrewery. Need to know: The Laurentian peaks are at a much lower average elevation than the Adirondacks, priming them for families and more amateur outdoorsy types. Try a beginner route at Via Ferrata du Diable. Swap Cape Cod for Andrews-by-the-Sea Drive time from NYC: Eight-and-a-half hours to Calais, Maine, then 20 minutes over the border. 4 History lives in this typically English outpost. New Brunswick Tourism Vibe: Newer New England. What to expect: This is Old Country, and much of the area has remained untampered with for centuries. 'It retains the look of an 18th-century British colonial settlement, with many buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries intact,' said Trelfer. Mark on a map: St. Andrews is the base for exploring the entire peninsula. Where to stay: Most rooms at the Treadwell Inn in the heart of town have private balconies, the ideal perch to sit out and watch the bay. Otherwise, try the more resort-like Algonquin — its red-roofed, mock Tudor design inspired Stephen King's description of the Overlook Hotel in 'The Shining' after he stayed there. What to do: There are whale-watching cruises from June to October, leaving from market wharf, or you can simply stroll down the gift shop-lined Water Street. Visit the painstakingly restored octagonal Pendlebury Lighthouse, too, dating back to the 1830s. Given the town's name, you'd expect superb golf here, and indeed, there are plenty of courses nearby, including an award-winning one at the Algonquin. Where to eat & drink: Grab seafood chowder or a grilled lobster sandwich at the Niger Reef Tea House, then compare the recipe with the same chowder at the Gables. Expect a creamy, shellfish-packed soup at both. Need to know: The waters here rise and fall dramatically, meaning there's a major difference when tide is in or out. The shape of Passamaquoddy Bay, and the tidal resonance, mean they rise and fall 28 feet or so twice each day. Swap the Hamptons for Prince Edward County, Ontario Drivetime from NYC: Around seven-and-a-half hours. 4 The geography of Sandbanks Provincial Park is beachy keen but you'll need a day-use reservation. Ontario Parks Vibe: Maple syrup meets Norman Rockwell What to expect: Think the East End of the 1960s or '70s, an artsy enclave where the main appeal is vineyards, crafts breweries and high-end thrift stores. Mark on a map: Look for the towns of Picton, Bloomfield, and Wellington. Where to stay: One major moment here was the opening of an outpost of the Toronto hipster hub the Drake hotel 10 years ago (many locals refer to life 'before the Drake' and 'after the Drake'). It brought a renewed energy to the area and is still the prime perch. Otherwise, try a cottage at the Lake on the Mountain Resort. What to do: Trelfer's tip for the beaches at Sandbanks Provincial Park here is crucial. 'You need a day-use reservation,' she said, which can be booked five days in advance via the park website, 'It's recommended, especially for busy summer weekends.' The best family beach is Outlet, though you'll likely skip the crowds heading to Lakeshore. The famous dunes here are, of course, at Dunes Beach. Where to eat & drink: Scarf fresh oysters on the lakeside at the Sand and Pearl Oyster Bar and try some natural wines at Stella's Eatery. Make sure to carve out time for a wine tasting tour, though, and check the Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association website to plan the best route for you (Hillier is a great starting point) Need to know: The beaches here can be rocky rather than universally sandy, as they're on a lake, so bring waterproof shoes.
