Latest news with #TheMerryWivesofWindsor
Calgary Herald
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Stratford Festival mourns the loss of actor Michael Blake, co-star of ATP's King James
Actor Michael Blake, who played a variety of roles during 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died, the company announced on Monday. Article content Blake, 53, was considered one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare, the Festival said in a release. Article content Article content 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' Stratford Festival artistic director Antoni Cimolino said. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality.' Article content Article content Blake also performed at theatres across Canada, as well as on film and TV, but he will be remembered in Stratford for bringing to life a variety of characters — an unforgettable Othello, a heartbreaking Macduff in Macbeth, a good-hearted Master Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, a delightfully villainous Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, a commanding Cominius in Coriolanus, an excellent Duke of Clarence in Richard III, and Albany in King Lear. Those performances have been captured on film, the Festival said. Article content Article content It total, Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including Errico in Napoli Milionaria!, Mr. Balance in The School for Scandal, George Deever in All My Sons, Edmund in King Lear, Dumaine in All's Well That Ends Well, Cleante in Tartuff, and Sebastian in Twelfth Night. Article content
Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 53
Toronto actor Michael Blake, who spent 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died. In a news release, the festival called Blake, 53, 'one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Blake was well known at Stratford for his Shakespearean roles, which included Macduff in 'Macbeth,' Master Page in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' Don John in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Cominius in 'Coriolanus,' the Duke of Clarence in 'Richard III,' Albany in 'King Lear' and Dumaine in 'All's Well That Ends Well.' In 2019, he played the lead in the festival's 'Othello.' In her review for the Star , Karen Fricker praised Blake's performance. 'Blake's Othello is beautifully spoken, poised and feline: in all ways attuned to the world around him,' she wrote. 'He's succeeded by contradicting in practice the low expectations that society has of him. Which is not to say he's crafty; he's savvy and principled.' Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including 'Napoli Milionaria!' 'The School for Scandal,' 'All My Sons' and 'Tartuff.' The festival noted that Blake also appeared at theatres across Canada, and in film and television, including 'Due South,' 'The Expanse,' 'The Lost Symbol' and 'Murdoch Mysteries.' According to his biography, Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. He played the adult Simba in the original Toronto run of the musical 'The Lion King'; was an inaugural member of the English acting company of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a member of the first graduating class of the Soulpepper Academy in Toronto. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in the news release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. 'We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family and he will be deeply missed.' Funeral details have yet to be announced. The festival said it will dedicate a production to Blake's memory in 2026. This story has been edited from an earlier version that gave an incorrect age for Michael Blake.
Hamilton Spectator
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 54
Toronto actor Michael Blake, who spent 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died. In a news release, the festival called Blake, 54, 'one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Blake was well known at Stratford for his Shakespearean roles, which included Macduff in 'Macbeth,' Master Page in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' Don John in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Cominius in 'Coriolanus,' the Duke of Clarence in 'Richard III,' Albany in 'King Lear' and Dumaine in 'All's Well That Ends Well.' In 2019, he played the lead in the festival's 'Othello.' In her review for the Star , Karen Fricker praised Blake's performance. 'Blake's Othello is beautifully spoken, poised and feline: in all ways attuned to the world around him,' she wrote. 'He's succeeded by contradicting in practice the low expectations that society has of him. Which is not to say he's crafty; he's savvy and principled.' Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including 'Napoli Milionaria!' 'The School for Scandal,' 'All My Sons' and 'Tartuff.' The festival noted that Blake also appeared at theatres across Canada, and in film and television, including 'Due South,' 'The Expanse,' 'The Lost Symbol' and 'Murdoch Mysteries.' According to his biography, Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. He played the adult Simba in the original Toronto run of the musical 'The Lion King'; was an inaugural member of the English acting company of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a member of the first graduating class of the Soulpepper Academy in Toronto. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in the news release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. 'We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family and he will be deeply missed.' Funeral details have yet to be announced. The festival said it will dedicate a production to Blake's memory in 2026.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kate's 5 fun things to do in and around Waterloo region: July 18 to 20
This is one of the busiest weekends of the summer so far when it comes to events happening in this area. The Kitchener Ribfest and Craft Beer Show starts at noon Friday and runs afternoons and evenings Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the event in Kitchener's Victoria Park is free, but donations are accepted for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Elora Community Theatre will present Shakespeare in the Park starting Friday night with The Merry Wives of Windsor. Performances are in the yard at the Elora Centre for the Arts. In Guelph at McCrae House, it's Backyard Theatre season. We Lived, Felt Dawn, Saw Sunset Glow is the title of the performance by Mike Ford, who is described by the museum as a solo troubadour opera. The piece was commissioned by Guelph Museums to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation in Europe. If you can't make it this weekend, the show also runs July 24 to 26 with afternoon and evening performances. Sunset Sessions in Vogelsang Green is a free concert in downtown Kitchener. Music starts at 7 p.m. and you won't know who is performing until they step up to the mic. The Scotland Yard Hockey Classic to support kids cancer care will be held at The Boardwalk in Waterloo with 96 teams taking part. People can show up and cheer on their favourite teams and just enjoy a day of street hockey. The day benefits the Waterloo Region Health Network Foundation. Latin Music on Main happens in Galt on Saturday evening. Beginner dance lessons are at 6 p.m. with dancing from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Kitchener Panthers are on the road this weekend. They're in Welland Friday and Barrie on Saturday. The Guelph Royals are home Saturday night and host the Brantford Red Sox. If you need to drive, here are some local gas prices: Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival Friday 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 12:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Uptown Waterloo This free, outdoor festival in uptown Waterloo has everything a jazz music lover would want, plus community vendors and food. Headlining Friday night is Monkey House and on Saturday it's Travis Knights. Plus check out the youth ensemble, Freddie's Freeloaders, the Christine Jensen Quartet and much more. Bonus: Hillside Festival Friday 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Guelph Lake Conservation Area This annual festival is back and along with a very long list of musicians on three different stages, there are workshops, vendors, food, children's area and activity areas. LISTEN | : Amanda Keeles Sunday at 7 p.m. Forbes Park, 16 Kribs St., Cambridge Cambridge is holding a number of Summer Live events and this weekend, it's a free concert from London, Ont., country singer-songwriter Amanda Keeles. Bring a lawn chair, some snacks and be prepared to enjoy an evening of music. AfroVibes Festival Friday 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m and 10 p.m. to late Deb 1880 in Waterloo, Carl Zehr Square in front of Kitchener's city hall, Rare Nightclub in Waterloo This festival kicks off Friday night with a panel discussion talking about business and the creative economy locally. On Saturday, the festival takes over the space in front of Kitchener's city hall with a free day of music, workshops, food, fashion, games and lots of interactive activities for people of all ages. There's also an after party with DJ Neptune later in the evening, which requires tickets. WATCH | : Cambridge Scottish Festival Friday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Churchill Park, Cambridge The festival gets underway with the Celtic sip and shop Friday night, which has vendors set up, there's live music and watch swords clash in a battle performance. Saturday will see various pipe, drum, band and dancing competitions and performances, a children's glen, the heritage area and live music in the beer tent. Fitness in the Forest Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Stanley Park Conservation Area, Kitchener This is a resident-led project that is supported through the City of Kitchener's Love My Hood program. The trail through the park now has signs that offer some additional suggestions on exercises that can be done to get even more out of an evening stroll. A grand opening celebration takes place Saturday with some refreshments and giveaways, but the trail is now open to anyone who wants to use it. LISTEN |
IOL News
17-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
A passionate speech in praise of Nelson Mandela on the eve of what would have been his 100th birthday
1453 End of the 100 Years War between England and France (it was just called that, it lasted 116). 1836 The ship Doncaster is wrecked west of Cape Agulhas and is lost with all hands. 1878 Nqwiliso, tribal chief of West Pondoland and eldest son of Ndamase, signs a treaty, ceding sovereign rights and shipping in the Umzimvubu River mouth to the Cape. 1917 Under mounting pressure, Britain's King George V renounces all his German connections and changes the royal family's name from the alien Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the more acceptable Windsor. Anti-German feeling was running particularly high at the time with German Gotha bombers pounding England and killing civilians. When he heard the news, German leader Kaiser Wilhelm, a man apparently blessed with a sense of humour despite all his difficulties, is said to have suggested that Shakespeare's play, The Merry Wives of Windsor should be renamed, The Merry Wives of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. 1918 Russia's Czar Nicholas II, his wife and their children are murdered by Bolsheviks. 1944 Two ammunition ships explode in Port Chicago, California, killing 320 people. 1945 Allied leaders meet in Potsdam to decide the future of a defeated Germany and the terms of surrender for Japan. 1950 The SABC starts the first national news service in the country. 1998 A Papua New Guinea earthquake triggers a tsunami, which kills 2 700 people. 2007 An Airbus crashes upon landing during rain in São Paulo, Brazil, killing 199 people. 2014 A Malaysia Airlines plane is shot down over Ukraine. All 298 people on board die. 2015 Scientists solve the mystery of sleeping sickness in Kazakhstan villages – uranium mining increased carbon monoxide in the air. 2018 Former US president Barack Obama gives a passionate speech during the 16th annual Nelson Mandela Lecture in Johannesburg, honouring Madiba on the eve of the 100th anniversary of his birth, and warning of 'strongman politics'. 2023 Powerful Typhoon Talim makes landfall on China's Guandong coast, forcing the evacuation of 230 000 people. DAILY NEWS
