Browsing Tag

theatre

The Meme-ing of Life According to Second City

Second City Toronto Cast

Second City’s new show, The Meme-ing of Life, which examines technology’s impact on modern relationships, induces nostalgic feelings for a time when people spent more time talking than texting. From sifting through online dating profiles on Lavalife’s website to coping with YouTube addictions, The Meme-ing of Life essentially covers everything in today’s zeitgeist.

One wonderful sketch features a driver (Jan Caruana) intensely frustrated with a border crossing guard (Nigel Downer). The majority of Torontonians seem to have a funny story about discretely indulging in shopping sprees abroad or hiding beer in the trunk, so this is remarkably relatable material. Next time you and your partner drive to the United States and they ask if you have anything to declare, perhaps you should test out the following line as your response: “Yes, officer, our love.”

While it’s easy to bond over stories about crossing the border, few local experiences compare to encounters with sketchy people on the TTC. Another sketch effectively pokes fun at how single people can potentially find love amidst all the smelly commuters. Through interactions that gradually become flirtatious, a man’s efforts to sit in the seat a woman reserves for her purse eventually lead to a make-out session on public transit. Local newspapers are filled with stories of missed connections, so theirs is perfectly suitable for a dating story about Generation Y’s hook-up culture.

Continue Reading

March 24, 2013 by

Free Family Fun at Ashkenaz Festival

Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre and theatre seem inseparable because TheatreKids was my first foray into arts camps, where I played one of ‘The Women in Blue’, among other roles. I loved doing activities on the waterfront and I daydreamed about larger events happening on their multiple outdoor stages.

Today marks the first day of the ninth biennial Ashkenaz Festival celebrating local talent while engaging Toronto’s Jewish community. The event ultimately caters to anyone open to learning about multiculturalism, especially artsy premiere-hungry folk anxiously counting down to TIFF.

If you’re heading out-of-town for Labour Day weekend, then stop by Indigo Manulife on Bloor to hear and see the North American premiere of OPA! on Thursday. Any event at Indigo is a fabulous way to spend your lunch break, especially one filled with lively music!

I suspect a major Festival highlight will be Sharon and Bram performing such hits as ‘Skinnamarink’. You can catch them at Harbourfront’s Redpath Stage on September 2 in front of a huge nostalgic crowd. And people wonder why I still love elephants…

Also, if hype surrounding snacks at The Ex is making you hungry, you may want to hear about food from award-winning author Michael Wex on September 3. The talk is free, so you can save your cash for a treat at Aroma afterwards.

Check out the Ashkenaz Festival’s full schedule to decide where and when you’ll be playing Jewish geography this weekend.

August 28, 2012 by

Smile and Share

Noticed a lot of blue and white lately? It’s probably because The Hospital for Sick Children’s SickKids Foundation launched their ‘Doing the Happy’ campaign – a great way to jumpstart the joyful season that is summer.

The excitement surrounding the campaign validates Globe writer Simon Houpt’s observations about what made the KONY 2012 video go viral. “Everyone loves kids,” he wrote.

Influencer engagement has been all the rage for a few years now, but tapping recognizable Canadian media personalities provides a nationalistic undertone, which helps enlist support. Though I couldn’t help but notice a slant toward featuring broadcast journalists from Bell Media, it was refreshing to see actors such as Ashley Leggat, whom I hadn’t seen since Toronto’s production of Dirty Dancing.

Houpt also urged marketers not to underestimate people’s attention spans. I predict that the campaign’s combination of a fun premise, worthy cause and clean visuals will lead to many more views for their 4+ minute long video.

Doing the Happy isn’t the only neat thing SickKids is doing in the digital space. Cundari recently developed a fantastic iPhone app that engages young patients. Through gamification, the app encourages kids to fill out pain diaries and report which medications are working best.

May 12, 2012 by

Studies in Motion on the Stage and Screen

The following is a response to Canadian Stage’s production of Studies in Motion, in collaboration with Electric Company. In this thought provoking show, director Kim Collier explores filmmaker extraordinaire Eadward Muybridge’s accomplishments as one of the first people to capture movement with a camera.

Muybridge is known as the father of cinema, so we all have much to learn from him. Google him if you’re interested in learning more about his discoveries.

Here are some tips to take away from the play, which should be of interest to those who were stuck writing exams and couldn’t make it to a theatre recently. Canadian Stage aims to present the best in Canadian contemporary theatre, so they’re definitely worth keeping an eye on.

How to Produce a Memorable Show

Take the time to select a good soundtrack, regardless of what the show’s running time may be. Everything makes a difference and adds to the production value. It also makes hearing about someone’s life story more entertaining.

Create dynamic stage pictures. The entire show’s choreography proves why lessons involving tableau-making are essential for a successful acting career. Kudos to the talented cast.

When producing a play set a century in the past, choreograph chorus members to act as if they are the horses carrying an orphan boy in a buggy. Not just any ordinary boy, but one who has been misled about the differences between a famous photographer and an omniscient religious figure because this makes for great comedic relief.

Assemble a cast of men and women who are willing to disrobe within seconds according to the script’s stage directions and parade across the stage in the nude.

You can maintain audiences’ interest by making them curious about just how much nudity will be in each scene. An audience advisory is one thing, but there’s always room for surprises. There’s a reason The Globe and Mail’s review is entitled ‘The Naked Truth about Eadward Muybridge’, as it’s very telling about what patrons could expect: a revealing tell all that’s not very kid-friendly.

Continue Reading

December 19, 2010 by