Mending Fences in Hudson

Mending Fences by Norm Foster; Directed by: Andrew Johnston; Featuring: Paul Van Dyck (Drew, Young Drew, Young Harry), Bill Rowat (Harry, Harry's Father) and Melanie Doerr (Gin, Lori, Harry’s Mum); Playing at Hudson Theatre June 24th to July 11th.

Described as a sparkling comedy written and performed with wit and humanity. What happens when a son, estranged for 13 years, returns to his gruff and uncommunicative father. In Foster’s deft hands, histories are revealed, vulnerabilities laid bare, and laughter is always close at hand. This promises to be a refined piece of theatre that tugs at the heartstrings while it tickles the funny bones; rising above sentimentality to tell a genuinely interesting story.

A well cast ensemble is in good form, Van Dyke and Rowat are believable as father and son; Rowat and Melanie Doerr have great chemistry on stage and she delivers a show stopping monolog that garners well deserved applause from the audience. The actors play more than one character and with a minimalist approach using some minor costume and physical adjustments between characters that works well. One simple interior stage design serves the play well as a multiple purpose set for the entire play. Some rather rough yet sufficient lighting design changes also help to move the story from one period to another as this non-linear story unfolds. Seven (7) bean salad will never taste the same. GO C IT!

Theatre Train Events 2010: Three Theatre Train Events will be taking place this summer. Each Theatre Train Event is in conjunction with a separate live theatrical show: June 26th (Mending Fences), July 17th (Celebrity) and August 7th (Snake In The Grass).

Celebrity, by/de Peter Quilter July 15th - August 1st. Train date: July 17th - Show times 2:00pm and 5:30pm.

Snake in the Grass, by/de Alan Ayckbourn August 5th - August 22nd; Train date: August 7th - Show times 2:00pm and 5:30pm.

Experience a private return train ride from Montreal or Beaconsfield to the delightful charming village of Hudson. Relax, shop or dine at one of the many charming boutiques and restaurants. Then top your day off with a first-rate performance at the celebrated Hudson Village Theatre. Tickets are only available through the AMT (Montreal Metropolitan Transport Agency) AMT Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. You must call or email in order to purchase your tickets. There are no online purchasing options. AMT ticket phone line: 514-287-7866 AMT ticket email: escapadesentrain@amt.qc.ca Price: $55.00 per event (including taxes).

Box office: 450-458-5361 www.villagetheatre.ca

The Jazz Singer shimmies into the Segal Center.

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts presents the musical version of The Jazz Singer, a Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre production. The play that inspired the 1927 Hollywood film starring Al Jolson and that signaled the transition to sound films.

Segal Centre resident composer and lyricist, Elan Kunin, adapted the original 1925 play by Samson Raphaelson. The multi-talented Kunin wrote the music and lyrics and also plays the lead role in this world premiere of the musical version of The Jazz Singer, the story of a cantor’s son whose dream of making it big on Broadway challenges his father’s wishes. “The generational conflict between Old World traditions and American acculturation explored in The Jazz Singer still resonates strongly today....” says Bryna Wasserman, Artistic Director. "...An immensely talented design team brings our Yiddish production of this timeless piece to life, through the creative set design of John C. Dinning, first-rate musical direction by John Gilbert and stunning choreography by Jim White."

Director Bryna Wasserman blends community cultural theatre with a professional cast that includes some of Canada’s finest performers, as well as emerging talent from diverse cultural backgrounds, reflecting the Segal Centre’s mission to build intercultural bridges through the arts. The costumes by James Lavoie are outstanding and the stage design is magnificent with multiple set changes that include a revolving stage. The band of musicians are in great form and the tunes very timely remaining true to the times of the period yet still catchy. A very large cast, at times overcrowding the stage, belt out the songs with compassion as they dance along with great passion. The ensemble is well cast with stand out performances delivered by Elan Kunin, David Bushman, Nadia Verrucci, Lisa Rubin, and Chris Barillaro.

Playing June 6 to 27 to sold out houses this is a gem that you don't want to miss. Presented in Yiddish with translation into English and French. Most of the dialogue in in Yiddish however a lot of the musical lyrics remain in English. GO C IT!

Fringe Fried A Summary of Fringe XX 2010.

On Arts Notebook CINQ 102.3fm we conducted 12 interviews this season over 4 weeks:
- May 29th, Geoff Agombar Fringe Communications Director - preview and Fringe For All.
- June 5th, Shavirez, Jesus Jello, and Robby Who?
- June 13th, Fruitcake, Misadventures of a Massage Therapist, Third Time Lucky, & Wide Load.
- June 20th, A Trip to Coney Island, How Coyote Was Swallowed by the Sandia Mountains, Blind to Happiness, & Just Us in the Bed Room.

A summary of the 2010 Fringe XX blog reviews. The number of productions covered by the contingent of reviewers on the blog totaled 40, with 60 reviews: Dee Arr 20; Sylvester 15; Scooby Doo 12; Tin Tin 9; RaTaTa 4. Over 70% of the productions reviewed got a favorable rating of 3 cents to 5 cents. A Fingetastic positive average. Overall the comedies favored the highest and dance rated lowest.

1 cents = 3 / 6% 2 cents = 14 / 23% 3 cents = 14 / 23% 4 cents = 14 / 23% 5 cents = 15 / 25%

FUNDERSTORM - Fringe XX

FUNDERSTORM, Petit Campus, Venue #2. This show is SO GAY! Not in the sense youngsters have been using it these days, but because the play includes a naked guy, another masturbating under a blanket, the 4 guys playfully sharing their fears, with plenty of uncomfortable moments and sex faces! They are 4 cosmopolitans a few inches shy of 'Sex and the City'! They must be part of the new breed of sensitive straight men! The show made me laugh, like the young women beside me, the two of us making up most of the audience, but also uneasy. Was it because it was too intimate or too unrealistic ? 3 cents. TinTin

Just Us In The Bedroom - FRINGE XX

Just Us In The Bedroom @ Portuguese Association, Venue #7. By Just Us Producing - Canada, Iceland, Germany. Winners of the 2009 Spirit of the Fringe award. Invited to return as guests of the Fringe this season. The audience enters and the performance has already started, or has it. Much of what we see and hear is in a questionable and ambiguous reality. The two characters on stage, David and Beckky, are real people in a very unreal world. With a dream like quality and accompanied by a live musical cello instrument, they deliver a poetic text that is very abstract and absurdest; and much like in a dream, what goes on beneath the covers is unexplainable. It is not a comedy nor a drama but it is very experimental and a brave new work. 3 cents. Dee Arr

Jean et Beatrice - FRINGE XX

JEAN ET BEATRICE @ Mainline Theatre Venue #6. By Les Cousins Germains - France. This is an highly intense show with a highly beautiful intensity. Happily, the comical bits provided a balance that kept me from choking up. A woman feeling dry wants to find the recipe for love with a man feeling empty, raising the age old question: what's love? For her, it's first being interested, moved and then seduced, and that's exactly what this show does; it seduces the audience into loving it. That must be what love is, of this play anyway. A well balanced mix of excellent acting and seamless direction. 4 cents. TinTin

METEOR - FRINGE XX

METEOR @ Petit Campus Venue #2. When going to an improv show, I expect a lot of so-so sketches and very few gems. It's just part of 'the game'. METEOR was no exception to this trend, at least the show I attended. I really appreciated that the trio of actors remained dynamic throughout, even smirking, showing that they love what they do. It cannot be too selfindulgent, the audience has to also love and enjoy what they are watching. It makes the difference between an improv show that's fun and one that's really so-so to dull. The most fun was that we were provided with streamers to throw at the stage; My second throw crashed...much like a lot of what I saw at Meteor. 2 cents. TinTin

How Coyote Was Swallowed by the Sandia Mountains - Fringe XX

How Coyote Was Swallowed by the Sandia Mountains @ Espace 4001 (Geordie). By Crazy Going Slowly Players. Written by Anna Roth Trowbridge. Directed by Nathaniel Bryan. Featuring Nathan Bitton (Leo), and Alex Vincent (Scilla). A reincarnation of the honours thesis in Drama and Cognitive Science "A One Man Show or My Brother" (2009) that was originally mounted at McGill's Players' Theatre (see review earlier on this blog). It is part memory-play and part folk-tale. Scilla, Leo's kid sister, tries to learn about and tries to rationalize why her brother, who suffered from bi-polar disorder, left the cold reality of Montreal to end up killing himself in the mystified wilderness of New Mexico. She writes a play to connect with her memory of her brother and to better understand his untreated mental disorder. A struggle then ensues between sanity and insanity, a sister and a trickster, two playwrights that remember things very differently, and we see a story unfold through two very contrasting points of view.

From strictly a creative dramatic perspective there are still some important elements yet to be discovered and that remain undeveloped in this version. Getting out of the analytical brain and into the theatrical brain is always a challenge when dealing with this type of subject matter and from such technical sources. Taking bigger risks and pushing the envelope farther are what is needed to take this play over the creative precipice. However, a very well written, well staged and very well performed piece of important theatre. The movement and interpretation of Nathan Bitton capturing every nuance of his character Leo/Coyote felt very genuine and was quite intriguing. 4 cents. Dee Arr

The Duck Wife - FRINGE XX

The Duck Wife / La femme canard @ Tangente Venue #1. By Inertia Productions - Montreal. Brilliant! Manifique! A creative fusion of the elements of performance art melding them into one very moving and highly entertaining piece of bilingual theatre. Based on an Inuit myth as the tale unfolds about a hero in pursuit of his wife is brought vividly to life in an abstract with a touch of the absurd style, and yet with a thread of still subtle realistic fashion. Dance, live new age-rock music: both instruments and vocals, multimedia projections, eclectic colorful costumes, and powerful performances from a talented and agile ensemble make this production a sure fired hit. The 3 piece band on stage from Brooklyn, Grub Animal, known for their "new wave", hard core, rock styling fit right in interacting with the other performers, even getting into the act. Captivating from the first word uttered and the first move made to the last note played. Bravo! 5 cents. Dee Arr

Blind To Happiness - FRINGE XX

Blind To Happiness @ Espace 4001 (Geordie) Venue #3. By Maple Suroor Productions (Kuwait). Tim C. Murphy is not blind to creating thought provoking and intellectual theatre. A very original and intelligent play that one will enjoy more if you just sit back and trust the performer to make you happy. A solo performance that captivated my attention and that held my interest from the moment he set foot on stage. A creation of three separate very distinct and unique characters; One that is based on a true to life individual, and two that are imaginary. I applaud this type of solo play as opposed to the usual 'It's all about me.' dribble. It demonstrates true talent! 5 cents. Dee Arr

7 (x1) Samurai - FRINGE XX

7 (x1) Samurai @ MAI Venue #9. Written, directed, and performed by Davis Gaines, Arlington Virginia. David is like WOW! from the world of mime. Comes to us with incredible credentials and great reviews touting his best solo show in DC and Florida. How does one encapsulate a 3 1/2 hour movie into a 60 minute show? Somehow David accomplished this with humour and impeccable mime skill. However, I was just as bored here as I was watching the movie. If you loved the 7 Samurai then surely you'll love this. Scooby took a cat nap and couldn't wait for a fire hydrant break. There were lots and lots of laughs and cheers from the rest of the audience however. 5 cents (for the production) 1 cent (for the dialogue). Scobby Doo

Recess - FRINGE XX

Recess @ MAI Venue #9. By Keep It Movin' Productions. A high energy solo performance writen and performed by Una Aya Osato. Miss White a Bronx school teacher decides to let her students be taped on video with messages of hope for the Afro-American president Obama. Takes the audience into the hearts and minds of the children. Touching stories from the kids who have not got much to rely on or look forward to in their lives. Una plays all the characters and is amazing when switching from one to another with humor and tragedy, but above all a feel of reality that is deeply touching. 5 cents. Sylvester

Recess By Keep it Movin' Productions. A one woman multimedia show that rocked and moved me in ways that will stay with me for quite awhile. Una Aya Osato is a teacher from New York City and from her years of experience decided to write and perform this piece that is so very touching. She delightfully plays all the boys, girls, and adults that interchange from video to stage very smoothly. How misunderstood children can be and all the details of their precious and complicated lives in the Bronx weave a story that grabs you line after line and pulls you into feeling like your one of them in the playground. Children that are funny, energetic, and sad, each living through the experience of growing up in a world run by adults who end up being more affected by the children then they realize. A subtle yet powerful piece that reflects timelessly on the education system in ways that almost everyone can relate to. 5 cents. Scooby Doo

Heart Strings - FRINGE XX

Heart Strings @ La Chapelle Venue #10 By Tanya Elchuk & Amy Crnkovic - Thunder Bay. What is it is about clowning?... My heart cringes when I see people doing far to much of it and being much to loud and acting so over the top that I just want to yell back at them: "Take it easy, please!" This "acting" style is not for me and may or may not be for you too? The "story" was very predictable on top of it, with of course a happy ending. A surrealist romantic comedy about hearts in a box without instructions, the pain and the defeat, and oh yeh, the dispair too. In very proper English. 2 cents. Sylvester

La Parade Cachée - FRINGE XX

La Parade Cachée By La Feintse - Montreal. Hour Stage Venue #4. Written, directed and performed by Maude Bouchard. Music by Yana Ouellet. Leaving the play thinking "I didnt get it"; And apparently, I wasnt the only one; -It took quite a while before the audience started to applaud at the end. Probably because it felt unfinished. Significance of the title? -I don't even get what the title "Parade Cachée" (Hidden Parade) refers to after seeing the play? It would have been a good idea if the author had completed the puzzle for us. Nevertheless, it is still a nice exploration of emotions, well delivered performance, and supported by a good soundtrack. If you're in for a ride without a expecting to end in any specific destination, then it's a show for you. 2 cents. TinTin

Autant s'Emportent les Gens - FRINGE XX

Autant s'Emportent les Gens By Sur la coche - Montreal. Petit Campus Venue #2. I loved this show! I love most musicals and this one is also hilarious from start to finish. The actors all have great comical talent and good voices to match with the catchy tunes. The direction and choreography contribute to the sustained rhythm of the show. It's also fun that the action takes place here in Montreal; it makes us feel that much closer to the characters. I would like it to be made into a bigger and longer production, but maybe the pacing would suffer from it. Go find out what happens to the guy everyone confides in when he needs to confide in someone. 5 cents. TinTin

Les Quatre Petites Filles - FRINGE XX

Les Quatre Petites Filles By Pretium Doloris @ MAI Venue #9. At first, upon walking not knowing what to expect, it takes quite a while to realise what is going on?! The text delivered by the four little girls is just a series of words put together as a child would do to express some tall tale that only they can see in it's full extent. As they go deeper into the play and we get familiar with the children's world, we start feeling what their universe is about and what the little girls are going through. Beautiful visually as well. You'll want to leave your brain at the door and open your heart wide to live this oniric journey with them, and then leave with a lightness of foot and heart. 4 cents. RaTaTa

L'@mour2.com - FRINGE XX

L'@mour2.com @ MAI Venue #10. By Theatre Conversion / Belvedère - Ottawa. Cute show about dating web sites and how to handle or to not handle this phenomena. Although the gang is very young and not that experienced as actors, I appreciated the play a lot; it is well thought out and uses hilarious visuals from any dating site you can imagine (If you ever wanted to date a cowboy? It exists!) and covers all the do's and don'ts if you want to make it in the world of the digital discotheque. I left with a smile on my face. En francais. 3 cents. Sylvester

L'@mour2.com @ MAI Venue #10. By Theatre Conversion / Belvedère - Ottawa. "Dating web sites 101" That's what L'@MOUR2.COM should have been called because it's not really a show, it's an animated lecture, complete with slides of examples, statistics, etc. Problem is trying to fit the author's two years of research into 45 minutes. It results in slides you cant always read if you want to watch the young actors, or should I say, students - acting because they're okay but obvious novice beginners. In other words, not so much entertaining as it is interesting and very informative. 2 cents. TinTin

Afternoon Tea with Jane Austen - FRINGE XX

Afternoon Tea with Jane Austen @ Association Portuguaise Venue #7. By Orange Wine Productions - Montreal. Fans of Jane Austen, be on the alert! This is your chance to check your knowledge about the spirit behind such beloved stories like: Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility. With a promise to gain some insight into the famous author the play started out really well with Jane asking questions and interacting with the audience. Tali Brady has created a great character with an impeccably accurate accent. Unfortunately what brings the play down is the lack of direction; the blocking (staging) is very stiff and does not come any further than some basic minimal pacing including the grabbing of papers and books and sipping a cup of tea. I would like to have seen more movement integrated and would have loved to have seen much more dancing at the ball. Alas, Jane Austin remains a mystery. 2 cents. Sylvester

AFTERNOON TEA WITH JANE AUSTEN, Portuguesse Association Venue #7. Remember when you had to talk in front of the class in high school about your favorite author's life, dressed like him or her and with props? That's what the play feels like, but this student deserves an A+. I didn't read Jane Austen's novels but I've seen the screen adaptations and I was hoping to feel drawn into that universe here, and I got my wish. However, if you're not interested in Jane Austen, then it's not a show that'll win you over, but if you want to learn about her, it's a great way to do so. 3 cents. TinTin

Jesus Jello - FRINGE XX

Jesus Jello: The Miraculous Confection at the Freestanding Room Off-Venue #B. Written & co-directed by Joanne Sarazen, and co-directed by Lindsay Wilson. A stellar all star local cast in a talented ensemble featuring: Joseph Bembridge, Catherine Lemieux, George Bekiaris, Patrick Charron, Tristan D. Lalla, Joanna Noyes, Thomas Preece, and Emily Quaile. All are great and well cast in their roles; stand outs were Joseph Bembridge, Patrick Charron, and Catherine Lemieux who steals the show from the first note to the final tableau we can't take our eyes and ears off her. A clever very well written text, current yet with just the right measure of retro appeal. Costumes, and in particular the compact original set design are also both noteworthy. Get your 'Jesus Freak' on and giggle your jello over to the Freestanding Church and get a taste of this hilarious laugh out load bowl of delightfully inspirational confections. 4 cents. Dee Arr

Jesus Jello is miraculous. -Miles Wilson wakes up in his hospital bed after a mild concussion to behold the face of Jesus Christ in a bowl of lemon lime jello. This causes his family to embark upon a holy crusade of exploitation that gets the attention of a disenchanted gay couple, a recently widowed woman, and God almighty. "After all, who has a bigger God complex than God?" A wonderful incursion into the life's of men and women, into their despair and loneliness, and a gospel of a love over acceptance for the present we all share with one another. 4 cents. RaTaTa

Miss Sugarpuss Must Die - Fringe XX

Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! At MAI Venue #9. Lets hope she doesn't! What a wonderful show shootin' straight from the hip! And 'HIP' it is. Cute, curly, staggering all the way to the vaudeville stage, Miss Sugarpuss tells the tale of how she grew up into being the troubled Holly Gautier Frankel. Seems that through some difficulty, out of some life challenges, and coupled with sadness and a desire to empower her creativity, Miss Sugarpuss was born to ignite and set fire to Holly's heart and ass; -wigglin' it onto the Burlesque scene. The problem is, does she take up too much room and garner all the glamour while Holly fights to find her true self? Go see for yourself and find out who lives to tell the tale? Exquisite vocals, sex appeal, powerful dancing and shimmying: Holly's got it all and then some. Directed by Paul Van Dyke. 5 cents. Scooby Doo

Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! @ MAI Venue #9. By Tappyco Inc. -Montreal. Miss Sugarpuss is an amazing show with burlesque, songs, and a lot of humor, great costumes and even some booze. Great lighting design, and a wonderful performance by Holly Gauthier-Frankel. A touching story behind the scenes of the world of burlesque. I loved all of it! I am fan! Forever! 5 cents. Sylvester

Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! @ MAI Venue #9. By Tappyco Inc. -Montreal. Co-Written and performed by Holly Gauthier-Frankel. Co-Written and directed by Paul Van Dyck. Who would want to kill Miss Sugarpuss and why? Motive is always the key to finding the culprit. What do you do as an artist when the persona you create becomes more popular than the creator? Which one do the people who you love, love more? A solo variety performance of dance, song, and spoken word delivered by a larger than life character, or is it the artist that is the star...remains to be seen.
Winner of the Centaur English Theatre award at this season's Frankies, audience member and fans will get to see the show again or discover it for the first time. Great set, lighting, staging, and beautiful costumes. A delightful performance filled with plenty of sights and sounds for the eyes and ears. Burlesque lives on through Miss Sugarpuss, that's her name, what's yours? 4 cents Dee Arr