By Janice Tran
When audiences walk through the doors of the Martha Cohen Theatre and enter the world of Alberta Theatre Projects’ Enbridge playRites Festival they choose to escape reality. For a moment in time they open their minds to an entirely new perspective on life and maybe even themselves. Director Mansel Robinson’s entry in the festival, Picking… Continue reading Theatre Preview: Chekhov perfect escapism
By Ryan Pike
The mention of two guys and a girl in an apartment conjures up images of the short-lived and delightfully cliched ’90s sitcom, Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place. Time-warp back to the ’70s, make two of them ex-hippies and the other a draft-dodger and you’ll have a faint idea of what Hippies and… Continue reading Theatre Preview: No good commie hippies
Think of the most innovative filmmakers of the 20th century. Chances are, adjusting for cinephile credibility, most people’s lists are going to look similar, consisting almost exclusively of white, American men. The name Leni Riefenstahl, however, will probably be absent from most lists though she is more than deserving.The dancer-turned-actor-turned-director is responsible for some of… Continue reading Theatre Preview: No good arty Nazis
Most people celebrate their 20th birthdays by downing a bottle of fizz and turning the music up ’til the neighbours complain. Instead of burying their heads in the sand, the masterminds behind the Alberta Theatre Projects’ Enbridge playRites Festival are keeping their wits about them.The festival of new Canadian plays is celebrating the past 20… Continue reading Theatre Preview: playRites all grown up
By Janice Tran
Ten years ago, Ryan Gladstone was a fine arts student here at the University of Calgary studying drama. Fast-forward to the present and Gladstone is a well-established writer, performer, and director. In addition to these titles, Ryan, along with partner Bruce Horak, founded the drama group Monster Theatre, allowing them both to write and act… Continue reading Theatre Preview: A monstrous future
By Ryan Pike
Pajamas aren’t typically considered very exciting. The Bananas in Pajamas–the peak of pajamas as a form of entertainment–were pretty damn annoying. With their absurdist style of sketch comedy, the Pajama Men aim to be anything but typical. After performing in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, the United Kingdom and countless dates in the United States last year,… Continue reading Theatre preview: Theatre in your jammies
A difficult artist to define, Pablo Neruda’s poetry conjures up emotional and tangible images of human feeling and longing. Never shy to graphically describe physical or emotional intimacy, Neruda became known for verses like, “My savage peasant body ploughs through you and makes the son surge from the depths of the earth” and “My life… Continue reading Theatre Preview: Nude, poetic theatre
It’s during December in particular when people wish someone would come and save them from the cruelties of life. The month of December brings with it the pressure of exams, the stress of the holidays and the realization that another year has come and gone so fast that you didn’t have time to accomplish all… Continue reading Theatre Preview: A Wonderful Life
By Fiona McLay
The question is not whether Shakespearean studies needs feminism but whether feminism needs Shakespeare. Broad Minds Productions and The Shakespeare Company explore this as they present renowned feminist author Ann-Marie MacDonald’s play Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet. “This is definitely the story of a woman coming into her own,” says Coulter. “It was originally… Continue reading Theatre Preview: Talking feminism with Shakespeare
By Kyle Francis
The University of Calgary Department of Drama’s production of The Libertine is many things. It’s dark, it’s witty and it’s a lot of fun. It’s also grievously flawed. Directorial choices are clever, some of the performances are stirring and the dialogue is smart but all of its positive attributes are marred by a single poor… Continue reading Dastardly dreadful Dubnyk drags down drama