Lauren Gienow - Page 9

The Stratford Festival officially opened its 64th Season with a frighteningly great (and greatly frightening) production of the Scottish Play. Director Antoni Cimolino brings us what is likely the darkest and grittiest play to grace the Festival Theatre stage in some time. This may be the eleventh time that Macbeth has graced the Stratford Festival stage, but this daring production feels fresh and new.

The touring company of JERSEY BOYS has made its current stop in Kitchener, Ontario at Centre in The Square. I had the opportunity to catch the first performance last night, and 'Oh What a Night' it was! This musical is clearly still going strong and the audience loved every moment of it.

The World Premiere of THE LAST WIFE, written by Kate Hennig and directed by Alan Dilworth, took place earlier this month at the Stratford Festival's Studio Theatre. BWW recently had the opportunity to see the show, and found it to present an intriguing combination of history, drama, humour and feminism. 

If you are looking for a good laugh, 17th Century-style, then look no further than this season's production of Ben Jonson's THE ALCHEMIST, currently on stage at the Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson theatre. What a riot! This production, directed by Artistic Director, Antoni Cimolino, had the audience in hysterics. The phenomenal cast committed fully to the hijinks, the costuming was spectacular, the stage and set was used very well, and the choice of music used to open each Act allowed for the play to feel fresh and new. All in all, this play was a great success.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST opened at the Stratford Festival's Festival Theatre on Friday night…and it hit a home run with the audience! Director, John Caird takes one of Shakespeare's earlier plays and makes it feel shiny and new. Assisting with this is an exceptional cast, captivating set design, and beautiful music-but what is truly on display is William Shakespeare's utter love of, and talent with the English language. He makes words and sounds fun, and that is particularly true in this play.

This season, audiences are being thrilled by a phenomenal production of OEDIPUS REX at the Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre to thunderous applause. Superb performances by all bolstered this production of the famous play by Sophocles to the top of my 'Must See' list for this season.

Stratford Festival's Production of POSSIBLE WORLDS, directed by Mitchell Cushman, opened at the Studio Theatre this week. I had the opportunity to see this play one day early, during its very last preview performance. I can assure you that this play is unlike anything else you will at the Stratford Festival this season. Thought-provoking, imaginative, and at times bizarre, this play may not be everyone's cup of tea, but anyone who sees it will certainly exit the theatre with an appreciation for the talented cast and crew who brought it to life. They will also likely find themselves thinking about it for the duration of the evening.

Shakespeare fans will be flocking to an exciting production of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW that is featured on the Festival Theatre stage at the Stratford Festival this season. Director Chris Abraham's recent contributions to the festival (particularly last season's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM) left patrons wondering what surprises he had up his sleeve for this production. Although SHREW was not altered nearly as much as MIDSUMMER was, Mr. Abraham certainly had fun with the first few scenes and also skillfully managed to find the right tone for what is one of Shakespeare's more unsettling comedies.

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER opened recently at Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre. As you watch it, it quickly becomes apparent as to why this play has withheld the test of time. Laugh out loud humour, beautiful set design, and an excellent cast make for an enjoyable evening (or matinee) at the theatre.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERICLES by William Shakespeare, and directed by Scott Wentworth, opened at Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre on Saturday night. Starring Evan Buliung as the title character, this production was moving and fun from beginning to end.

Stratford Festival's production of CAROUSEL opened on May 29th at the Avon Theatre. Despite an unsettling story with challenging themes, the performers in this production are able to rise to the challenge and present some of the finest song and dance that this stage has seen.

On Thursday May 29th, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK opened at the Stratford Festival. It was an honest, stunning production that featured beautiful performances by all involved.

If you happen to be coming to Stratford Festival looking for a show that makes you laugh, think, and question whether the human race is doomed-all in equal measure…then look no further than director Miles Potter's disturbingly delightful production of THE PHYSICISTS. If you did not know you were looking for a show that did those things to you…well, trust me. You are. Come see this show.

HAMLET opened the 63rd season of the Stratford Festival to resounding applause at the Festival Theatre on Monday night. Directed by the Festival's Artistic Director, Antoni Cimolino, this HAMLET is exciting from start to finish. The entire ensemble shines as brightly as the light used to represent King Hamlet's ghost (Note: It is a very bright light).

THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM, directed by Stratford Festival Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino opened to raucous laughter and thunderous applause Friday night at the Stratford Festival. With a cast like this, I would not expect anything less. This fun and thoughtful restoration comedy by George Farquhar, presents audiences with many players, harboring many talents... leading to many laughs. Needless to say, I suspect MANY tickets will be sold.

William Shakespeare's ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA opened on Thursday night at Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre. Last performed at the festival in 2003, this production stars Geraint Wyn Davies and Yanna McIntosh as the famed Roman General and Queen of Egypt, respectively. Directed by Gary Griffin, and featuring many stellar performances, Shakespeare's perspective of this historic relationship is brought to life.

From the moment the Stratford Festival production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: A CHAMBER PLAY begins, it is clear that it will be an experience unlike any production of 'Dream' you have ever seen before. In fact, it will likely be a new experience to most Stratford Festival audiences.

Following up on the success of last season's production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, the Stratford Festival is presenting another Noel Coward favourite this year. HAY FEVER recently opened at the Avon Theatre, and judging from the raucous laughter it produced from the opening night audience, it is likely to be a hit among theatre-goers this season.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical SOUTH PACIFIC (book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan) is currently playing at Drayton Entertainment's Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend, Ontario, under the direction (and choreography) of MICHAEL LICHTEFELD and it is an absolute delight!

Director CHRIS ABRAHAM's production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at the Festival Theatre is sure to be the most talked-about production at Stratford Festival this season. This, in itself is a huge feat, as this season is full of brave and exciting productions. Not all of the talk will be positive (though much of it will be), but it will all certainly be passionate!