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Queer Acts review

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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Queer Acts review Taking a SPIN through history

Multimedia show engages and entertains

Posted by Kate Watson on Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 9:44 AM

All you would-be film makers need to see SPIN, for it contains the fascinating, dying-for-a-cinematic-treatment story of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to bike around the world. (Start working on a script!) Oh, and everyone else should go to this show, too, just because it’s an interesting, entertaining and ultimately enlightening ninety minutes. Evalyn Parry has brought together quirky musical numbers (accompanied by an eclectic mix of instruments, including a bicycle wired for sound), some fantastic spoken word pieces, projections (which malfunctioned slightly on opening night but will likely have received a tune-up by now) and engrossing story telling. I was tickled by the word play—-things like the double meaning of the “chains” of the mall—-and delighted by the stimulating conglomeration of ideas. Cyclists will rejoice in this celebration of the bike, and non-cyclists might even be tempted to give two-wheeling a whirl.

Neptune Studio Theatre
8:00pm July 19-21

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Queer Acts review Dressing up Naked doesn’t add much

Fringe play rewritten and restaged

Posted by Kate Watson on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 4:20 PM

When I first wrote about the 2010 Fringe production of Naked, I described the 20-minute vignette about a self-absorbed young girl and a hard working maid as “light as a soap bubble” and “a short, snappy theatre confection”. Since then, playwright Lisa Rose Snow (who also stars in the production along with Stephanie MacDonald) has extended the piece to 60 minutes by adding some video scenes and a second act. Unfortunately, the character and mannerisms of the petulant, agoraphobic rich girl becomes tiresome very quickly. I held out hope that she would change or grow with the added material, but that was not the case. Ultimately, this play delivers the depth of a sitz bath, rather than a claw-footed tub.

The Bus Stop Theatre
9:30pm July 18-20
8:00pm July 21-22

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Queer Acts review El Camino or the Field of Stars

Man does show—-lovely, memorable, inspiring show

Posted by Kate Watson on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 3:10 PM

Sometimes theatre is a thing that plays out in front of you on a stage, and sometimes, if you’re very lucky, it’s a thing that involves you and draws you in to its world. This one-man show, directed by Christian Barry and written and performed by Stewart Legere, is definitely, irrefutably the latter. From the moment Legere steps on to the stage, you like him, (and, oddly, want him to like you). You will him to succeed when he stumbles. You laugh at his jokes, funny or not. Above all, you want to know his story, and you follow him eagerly on what is ultimately a winding journey that has oodles to say about love and acceptance.

The Bus Stop Theatre
8:00pm July 18-20
6:30pm July 21-22

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Theatre Review / Queer Acts review Big in Germany is so-so in Halifax

Suspend disbelief, and this amusing little play offers some laughs

Posted by Kate Watson on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 2:31 PM

I wanted to like Big in Germany, but I found myself poking holes in the plot from the get-go. How come Alex (played by the show’s writer/director Rob Salerno) supposedly doesn’t realize is best friend Bruce (Eric Miinch) is gay, when it’s spelled out in the first scene? Why, when we never see any indication of musical talent, would this pair of would-be rock stars be big anywhere, including Germany? Why isn’t Bruce angrier at Alex for losing a MILLION dollars? Why does everything get tied up with such a neat little bow at the end? The theatrical waters may not be deep, but there is quite a bit of redeeming humour—-particularly if you know Toronto and 90’s bands—-and all three actors (including Daniel Pagett who plays a variety of supporting roles) have a winsome appeal. If you like your theatre short and sweet (with added porny bits), you’ll like this show.

The Bus Stop Theatre
6:30pm July 18-20
9:30pm July 21-22

Tickets- $15 each. Advance, Students, Seniors, and Underwaged- $12
Festival passes available for $40

Tickets for all performances are available for purchase at neptunetheatre.com, by calling 429-7070, or at the door.