Playwright Bethany Lake has packed a lot into an hour. A Healthy War is chock-a-block full of romance, politics, religion, history and violence. A Healthy War tells the story of a young Irishman named Diarmuid (Sean Skerry) who comes to Halifax in 1916 carrying a shameful secret. He finds work on the docks with a […]
Kate Watson
Fall preview 2013
Make it a fall of YES with events, festivals, exhibits, concerts, productions and showcases in music, theatre, dance, comedy, literature, visual arts, film. You don’t have to choose, you just need a good command of Google calendars and a willingness to become your best culturally-enriched self. We believe in you. CLICK HERE for your full […]
The Coast’s Fall Preview 2013: Dance & Theatre
DaPoPo Theatre’s Live-In October 1- 31 at The Living Room, 2353 Agricola Street dapopolivein2013.blogspot.ca Five years ago, the members of DaPoPo Theatre hatched a clever idea for financing rehearsal space. Why not book the TNS Living Room theatre on Agricola for an entire month, rehearse during the day and host paid performances and readings at […]
Steel Magnolias
It’s been 26 years since Steel Magnolias made its stage debut, and while a lot has changed since then (particularly in the management of diabetes, which is germane to the story), it still shines as a tender and funny tribute to the power of female friendship. The play features six women: Truvy (Debora Pollock), the […]
White Rabbit, Red Rabbit
White Rabbit, Red Rabbit is an uncomfortable experience, for both the actor (Jackie Torrens in this case, but a different one every night), and the viewers, all of whom are called upon to be active participants. With no director, minimal set, a previously unseen and unrehearsed script plus an embargo on what can be revealed, […]
The Comedy of Errors’ twins for the win
The Neptune Theatre production of The Comedy of Errors is set on a Greek Island in 1974, and according to Mauralea Austin, the details are just right. “I travelled in Greece in the ‘70s,” recalls Austin, who is playing the parts of the gruff maid Nell and the upright Abbess Amelia. “I lived in those […]
Compañía Azul flames on with flamenco
Flamenco. It’s a centuries-old art form that has its roots in southern Spain where Andalusian Gypsies first used solo voice, and later added guitar and dance, to express the pain of persecution. It’s also a wonderful medium for telling stories of all kinds, says Dan MacNeil, guitarist and composer with the Halifax-based flamenco troupe Compañía […]
Day 11!
What a fantastic year at the Atlantic Fringe! Happy patrons. Happy artists. Shattered records. In fact, the festival reportedly made $68,727 in box office, a 31% increase over 2012. This year also set a new attendance record of 11,600 people. That’s 24% higher than last year. And the top 5 shows based on attendance are: […]
Day 10 of the Fringe
Monument Valley by Stewart Delo Despite the fact that Monument Valley is a dark comedy thriller in need of more laughs and more action, there’s a kernel of something fascinating in its plot and writing style. Jessica Pellerin plays a a surprisingly likeable killer-for-hire named May sent to dispatch a weakened old lady (Jozel Bennett). […]
Day 9 at the Fringe
For anyone who’s counting, it appears my Fringe binge has had two “Day 6’s” and no “Day 8”. You may blame this on a temporal disturbance, time/space dissonance or whatever fringey convention works best. Invasion: A Musical by Steven Heisler I gave this show a standing ovation. Anyone who knows me, will know I’m pretty […]
Fringe Binge Day 7
Love in the Time of Time Machines by Ned Petrie and David Tichauer Would you choose to fall in love, knowing for certain that it would end in heartache? That’s the question that Bingo-supply salesman Klein (Ned Petrie) asks himself when his girlfriend Gabrielle (Gillian English) tells him their five-year relationship is over. For Klein, […]
Day 6 at the Fringe
Down for the Count by James Boyer James Boyer writes middle-aged women very well. In his short play Down for the Count , he manages to celebrate both the power and confidence that can be gained with age while also recognizing the vulnerability that comes with realizing there are fewer days ahead than behind. The […]

