[Image-1] The musty scent of an old, soggy mop that permeated The Bus Stop Theatre on Saturday evening didn’t dampen Brenden Sommerhalder’s mood as he anxiously awaited the arrival of guests. Sommerhalder was preparing to make an official announcement about his upcoming run for city council, which was prefaced by the one-off performance of the […]
Theatre
Posted inArts + Music
You just gotta Shrek yourself before you wreck yourself
The curtain rises on a young Shrek, bathed in the dazzling light of a crescent moon. According to the original song that his parents are singing, he is seven. And so are most of the people in the audience. Here, at the opening night of Shrek The Musical, I expected to see more jaded millennials—people […]
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How Little Charlie became Charles Manson
In the early 1960s, Charles Manson was just a young, petty criminal known as Little Charlie. By the summer of ’69, Manson had become an infamous cult leader responsible for inciting the brutal slayings of nine people. In between, he was incarcerated in the same Washington State prison as Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, a Canadian bank […]
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An encore for Atlantic Fringe Festival
The 25th Atlantic Fringe Festival back in September was a stellar affair, but if you missed it, don’t despair. Re-Fringed, a mini-festival featuring some of the most popular shows from AFF 2015, is coming to the Bus Stop Theatre March 23 through 26. The five shows which are being remounted represent a variety of theatrical […]
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Merritt’s privateers
Hosting the Merritt Awards is a familiar gig for local actor Marty Burt, but that doesn’t mean it’s a cakewalk. Burt, who returns to the podium for the fifth time for this celebration of the best in Nova Scotian theatre, says he walks a fine line. “When you’re roasting people who are your peers and […]
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Oppression, gossip and Hedda Gabler
There’s nothing warm and fuzzy about Hedda Gabler. In fact, the titular character in Ibsen’s 1890 drama about a spirited young woman trapped in a boring marriage is sly, cruel and totally self-involved. But according to actor Margaret Legere, that doesn’t mean the character is not relatable, and perhaps even a teensy bit likeable. “She […]
Posted inArts + Music
Oppression, gossip and Hedda Gabler
There’s nothing warm and fuzzy about Hedda Gabler. In fact, the titular character in Ibsen’s 1890 drama about a spirited young woman trapped in a boring marriage is sly, cruel and totally self-involved. But according to actor Margaret Legere, that doesn’t mean the character is not relatable, and perhaps even a teensy bit likeable. “She […]
Posted inArts + Music
Deerly beloved, Neptune’s Stag & Doe delivers on laughs
Weddings are meant to be a celebration of love, but all too often this sentiment gets hijacked by the pressures of delivering a “perfect day.” Neptune Theatre’s winter comedy Stag & Doe explores in a humorous and affectionate way the perils of losing focus on what really matters. The play opens in a community […]
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“We’re here and extremely queer”
“My mother calls it the gender frick show,” says local drag performer and Gender F_ck co-founder Rhett Slutler. Slutler’s saucy alter ego, Billie Coquette, will perform a “queerlesque” number at this Saturday’s Gender F_ck show at Menz and Mollyz Bar. The show also marks the infamous gay bar’s 11th anniversary. “I love burlesque but I’ve never […]
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Top 10 plays of 2015
A Good Death (DaPoPo Theatre) The fact that I’m still thinking about this play, the first of over 100 I saw in the past year, is a testament to its power and beauty. Kim Parkhill’s finely crafted script explores the emotionally fraught topic of assisted suicide. An impressive all-female cast and gorgeous production design. —KW […]
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A Year with Frog and Toad review: Jokes without croaks
A Year with Frog and Toad is a delightful family musical that follows two amphibious BFFs through four seasons. Together, the irascible Toad (Shane Carty) and the sweetly sincere Frog (Justin Goodhand) enjoy gentle adventures and explore what it means to be a true friend. And although this Year may be light on plot, it’s […]
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Black Dragon Mountain’s problems lead to understanding
Thanks to a play that has never been seen, Halifax’s theatre community has been called upon to take a hard look at how it can move towards cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in its theatres. Roy Ellis’ Black Dragon Mountain incited an impassioned discussion on social media when promotional materials went out showing non-Chinese actors in […]