Monthly Archives: July 2012

‘MISALLIANCE’, the plot – not the presentation Reply

Play, Theatre

Review by Danny Gaisin
  It’s axiomatic…one can’t do SHAW without doing Shaw; and this year- back for its decennial visit is GBS’s “MISALLIANCE”.
             The play deals with cross-breeding between social castes and is an attempt by the author to demonstrate Darwinism’s survival of the fittest theory. Dog lovers, that means that your mixed-breed will probably be smarter, better-behaved & live longer than its ‘expensive spread’ cousins. Same for kids!     Photo by David Cooper

Marriott & Rosling debating; Sanders -observing

More…

Some “TROUBLE in TAHITI” 1

Theatre

Review by Danny Gaisin
          Leonard Bernstein, like Hamlisch & ilk, was more than a little arrogant. His vanity piece –Trouble in Tahiti, something probably more suitable to a Fringe than a SHAW stage, is a mini-opera that peels away the patina layers to expose the under currents & realities that lie beneath an outwardly ‘normal’ married couple. Jay Turvey has assembled a talented cast but it is (with one exception) the chorus that makes TNT bearable.   Photo by David Cooper

Elodie Gillett & Mark Uhre, – untroubled at home

More…

♫RAGTIME ♪; Shaw’s Maxwell offers a new take Reply

Musical, Theatre

Review by Danny Gaisin
                Sixteen years ago, Garth Drabinsky staged way up in North York, a big-dollar presentation of the McNally/Flaherty/Ahrens musical about the last century’s first decade. Rumour has it that such an expensive undertaking was what financially killed Livent. The play looks at the turn-of-the-last century era from three different entities: – white, black and immigrant.   Photo courtesy of Emily Cooper

The 3 entities of RAGTIME

More…

“His Girl Friday”…a bannerline SHAW effort! Reply

Theatre

Review by Danny Gaisin
It’s quite understandable for this particular scribe to choose HIS GIRL FRIDAY as my first play enjoyed at this year’s SHAW. I grew up with a relative of Ben Hecht’s; my first job was newspaper associated; and finally, role reversal…I’m the ‘Hildy’ character to wife Terry’s editing ‘Walter!    *Photo courtesy of David Cooper*

“we scooped ‘em all!” Underhay & Campbell celebrate

More…

A taste of Puccini; courtesy of the N.A.O. 1

Concert, Opera

Review by Danny Gaisin
                Giacomo Puccini; he of the amazing operatic arias and an affinity for hyperbolic lyrics was the guest of last evening’s Brott Festival concert. The great man, (aka Aubrey Boothman) iterated the why’s & how’s behind two of his most popular works; then narrated the librettos for Tosca and Butterfly

Delaney,Segal,Yamazaki,Ramirez & PUCCINI!

. More…

Two local Fringe observations Reply

Theatre

Editor’s note: Last year our ARTS REVIEW executives made a value judgement to withdraw critical support of the Hamilton Fringe as we seriously doubted the professional level of its administrative Board. However, it is never been our mandate to restrict any of our columnists from attending any event they may wish to explore.  Therefore, the following …  Two Reviews by Tony Kilgannon

  “Lies, Damn Lies and Magic Tricks”
This writer LOVES a magic show. There is something very thrilling about being hoodwinked More…