CsnStage - Someone Else

Not for the faint of heart, this show is quite graphic at times, displaying the full level of frustration and animosity that can only be experienced by two people who have been married for many years, suddenly faced with a new and suspicious relationship by one spouse. Seemingly innocent, but not quite transparent, so hinting at something to hide. Layer this with each person dealing with their own demons, not able to fully support the other, and they begin to contaminate the nature of those around them. As the play progresses you wonder whether there will be redemption or at least a release from their torment. It makes for compelling watching to the very end.

While it was a bit long, at almost 2 hours with no intermission, and some of the parts didn't quite connect, I enjoyed the play. The sparse stage and clever use of simple doors as props, was very effective.

All of the actors stood out in their incredible ability to genuinely portray the raw emotions called for in this piece, but special mention has to be made to the outstanding performance of Bahia Watson, who played the young and deeply disturbed patient.

Board of Trade - 125th Annual Dinner

It was quite the gala affair, in celebration of the Board of Trade's 125th Anniversary. From the stirring vocals of Jarvis Church to the glitz and glamour of the room, I was very impressed. Who knew the Metro Toronto Convention Center could be dressed up like that.

I was not so impressed with the behavior of the many attendees. There was a constant, not so dim, roar of conversation, throughout the Board Chair and CEO remarks, making it very clear that few were paying attention.

The inaugural Toronto Region Builder Award, recognizing leaders who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Toronto is a great way to celebrate what is working well in this city and those that influence it. I look forward to hearing about future recipients.

Rick Waugh was the keynote speaker and was able to command the attention of the room. With his laid back nature and his wonderful little vignettes from his college or Winnipeg days woven in, his message of how Canadian business can rise to the challenges of tomorrow was eagerly absorbed by the attendees.

HRPA Conference

I attended a number of sessions at the HRPA conference, which were interesting and provided some good insights for challenges I expect to be facing in the coming year.

We struggle with finding enough content to fully use the three days so my department has taken to purchasing three passes and sharing them. While a bit of an administrative headache in coordinating the sessions and transferring the passes, it was a good way to give more people the opportunity to attend sessions of interest to them.

For the most part, the sessions seemed to be well received. Many were short (less than one hour) and the presenters did a good job of keeping the content very focused vs being too broad or general to be of any real benefit. Generally the speakers covered the key concept of his/her latest book, providing an opportunity to purchase it at the accompanying trade show (at a discount) if you wanted to delve deeper. I picked up two books for topics that were relevant to issues I would be tackling in the coming months. Many of my colleagues did the same.

While there is some debate as to the value of these high level sessions, I found the opportunity to network with my colleagues, to visit vendors at the trade show and discuss tools/processes/opportunities relevant to my current and upcoming projects, as well as have an opportunity to get an overview of the best new business books or current thinking, through the one hour sessions, was well worth the investment.

Scotiabank - Tributes 2012

One of the things that makes Scotiabank unique is the various ways it recognizes its people. Last night I attended the Tributes dinner, which celebrates employees who have reached significant milestones in years of service - 25, 30, 35, 45 and yes, even one person celebrating 55 years.

It was fun to wander through the crowd before the dinner, while cocktails were being served and group photos were being taken, to spot, chat with or reminisce with fellow "lifers". The number of people in the room was surprising - the large number of long tenured employees at Scotiabank is often remarked on by new employees - it must be a great place to work with that degree of loyalty!

After a lovely dinner and warm speeches by the head of HR and the CEO, the senior exec team took turns as each "lifer" had their 15 second of fame - called to the stage for a handshake or a hug, words of congratulation and a small token of appreciation.

Seeing so many people greeting each other across the room, and the high degree of recognition among presenter and recipients also speaks to the community and collaboration at Scotiabank - relationships are wide, deep and it is a big part of how we get the work done.

TIFF - End of Time

Let me begin by saying I am not a big fan of "art" films. I say that, because this film would definitely fall into this category.

I don't think the title is apt. This was not really a study of the end of time, but more a reflection on how we measure time, the passage of time and how time can shrink and stretch based on our perspective, priorities and frame of reference.

There were some beautiful moments, in particular the mesmerizing lava flow - I love how the filmmaker allowed this to stretch out so you could meditate with the flow and really experience the slowing of time. The mandala at the end was fascinating. There were interesting conversations about the passage of time, a techno dance scene reminiscent of the end of The Matrix, and many other memorable sequences.

While I jokingly suggested the title be changed to "Waste of Time", my three companions enjoyed the show and were somewhat bemused by my reaction, so you are on your own for deciding whether to see this film. Note: this film was selected by TIFF for one of the Top 10 Canadian contemporary films of 2012.

Mirvish - Wizard of Oz

Lots of children in the audience today - clearly a family favourite. My pre-teen daughter included.

It is ambitious to take on an iconic film, that people have loved and watched over and over, and hope to create a magical experience in the theatre that rivals this childhood favourite. If you are looking to recapture that experience, vs seeing a new or innovative take on the story, then you will not be disappointed.

I loved the show. It hit all the right marks, the casting was bang-on, the vocals were great, the score was not tampered with, the costumes were whimsical and fun, the sets were beautiful and creative and the staging was clever. There was nothing disappointing in this performance.

The only caveat I have is if you are looking for this experience to be different from the film, to be somehow enhanced through live theatre, you may be disappointed, as this production replicates the movie very well. If you are like me and are looking to relive the joy and emotion of the film, but on a grand stage vs a TV screen and, more importantly, share it with your children, then this does the trick.

TIFF - BOND 007 Exhibit

Long line-ups for this exhibit in its closing days. Lots of costumes, props, gadgets, etc. with film clips or stills showing them in the film. It was lots of fun to go through and see what you remembered, reflect on your favourite films, on the different characters that have played Bond over the years and the consistency of the franchise, even among these very different, but all debonair leading men. If you have time to spare, you can read all of the commentary and glean some interesting tidbits about the actors, the ideas behind the gadgets, etc. Depending on how much time you spend reading, you should expect to spend at least 45 min wandering through the exhibit. Definitely recommended for the Bond fans - it has motivated me to go back to the beginning and start to re-watch all of the films.

TIFF - Samsara

Absolutely wonderful film - the cinematography, the content, the variety, the perspective - all of it was wonderous to behold. Spanning over numerous countries, the filmmaker endeavored to show us the many faces of the world. I saw familiar people and places, magnificent ones I had heard of and ones I never knew existed. This is an incredibly creative and fascination film and I encourage you to see it. We brought our teens with us, who, to our disappointment, found it to be a little too "arty". I suspect they have been spending too much time with video games and anime over the holiday break ...........

Off Mirvish - Without You

A one person play, told in a narrative voice - this is Anthony Rapp's story, backed by an awesome five piece band who occupy an elevated platform at the back of the stage.

Tonio, as his mother endearingly referred to him, experienced a resurgence of his career, through the lead role in Rent. During this time period he also lived with heightened anxiety over his mother's health, as the cancer she beat years before returned. This is a bittersweet play, juxtaposing the excitement of Rent with the struggles of the characters in the play. We see why the play resonates so well for everyone, through the reflection of the real life challenges of the cast and writers/producers, their grief and personal dramas and the choices one makes for love.

As the second installment of the new Off Mirvish series, we were not disappointed and eagerly anticipate the next production.