Soulpepper - Yellow Rabbit

Hmmm. Not an original story and not really well executed, but there were some interesting twists. The "husband and wife" played well off each other.

Theatre Passe Muraille - The Runner

lntense and rivetting, Gordon Rand really draws you into the story. The staging was incredibly creative, from amplifying anxiety to signifying moments of calm to feelings of isolation and more - surprising how effective it was. An experience not to be missed.

Canstage - Every Brilliant Thing

A poignant and touching story about hope and wonder. A desire to help someone dear becomes a magnificent project. The interesting use of the audience to deliver some of the messages was lost sometimes though, as they did not project, but I think we got through gist.

Crowsnest Theatre - What I Call Her

A powerful play about female abuse survivors, how the experience shapes them, and the impact of the reaction from others to their accusations. A strong and talented cast that drew us deeply into the emotions and the horror.

Tarragon - The Message

This complex show, by a very high calibre assemble, generated a lot of discussion on the way home. We didn't get all of it but we certainly agreed with how technology is contributing to a decline in thinking, as It has facilitated a culture where speed of knowledge transfer and quick decision making is prized.

Mirvish - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Willy and Charlie (Henry for our show) were outstanding, as were the oompah loompahs - so creative. The sets were not as elaborate as we are used to for Mirvish, with the elevator being the biggest disappointment. However, the score and the choreography was fantastic.

Crowsnest Theatre - Middletown

A suberbly presented picture of anytown, anywhere, with "normal" people. While benign lives and stories it nonetheless generated a level of tension around expectations from what might be coming up. The scene changes were very clever and the astronaut segment was particularly clever and beautiful.