By Natalie Sit
Dating from the Boer War, Canada’s war artists took paintbrushes, pencils and cameras to the front to capture the military’s experiences. In 1993, Allan Harding McKay was the last war artist to go to war. He took a video camera to Somalia to record images of the Canadian soldiers during Operation: Somalia. While serving in… Continue reading Seeing through the eyes of war
By James Keller
The University of Calgary Department of Drama has departed from their usual fare, presenting Anton Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard.This production is different in two important aspects. First, it’s a modern piece-considered “a masterpiece of modern theatre” by some. Second, it’s a collaborative effort between the Department of Drama and the Department of Germanic, Slavic and… Continue reading Timeless characters in historic metaphor
By Natalie Sit
The concept of clowns going camping sounds very independent. However, actors Michael Kennard and John Turner, also known as Mump and Smoot, claim they are mainstream."We’ve been called mainstream for 12 years. All of that discussion is just discussion," explains Turner, who is disappointed that a story about Canadians with an off-Broadway show isn’t always… Continue reading Finding a home in a theatre wasteland
A certain irony occurs when tiny puppets perform a Viking saga like Beowulf. According to Steve Pearce, there are more similarities between the two than one might expect.“There’s something antiquated about puppets,” says Pearce, one of seven artistic directors and puppeteer with The Old Trout Puppet Workshop. “There’s something medieval about them.”According to him, puppets… Continue reading Centuries later, a foot shorter
In essence, Mollusc means a lazy lump. Yes, that’s the subject of the latest mainstage production on campus.This month, the University of Calgary Drama Department presents The Languid Lady; or, The Mollusc by Hubert Henry Davies, a comedy about an upper-class English woman whose comfortable life is turned upside-down when her brother comes to visit."It’s… Continue reading U of C’s lazy lump
Alberta Theatre Project’s annual PanCanadian playRites has many added attractions in the ATP lobby and on cement walkways near you.One of this year’s added pieces is Playz on the Plaza, a 10-minute musical created by mastermind Joe Slabe, who teaches at St. Francis High School. 27D Dunsinane Drive is a heartwarming story about a couple… Continue reading playRites gets bitten
Celebrating its 30th anniversary on the Calgary theatre scene this year, the Pumphouse Theatre will kick off 2002 with its ever-popular One-Act Play Festival."The big thing, to me, about the festival," says Joyce Doolittle, company founder and this year’s adjudicator, "is that it’s a wonderful showcase for young companies and young performers and directors who… Continue reading One-act in 30 years
The highlight of this year’s Alberta Theatre Projects playRites will be Eugene Stickland’s Midlife. It may be high praise for a play I haven’t seen, but as I keep telling everybody: it’s Eugene Stickland. ATP’s playwright-in-residence brought us the Governor General Award-nominated Some Assembly Required and A Guide to Mourning. His latest effort, Midlife, won’t… Continue reading Ego crisis hits ATP
Do you suffer from the knowledge that you are one of Mick Jagger’s illegitimate children? Are you having trouble dealing with it? Don’t worry, there’s help available at One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo.Co-produced by Crescent Moon Productions and OYR, Jumpin’ Jack is a solo production courtesy of Lyle Victor Albert. Albert plays Jack, a… Continue reading Jumpin’ jack flash’s bastard child
Perhaps you’ve never heard of Darren O’Donnell or his theatre company, Mammalian Diving Reflex. And perhaps you’ve never heard his play, White Mice. Yet, once you’ve encountered O’Donnell’s black comedy, you’ll have a hard time forgetting it.White Mice is not your average play. It’s the story of two white mice brothers who discover that they’ve… Continue reading Racism in a rodent’s eyes