Brought up from Broadway, this remount of West Side will impress all audiences, whether you've seen the show and film a hundred times or you've never even heard "I Feel Pretty." Unlike the original production, the Broadway remount, on now at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, features a delicate re-working of the famous dialogue and music to include a lot more Spanish. And considering that half the cast is supposed to be Puerto Rican, it's a great development from the original script. Kudos to director David Saint, who uses Tony Award®-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction for the tour. West Side Story purists my not appreciate hearing some of their favourite songs in Spanish, but it is well worth seeing. If nothing else you'll spend your evening marvelling at the choreography of Jerome Robbins'.
If three hours of love, gangs and ballet aren't your thing, then head on down to the Harbourfront Centre for the final show in their 2012 World Stage series. The Shipment, which we saw last night, is superb. Truly. I was skeptical that a Korean-American could really capture what it means to be black in America, (who knows how I'd know,) but wow was I wrong. Young Jean Lee may not be black but boy can she write a riveting show.
This is experimental theatre at its absolute best. The Shipment challenges the audience, makes them laugh and delights in a gripping ninety minutes of theatre. With a hugely talented triple threat cast The Shipment may be the best show we have seen all spring! You never know what is coming next. Some of the show's scenes are truly soul touching and haunting. Be advised The Shipment is not your grandma's show*. It is vulgar, confrontational and at times uncomfortable, but what else would you expect from a show about race. This is definitely one to see. Don't miss it during it's limited run at the Enwave Theatre. Click here for more info. The Shipment runs until May 12th.
For all you opera lovers out there, tonight is only the second night for the COC's final opera of the 2011/12 season. And we are hoping they have saved the best for last. Semele, the sensuous Handel opera is re-imagined in Zhang Huan's astonishing and provocatively playful stage direction. We have been looking forward to this for weeks. Semele runs until the 26th of May, and their is a special Ensemble Studio presentation of the opera on May 23rd. (More on that later.) We can't wait. Click here for tickets, and don't forget the COC has some of the best rush and young people discounts going, so don't miss it!
So get out there and see some shows already!
*Unless your grandmother is like mine or Justin's. They'd have loved it!
*Unless your grandmother is like mine or Justin's. They'd have loved it!
