Profile for Keira

It was definitely Talia Aaron in that role on Wednesday night. I thought she was good, although not as strong as Alysha. Never saw Lorin, so can't compare. Positive reviews are coming in: http://www.toronto.com/article/708630--review-beautiful-sound-bitter-fury-in-american-idiot http://www.blogto.com/theatre/2011/12/american_idiot_musical_a_hit_in_toronto/ http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2011/12/30/review-green-day%E2%80%99s-american-idiot-dancap/

Yeah, I think the sound issues were the culprit. It's the first time I've been to that theatre (I kept meaning to go see Jersey Boys there, but since it isn't downtown it was out of sight, out of mind), and I was actually pleasantly surprised by how small it seemed despite the seating capacity. At least compared to the Canon (or Ed Mirvish Theatre I think they're calling it now), which seems so cavernous to me. I'd rather be in the back row of this theatre than the Canon if I had to be. That ...

"the fact that theatre was around 2-3x larger than the St. James theatre made a difference. This kind of show should not be performed in a theatre with 2 levels of balconies." Although the St. James in NYC also has two balconies. The two theatres are actually very similar in size: St. James seats more than 1,600, and Toronto Centre for the Arts seats 1,850. I thought it was a great show overall! Van is perfection as Johnny, and Jake was very good as Will, especially acting-wise. Scott's Tunny...

Saw Hugh's show in Toronto and it was fantastic. He's an old-fashioned showman and really knows how to work a crowd. He got three standing ovations during the show itself, and of course at curtain call. I'd see it again in a heartbeat.

Saw the show last night and LOVED it. I can attest that the videos on YouTube do not do it justice. Josh Young's Judas was electrifying, and Paul Nolan's was terrific as Jesus. Bruce Dow's Herod was a show stopper, and Brent Carver is always great. I thought Chilina Kennedy did very well as Mary, but she didn't stand out as much to me as the other leads. Could just be the role, though. Lighting, staging and use of LCD screens were all very effective. I'd see this show again.

"I have to say that the video clips that Stratford has made available so far aren't too great and don't really capture the feeling of the show." I felt the same way about the clips from last year's Evita, also starring Josh Young and Chilina Kennedy. But live it was fantastic. Seeing this in a couple of weeks and can't wait.

Slightly OT but didn't want to start a new thread just for this question: Does anyone know the final running time? I can't seem to find it on the show's site or Ticketmaster.