Mirvish 2009 / 2010 — Page 8

Anybody going to Stuff Happens at the Royal Alex? I'm going later this week.

Just received an e-mail from Mirvish saying that the pre-show talks for Stuff Happens have been cancelled.

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Saw Stuff Happens this week. While fictional, the play tries to stick to the facts and uses a lot of documented words and speeches from the people involved. Quite interesting and detailed, although at times the more fictional aspects (monologues by characters like "a journalist" or "a Palestinian", for example) were more thought-provoking.

Cast was solid all around. Quite liked Karen Robinson's Condoleeza Rice, as a woman who always keeps her emotions in check, Andrew Gillies's Tony Blair, loyal, trusting and wanting to right (even if he was wrong), and Nigel Shawn Williams's Colin Powell, as noble and honorable, but who, like a good soldier, ultimately defers to his superiors and reports on the "facts" of WMDs to the U.N. (I think I would like to see a play just about him--there's something of the Shakespearian tragic hero about him.)

Liked some of the funny zingers added levity to the subject (like Donald Rumsfeld saying "I could eat a baby through the bars of a crib" or Tony Blair saying of U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix "Blix is running around Mesopotamia like Hercule Poirot").

At times, though, the play can be a bit dry (like a political news report), and don't see it being a big hit. The subscription crowd and political junkies may fill the seats, but I think the show may be of less interest to the broader audience.

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Nestruck in the Globe: What has been going on with Mirvish opening nights?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/theatre/what-has-been-going-on-with-mirvish-opening-nights/article1375068/

Glenn Sumi in Now: Media finally get their invite to the Wedding
http://www.nowtoronto.com/daily/story.cfm?content=172508

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Updated On: 11/24/09 at 09:48 AM

I, too, noticed plenty of empty seats in the orchestra level (Stuff Happens), but at intermission I went up to the Upper Balcony and there were plenty of people up there. So I think there is an interest in the play, but (a) it's a re-staging of a production of last year, and (b) it's at much higher prices. The $65-85 top ticket price is too much for many people, esp. in this economy, so they're opting for the cheap seats.

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Although I've seen the movie version a number of times and am familiar with much of the music, I had never actually seen Fiddler on the Roof on stage before. This production was perfectly decent, although nothing really outstanding or new about the design, lighting, direction, performances, etc. You can see why it's a classic, though: funny, touching, great songs.

Harvey Fierstein has a wonderfully likeable stage persona, well-suited to Tevye. He handles the comic bits like a pro, and was respectable in the more touching moments. The audience (mostly seniors at the Wed. mat.) seemed to like him a lot--at least from the comments I overheard during and after the show.

And somehow having Fierstein in the show also gives a second meaning to the concept of the "traditional marriage" that Tevye's daughters rebel against. Where the notion of a "love" marriage or a marriage outside the faith was shocking then (the latter being so devastating that Tevye disowns his own daughter), it's commonplace now. Having one of the most famous gay actors of the stage in this show brings to mind the issue of same-sex marriage that some say threatens "traditional marriage." But hasn't "traditional marriage" already changed since the days when an arranged marriage was the norm? Isn't a "love" marriage (of whatever kind) the norm now?

Edit to add: The show seemed to be pretty much sold out, with people sitting up to the rear of the balcony. There were also some student groups in the balcony. It was nice to see young people at the theatre; I hope they enjoyed the show and were suitably surprised that there was a time when your parents told you who you would marry. Interesting how the student crowd was quite ethnically diverse, whereas the adult part of the audience was not. In the orchestra level, I was one of only a handful of "people of colour" in the crowd.

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Updated On: 12/16/09 at 10:37 PM

Good interview with Harvey Fierstein on Jian Gomeshi's show, Q (Dec. 18/09).

http://www.cbc.ca/q/pastepisodes.html

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Is anybody going to Mirvish's production of Caryl Churchill's Cloud 9? I re-read that play over the holidays. I had forgotten how funny it was, how confounding. With some Ortonesque sexual mischief, and Churchillian gender politics, it's rather brave of Mirvish to put this on at the Panasonic--after the relatively benign and mainstream My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding. Excellent cast.

There's a good website for the show, which is being updated regularly with photos, video, interview and blog-like posts about rehearsals and stuff. I haven't bought my tickets yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to this show.

http://www.cloud9toronto.com/

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Great pics of Cloud 9. I'm going next week.

https://toronto.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Flash_Production_Photos_of_Mirvish_Productions_CLOUD_9_Runs_119221_20100120

The show has a nice website, too.

https://www.cloud9toronto.com/

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At a glance it is a very intriguing image, so thanks for posting it! Before I read your post I actually thought it was some sort of redux of Stuff Happens.

Having actually seen Stuff Happens though, I can say that the design elements are different. All about clean, sharp lines, crisp lighting, monochromatic scheme, etc.

According to the lastest E-STAGE newsletter, Burn the Floor is headed north to Toronto playing the Canon Theatre from April 22nd through May 1st.

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"From Harlem's hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, Burn the Floor takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance! The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of the Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble - audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep and Swing.

Burn the Floor - it's Ballroom. Reinvented."

Featuring Anya Garnis & Pasha Kovalev and Karen Hauer & Artem Chigyvintsev from the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance, the international dance sensation Burn the Floor visits Toronto direct from its record-breaking run on Broadway! You've seen ballroom dance on shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. Now, with Burn the Floor, you will feel, live on stage, all the passion, the drama and the sizzling excitement of 20 gorgeous champion dancers, in a true theatrical experience, a performance with a grace and athleticism that The New York Times calls, "Dazzling!" It's happening at the Canon Theatre from April 22 through May 1... and best of all, e-Stagers save 20% off regular ticket prices on selected performances Thursday, April 22 through the matinee of Wednesday, April 28! The only catch is that you must place your ticket order by Feb. 12.

Want in on this? Tickets are on sale right now, by phone at 416.872.1212 or 1.800.461.3333, or online at ticketking.com. All you have to do is quote the e-Stager's secret promotional code CHACHA.

Discount offer is valid for the following performances listed, April 22 - 28 only. Thursday, April 22 - 7pm;Friday, April 23 - 8pm; Sunday, April 25 - 2pm; Sunday, April 25 - 7pm; Tuesday, April 27 - 8pm and Wednesday April 28 - 2pm. Not available on Saturday April 24. Orders must be received before midnight, Feb. 12. Not applicable to previously purchased tickets. May not be combined with any other offer. Not available at the box office. May be withdrawn at any time, without notice. Not valid on premium seating. Telephone and internet sales subject to regular service charges. All prices in Canadian dollars. Prices include applicable tax and CIF.

Mirvish.com: Burn the Floor

Updated On: 2/2/10 at 03:53 PM

I saw "Little House on the Prarie" last night. A really good cast, with really good voices, trapped in a musical that is as dry as dust; it never gets off the ground. They tried so hard!

According to Variety, it played to 38% and 40% of its gross potential the past two weeks, so yes, I think it was worn out its welcome in TO...

saw the show last sat and i would say it was 3/4 full. sets are at a minimum. donna played by michelle dawson is quite weak through most of the first act but improves in the second. its still a great night of fun.