by Colin Thomas | Dec 9, 2017 | Review
In The Realistic Joneses, playwright Will Eno behaves like a compassionate—and funny—palliative care nurse. In the play, Pony and John Jones have just moved in next door to Jennifer and Bob Jones. Now they all live in the same small town. Bob has a degenerative...
by Colin Thomas | Dec 2, 2017 | Review
Every year, when I go to the East Van Panto, simply walking into the York Theatre is one of my favourite parts. Because of all of the kids in the audience, life suddenly becomes like bubble tea: sweet and devil-may-care. This year’s panto, Snow White & the Seven...
by Colin Thomas | Oct 23, 2017 | Review
I have no doubt that writer and performer Dipti Mehta’s heart is in the right place, but she’s not a great storyteller. In her solo show, Honour: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan, Mehta introduces us to Rani, whose mother, Chameli, is a sex worker in Mumbai’s “Fuck...
by Colin Thomas | Oct 5, 2017 | Review
There are exquisite elements in 1 Hour Photo. There are also significant problems with the storytelling. For almost its entire length, 1 Hour Photo doesn’t seem to know what it’s about. Writer Tetsuro Shigematsu, who performs the show with musician Steve Charles,...
by Colin Thomas | Oct 4, 2017 | Review
Make no mistake: Christina Rossetti’s poem, Goblin Market, which was published in 1862 and which inspired this circus performance, is about sex. At twilight, sisters Laura and Lizzie are tempted by goblin men, who offer to sell them fruit. At first, Laura demurs: “We...
