CharPo's Real Theatre, January 20, 2012

Review: Ars Poetica

Noel Burton, Danielle Desormeaux, Elana Dunkleman

Carry Me Away!

Fundamental concepts of theatre are raised...especially in winter

by Gaëtan L. Charlebois

As I trudged through the ice-slush to get to tonight's opening of Arthur Holden's Ars Poetica, I realized I desperately needed a mood change. I didn't need to roar with laughter (I don't even expect comedies to do that - and Holden's piece is billed as a comedy). I needed what theatre does best: take me and those around me away, make me forget the here and now, put me in a head-place where ideas and visions and emotions swirl together.  Sure, a good laugh would be nice too, but all I wanted was theatre that was theatre and not TV, movies, radio or a book...or now.

First-Person: Tedi Tafel on Janvier

THOUGHTS ON JANVIER

I understand the body to be the site and the vehicle of direct experience, its active and open form continually receiving and responding to the world around it.

by Tedi Tafel

I am interested in exploring movement as an entranceway into the deeper layers of human experience. I create performances for public spaces because I believe that performance should exist in all kinds of settings, not only in theatres. I also do so as a poetic way of looking at how we interact with and are affected by our surroundings. For me, the language of movement is the perfect means to both navigate and express this interface. Perhaps it is the very ambiguity of gesture that so suits the articulation of this fluid and indeterminate exchange. My work has been shown in various urban and natural sites including a parking lot, a forest clearing, a rooftop, a winter cabin and a storefront.

CharPo's Picture of The Week, January 19, 2011

Insights: The Poster Design For Three Sisters

by Rosaura Guzman

The concept for the poster for Three Sisters, Anton Chekhov’s most famous play, arose from our discussions about the broken dreams of these educated women from the privileged classes in pre-revolutionary Russia.

Event: PWM's Sounding series (January 20)

(click on image to enlarge)

Three Penelopes, Three Directors

CharPo has lucked into first-person articles by three directors presenting the same work: Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad. Read the articles by director Kelly Thornton (Nightwood Theatre, Toronto), Vanessa Porteous (Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver) and Andrew Cuk (John Abbott College, Montreal) (photo, The Penelopes, l-r: Megan Follows, Nightwood, photo, Robert Popkin; Meg Roe, Arts Club, photo, David Cooper; Melanie Desjardins, John Abbott, photo, Kelly O'Toole)

Beyond Our Fourth Wall, January 18, 2012

Theatre…en français

by Estelle Rosen

Chaos ensues for friends away for a weekend to escape summer heat in the city.

Tristesse Animal Noir

Jan. 17 – Feb. 11 – Espace Go

Playwright Dennis Kelly examines our relationship with strangers who share our lifestyle.

Orphelins

To Feb. 18 - Grande Licorne

Vigil by Morris Panych will be presented in English with the same cast in March at Segal Centre as part of Montreal Highlights Festival.

Vigil  (ou le veilleur)

Jan. 31 – Mar. 3 Théatre du Rideau Vert

A historic saga 1608-1998 seen from different viewpoints.

Invention du chauffage Central en Nouvelle-France

Feb 7 – Mar. 8  Espace Libre

Review: Depflies

The strange and wondrous world of convenience

Dépflies Inaugurates a Serial Comedy

By Byron Toben

Welcome to the wonderful world of Dépflies.

A dép fly is one who hangs out at the local depanneur, something like the more well known bar fly. Depflies, which had a 3 day run Jan 12-14, is the opening salvo of a projected monthly serial involving the talented improv souls oft seen at Alain Mercieca's Theatre Ste. Catherine. While the feeling of episode one was improvisational, it was scripted by Mr. Mercieca, who also stars. This bilingual show did not need perfect command of both languages to understand the plot or jokes.

After Dark, January 17, 2012

The Touchy (Feely) Business of Theatre
A recent story makes one question the dynamics of theatre creation
by Gaëtan L. Charlebois

A story in the news, here in Montreal, has a lawsuit being initiated against a teacher (of theatre, among other courses) by an ex-student. Sex is involved. Most of the accusations are fairly unpleasant but it boils down to this: a person well-known in local theatre is accused of misusing his authority for purposes of attaining sex.

The Upstage Interview: Christopher Aitkens and Kayleigh Choiniere on Three Sisters

Moscow! Moscow!

Upstage Host Eric Sukhu spoke with actors Christopher Aitkens and Kayleigh Choiniere about the Dawson Theatre presentation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters. Below is an abridged version edited by Estelle Rosen, CharPo editor-in-chief.

UPSTAGE

Before we talk about the play, why did you decide to study theatre?

KAYLEIGH

I have been doing theatre all my life. Went to FACE high school so for me the only option was to be an actor. Couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

CHRISTOPHER

Pretty much the same. At a young age, I randomly memorized Hamlet not knowing what it was saying. I was about 9 years old. Had found it in a Calvin & Hobbes comic.