Tribute to Houdini at Windsor Comedy Club

We had an amazing turnout for our first Proshow event with Windsor Comedy Club, a hot spot here in downtown Windsor, where you'll often find comedians from all walks of life, hitting the stage each and every week to perform with or without a brewski in hand. 

Getting the creative juices flowing, why not offer something a little different this time to adult patrons and see what a little magic can do. 

What's that saying, team work makes the dream work? It sure does.

And so we introduced Out of the Box - A Tribute to Houdini and brought our friends, Silk Echos, along for the ride to open up the show and share their beautiful voices with the crowd. Nothing better than collaborating with local performers.

🎩"Out of the Box" A Tribute to Houdini! 🎩

Prepare to be mesmerized and enchanted at "Out of the Box," an extraordinary tribute to the legendary magician, Harry Houdini. Join us on Sunday, March 24th, 2024 to celebrate Houdini's 150th birthday, at Windsor Comedy Club for an unforgettable evening of wonder and awe.

🌟 Featuring Illusions by Bill Nuvo - Unusually Entertaining 🌟

Experience the magic firsthand as illusionist extraordinaire, Bill Nuvo, takes center stage to weave a spellbinding tapestry of mystery and intrigue. With his uncanny skills and mind-bending illusions, Nuvo will leave you on the edge of your seat, questioning reality itself.

🎵 Musical Guest: Silk Echos 🎵

Enhancing the enchantment, we are thrilled to present musical guest Silk Echos, whose soulful melodies and captivating rhythms will add an extra layer of magic to the evening. Let the music transport you to another realm as you immerse yourself in the ambiance of this mystical tribute.

Video highlights to enjoy:

After great feedback on the show, there's going to be more excitement to come. Thanks for all your support! 

💜A special shoutout to 519 Magazine for a great interview with Bill. You can read that here

 

Social Links:

💜Windsor Comedy Club

💜Silk Echos

💜Nuvo Entertainment

Sports OHL: Windsor Spitfires VS Sudbury Wolves

It's been quite a while since we've seen a live hockey game and so a spontaneous outing at the WFCU seeing The Spitfires take on the Sudbury Wolves happened, thanks to our friends at 519 Magazine. 

Game has started!

Overall, it was quite a game! There was plenty of action on the ice.  I have to say that I prefer watching sports really of any kind in-person as opposed to on tv. I love to feel the energy of the crowd and witness all the moments as they happen, not in a replay.  

The most surprising part was that last minute on the clock, as in any game, you never know sometimes what is going to happen. It might have had the boys going into overtime!  Fortunately, Windsor Spitfires came out with another win. The final score was 5-4 against the Sudbury Wolves!

*Video below - Captured a great banner raising ceremonial moment at the start here for the Spitfires team.

Click the Play Button to go to Youtube.

💜Official Windsor Spitfires Site: https://windsorspitfires.com

💜Upcoming events: https://wfcu-centre.com/events/

The Giggle Mat: 519 Magazine 3rd Anniversary Edition!

🌈 The Giggle Mat is featured in the special 3rd Anniversary of 519 Magazine on page 4 & 9!

Our ad! #yqg

Thank you for all the support - our next episode Let's Get Pets! - will air July 1st, 2021, so you won't want to miss that one. 

💜 Join us on The Giggle Mat Facebook page

💜 Your fix for all music & entertainment: 519 Magazine 

Movie Review: Range Runners – A Lesson of Survival

Range Runners may start out as the typical “I was never good enough, so I have to push myself to extreme limits and maybe have daddy issues” but take a long deep breath because you are really in for so much more, as you watch endurance runner Mel (Celeste M. Cooper) take on the ultimate challenge of what it truly means to survive.

Wayland and Jared, two peculiar pseudo-hikers, played by Sean Patrick Leonard and Michael B Woods, conveniently encounter Mel while she is on her running journey. They end up capturing her, and I use that term loosely because although she is tied up like a hog and treated like a piece of meat, reluctantly by one of them, the men underestimate what this woman is capable of and as a viewer looking at the screen, so do we.

The film doesn’t hold back with the amount of violence and brutality. There are some really disturbing and shocking moments. You can see the emotions pour out, both with the flashbacks of young Mel (Mariah Gordon), and swooped back to adult Mel. As every tear falls, she fights that vulnerability, as there is no place for weakness. She remains fierce and ready to fight with every core of her being, or will die trying.

My only real criticism of the film is towards the end, which I won’t spoil, but this “twist” is too obvious and I think puts a damper on the intensity and thrill of what the film initially set out to be.

Overall, a very riveting performance by Celeste Cooper and as singer Katy Perry once said, “I am the champion, and you’re going to hear me roar."

💠

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine

Short Mini-Spoiler Movie Review: Bill and Ted Face the Music

Photo from IMDB

I am caught in nostalgia from the time-travelling movies of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and even Bogus Journey, so I was a little scared yet excited to see what they would do with the newly released Bill and Ted Face the Music. Of course, seeing this on the big screen at Cineplex was the plan, but then came the pandemic. With so many opting out for theatre outings right now, the next best is renting from a lot of video-on-demand services, such as Cineplex Store - plus earn Scene points!

No major spoilers, but i'll just say it was an enjoyable journey through the quantum realm of weirdness that is Bill S. Preston Esq played by Alex Winter. and Theodore Ted Logan played by Keanu Reeves! They sure make us laugh and now married to their bodacious babes, they're dads' to two bodacious babies who are all grown up now *cue iconic air guitar riff*

With the other cast members, I also thought Brigette Lundy-Pain did a phenomenal job as Ted's daughter, Billie, and really emulated his mannerisms. They both have that awkward walk and hair swish going on!  "Death" who was played again by William Sadler had his moments, but in general, underwhelming for me this time around and had me really missing Rufus, played by the late, George Carlin. The robot got on my nerves from the get-go and I was going to say I didn't get the connection with casting Kid Kudi, but I guess he is a superfan of Bill and Ted movies according to several sites I read, so they added him into the mix. 

*Mini spoiler* During the end credits, I immediately said "That sounds like Mumford & Sons!" Well, after a bit of Google searching,  it's actually a cool band called Blame My Youth. Now it will never replace in any way "In Time" by Robbi Rob, but I don't think that was the thought in mind. It definitely has that anthemic musical feel, which you either loved when that sound first came out, or you'll loathe it like you did back then. The lyrics definitely spoke to me though. 

Right Where You Belong - Blame My Youth

So, was this the most excellent adventure of all? It wasn't, but had its merits and was still fun to watch. I'm just happy that they didn't destroy another classic, like the train wreck of 2016's Ghostbusters.  

You may shed a tear depending on your level of sentimentality and remember that sometimes things don't make sense until the end of the story.  

Have you watched it yet? What did you think? Always curious!

💗☯️ Be excellent to each other.☯️💗

💠

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine

Jurassic Thunder: Ready, Aim, Misfire!

Who wouldn’t want to stop WW3 from happening?  There’s a zombie plague happening in Africa, and so the USA and the Russians attempt to stop the madness by using electronic-controlled dinosaurs that have guns strapped to their heads. When that plan flops (which one can say is part of the movie’s absurdity), they call in the clueless commandos to take over, as I wouldn’t consider someone rubbing dinosaur feces on their face to be the brightest bulb in the bunch.

Jurassic Thunder takes b-movies to a whole new level with bad humour puns throughout. With names like Colonel Sanders (cue all the chicken jokes) and a botched-Botox sausage who resembles President, Donald Trump, you should know what you’re getting into. You may want to have a drink every time Donald Trump says “you’re fried!” I mean, fired.

If you pay attention, the movie does give a nod to Tropic Thunder, Predator, what began as a cool aviator scene, like in Top Gun and obviously, Jurassic Park.

The dinosaurs are lame, as you would expect, clod-hopping around just following orders to kill enemies. There is enough gore and explosive guts. However, aside from what most would say is bad CGI and shoddy camera work,  it was interesting to read about a lot of the detailed modelling work that went into these dino creations.

With the beginning of the movie showing Jurassic Thunder as a comic book and being gently taken out of the original packaging (ooooh!) to tell the story, another cool part was the comic-book panel style meshing. I wish they incorporated that a bit more throughout, but a nice artistic touch that I could appreciate.

All in all, Jurassic Thunder is not going to win any prestige awards, nor will any of the acting probably get any better if there is a part two. There’s little coherency in the story but you can’t go wrong with crazy dinosaurs, blazin’ guns, and drooling zombies, or can you?

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You can also find my review at 519 Windsor: https://519magazine.com/movie-review-jurassic-thunder-ready-aim-misfire/

Raising Up Caesars Windsor on a Cold, Cold Night with Josh Groban

 Photo by Dan Savoie

Hailing from Los Angeles, Josh Groban is a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-nominated singer, songwriter, and actor who continues to sell-out concert auditoriums all around the world. If you’ve never heard him before, have you been living under a rock?! No seriously, ask a friend, post on your social media or even do a quick Google search to find out the man behind the voice because I am certain he will not disappoint you.

On Sunday night, I had the pleasure to have tickets on the Colosseum floor at Caesars Windsor to enjoy an authentic Josh Groban experience with a great friend, who warned me she would be breaking out the tissues.

Josh stepped onto the stage in his eggplant purple-coloured suit and shiny black shoes, with a beautiful orchestra and choir, as well as other musicians. The collaboration of music throughout the entire evening performance especially with some bongo playing and impeccable drumming was delightful.

Josh was actually quite a jovial, quirky guy who didn’t take himself too seriously (at least not on stage that night!) but the moment he started singing, it was if he was transported into another world and took your hand to invite you in with him. His vocal range was so impressive and when he hit those high notes, it gave me goose bumps.

Josh did a number of songs from his albums, as well as paid homage to other music artists who have inspired him. Several personal favourites were Granted, Pure Imagination and Play. Of course, he did his most known hits of You Raise Me Up and Don’t Give Up.

There was also a surprise performance by a random audience member who was called up from the crowd. The man didn’t come up on stage, but shook Josh’s hand from below and with a slight hesitancy and probably a bit of jitters, agreed to sing. He knew most of the words to Where You Are and the idea was for him to start and then he’d be giving the microphone back to Josh. He went solo on this one as Josh playfully tried to reach out to get the mic back during parts of the song. What a voice! We have so much talent here. Josh stood on stage in awe and amazement and let this man have his moment.

On a side note, if you go back to the Ally Mcbeal days of television, during the prom scene, you’ll recognize a little Joshie on the show who belts out the melodic tune You’re Still You. He decided to share that fun tidbit with everyone and proceeded to perform the song with such a heart-felt vulnerability.

In a world where we have so much divisiveness between each other and the increased anxiety being thrusted upon us by every news outlet, the classic song, Bridge Over Troubled Waters seemed totally fitting for Josh to sing at the end. It brought a sense of unity, love and even for just one night, a little bit of extra happiness.

During what may seem like insurmountable obstacles and unimaginable sadness at times in our lives, we honour this message that Josh reminded us of tonight: “don’t give up because you are loved.”

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You can also find my review on 519 Windsor

Top 5 Movies of 2019!

2019 was an interesting year for movies overall. As always, there were big hits, some that had potential but were hugely disappointing, and a few rare gems that will leave a permanent imprint in your soul.  I’m giving you my top five film choices that really stood out for me this year.

You can also check out my list at 519 Windsor: 

https://519magazine.com/from-rocketman-to-the-grizzlies-heres-melissas-top-five-movies-of-2019/

The Grizzlies – 2019 started out strong with this Canadian film directed by Miranda de Pencier that was shown at Cineplex about a determined teacher who brings his passion of sport (lacrosse) to youth in a small Inuit town called Kugluktuk. Based on a true story, it is incredible to know the great lengths that went into the production. The film shows the complexities of suicide, the adversity that these teens and families face on a daily basis, and the courage for some to break through.  A profound movie-going experience, including original music by various Indigenous artists.

Fighting With My Family – A great cast (especially my favourite; Nick Frost!) with family dynamics that make each character lovable in their own way.  The story resonates with many of us, even if we’re not in the throws of becoming professional wrestlers in the WWE ring, but knowing your place in the real world.  Be the underdog in your own story.

Rocketman – Taron Egerton (known for his incredible performance as Eddie the Eagle!) is once again brilliant, this time stepping into the glittery shoes of portraying the iconic performer; Elton John.  The poignant message of the film: I’m Still Standing.

Bohemian Rhapsody – Rami Malek releases his inner Mercury (Freddie Mercury from Queen) that will bring you to your feet and then to tears. Absolutely loved this film from start to finish. The music, the memories, the heartbreak and the notion that it is never too late to find Somebody To Love. (I realize this was in my top 2018, but still worth mentioning again as it was close to 2019)

Yesterday – What would life be without the music of The Beatles? A little bit of this and that, Yesterday is full of romantic interludes and comedic flourishes with a fantasy plot. I’m a sucker for musicals. Himesh Patel is wonderfully charming and his vocal ranges in many of the songs are melodic to the ear and truly touch the heart. He paired perfectly with the ridiculously cute and whimsical, Lily James. In the end, there is no doubt that the film does Come Together.

*Honourable Mention: Doctor Sleep – A sequel that does pay homage to Kubrick’s 1980’s classic, The Shining, yet clearly succeeds with its own style too. I was very captivated by the intensity of the movie, the characters, the compelling villain, and just the story itself. Definitely not disappointed and a bonus that I could actually sleep afterwards

Kick up your heels for a good time: Billy Ray Cyrus at Caesars Windsor

photo by Teuta Shabani, Caesars Windsor

I cannot say that I have ever been a big country music fan. Sure I don’t mind listening to the odd toe-tapping, honky-tonk song, but if you asked me what I listen to most days, it wouldn’t be this genre. I must admit though that I was a little excited when I saw that Billy Ray Cyrus was coming to Caesars Windsor and it seemed like a good time to dust off our proverbial cowboy hats and boots, and mosey on out for a fun time with my husband, also named Bill, but no, I don’t call him Billy.

You knew it was going to be a good time as Billy Ray Cyrus entered the stage, complete with his casual cowboy chic, sleek straight hair, signature cowboy hat, and flashed the brightest smile to the crowd. He started the night by channelling his inner Johnny Cash and singing “Folsom Prison Blues.” A great energy hit the crowd and it didn’t stop from there.

If you recall Billy Ray Cyrus was also an actor back in the early 2000’s on a show called Doc, which ran 4 seasons long. For the nostalgic moment, he performed his tv intro hit “Stand Still” which had the audience on their feet shouting the chorus.

“Wher’m I Gonna Live”, “Could’ve Been Me”,  and a heart-warming tribute to the veterans both here and abroad with “Some Gave All”, were a few other great hits.

Two huge highlights were Billy’s  own style of “Johnny B Good” and the well-known party song by Georgia Satellites, “Keep your Hands to Yourself.” Oh and who could forget the keyboardist showing off his skill to the synth sounds of “Jump” by Van Halen.

There were screams from groups of women as the start of the monster hit, “Achy Breaky Heart”, began. Everyone from little kids to seniors (it was an all-ages show) stood up to dance and sway. There were also plenty of teasing moments as Billy pseudo-tossed his cowboy hat and jacket to the crowd. He did actually toss out some t-shirts though, which I’m sure a few lucky ladies will wear to bed tonight without washing to preserve the fact that Billy’s hand and sweat touched those shirts first.

Even though Lil Nas wasn’t able to make the stage this time, Billy Ray gave a salute and wished him well, as he carried on with “Old Town Road” with his band. You could tell the new fans from the old ones just by the sheer joy or confusion on their faces when the bass sound came on and thumped the seats for the entire duration of the song. In all honesty, and you can always expect that when you read my reviews,  the low pitch of the bass, along the loud guitars was deafening. I know some people like that style and yes the song is catchy, but I had to start moving towards the exit.  Thankfully, the rest of the concert was a delight.

Although Billy Ray did mention having some problems crossing the border, we’re happy he made it safe and sound to Windsor to entertain us all, otherwise that probably won’t have left some achy breaky hearts!


You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine

Goodness Gracious: The Million Dollar Quartet Returns to Caesars Windsor

Photo by Dan Savoie

Whether you grew up in the 50’s, listening to Blues Suede Shoes or you had a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On in your later life, let’s take you back to the iconic date of December 4, 1956 in Memphis, Tennessee. Take a trip down memory lane to Sun Records, where Sam Phillips was always on the hunt for his next big star. The Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins) got together for a jam session that reunited everyone for a night of excitement, revelation and of course, rock and roll!

Johnny Cash (Steven Lasiter) definitely gave it his all with hits like Folsom Prison Blues and Walk The Line.  His deep baritone sound gave chills down your spine and he oozed masculinity portraying The Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash.

Carl Perkins (Nathan Burke) gave great vocal performances and played up the manly role to poke fun at the eccentric Jerry Lee any chance he could. A little bit of information that you may not know was that Blue Suede Shoes was written by Carl! Elvis took it a few steps further and had the vocal chops and moves to turn the song into a mega-hit.

Elvis has left the building… Jacob Barton made The King proud with his rendition of Hound Dog, Peace in the Valley and many others. He had the swivelling hips but I couldn’t catch the iconic snarl. With his girlfriend, Dyanne, (Taylor Kraft) stepping up on stage to the mic, her sultry sound singing Fever may have had a lot of audience members a little hot under the collar.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jerry Lee Lewis (Trevor Dorner) stole the show with Great Balls of Fire. His energy from the moment he put his fingers on the piano to the end where we was literally jumping off the piano had the audience cheering him on.  Plus who doesn’t love a quirky performance from someone who exudes that sweet southern charm with a sarcastic bite.

Let’s not forget the Father of Rock N Roll, Sam Phillips (Sean Casey Flanagan) who gave a memorable performance, Jon Rossi who killed it on the drums and bassist Brother Jay (Kroy Presley) who can play the electric and upright bass with ease and poise.

With two incredible encores to finish off the show and sporting some sparkly jackets to finish their individual looks, The Million Dollar Quartet have a bright future ahead and hopefully will be back to Caesars Windsor for more shows in the future – See You Later Alligator!

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine

All Fired Up: Flame Throwers Take Over Fringe – 2019 Windsor Fringe Festival Review

The Fringe Festival took over Windsor, Ontario this past week and on one of those lovely days, we caught another awesome performance. This time it was Toronto-duo; the Flame Throwers, featuring Karl and The Prodigy.

This busker-style show was definitely like a buffet, it had a little bit of everything for patrons to enjoy.  I enjoyed the dead-pan humour and there was a lot of variety in musical choices to rev up the crowd.  It also had some fun audience interaction, one bit involving hand sanitizer, a marker, an innocent audience member, and juggling pins!

What was most impressive was Karl’s ability to be on a unicycle while solving a Rubik’s cube AND rapping to the trend-setting Flobot’s “Handlebars” song.

A rather tense moment was the chainsaw juggling bit, which thankfully didn’t have anyone cut up into pieces!

Kyle definitely stands out as a performer with his talents of juggling and balancing objects, whether that’s with balls, Rubik’s cubes, clubs, knives, or fire torches.

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine:

 https://yqgrocks.com/all-fired-up-flame-throwers-take-over-fringe-2019-windsor-fringe-festival-review/

Believe It Or Not: The Clairvoyants Bring Their Supernatural Abilities to Windsor

The Clairvoyants
Photo credit: Dan Savoie

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine: 

https://yqgrocks.com/believe-it-or-not-the-clairvoyants-bring-their-show-to-windsor/

The Clairvoyants are an Austrian mentalist duo who arrived here at Caesars Windsor on Friday (May 24) to perform on stage for an all-ages show.  Thommy Ten and Amélie van Tass have impressed judges on America’s Got Talent, especially the hard to please critic, Simon Cowell and even spooked out comedian Howie Mandel. They are currently on a 2019 world-wide tour and will be jet-setting all the way back to Austria soon!

With a packed house, there was a lot going on in the show from a Jelly bean prediction that left you with a sweet-tooth to an intricate puzzle board trick done by Thommy with precision and skill.

In one of the acts, two audience members were chosen at random and made a rather psycho-kinetic connection which really left the crowd with their jaws dropped.

The audience interaction throughout the night was absolutely hilarious from an older lady commenting how she liked “balls” (she was holding a large blue beach ball on stage) to a feisty woman who was ready to shake her booty.  Thommy had a lot of subtle comedic elements that brought the show to another level and sporting to the crowd his cute doggy socks.  It’s always nice when performers don’t take themselves too seriously all the time.

I could also really appreciate that both Thommy and Amélie didn’t just utilize the crowd at the front either, they made the effort to climb the stairs and seek out other random participants scattered throughout the Caesars auditorium. A simple gesture, but one that didn’t get overlooked.

The real beauty about mentalism and performers like The Clairvoyants is that these acts don’t need extravagant props or even very many at all.  Anyone can learn the secrets, that’s just part of the fun, but in the performing realm, it’s not solely about “how did they do that?”  It goes way beyond that mentality.

It does require a high level of skill, patience, connection, and let’s be honest, the grand ability to make the impossible seem possible.

What the F*@kboys is a Musical?! – 2019 Windsor Fringe Festival Review

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine:

https://yqgrocks.com/what-the-fkboys-is-a-musical-2019-windsor-fringe-festival-review/

We have pigs, scrubs, douche-bags, and now enter the world of f*@kboys. They are the guys who won’t hold your hand or take photos with you in public. They are always the first to run for the hills when the word commitment is uttered or even the slight glimpse of L-O-V-E on the horizon. The most you can expect out of a f*@kboy is well…nothing.

F*@kboys The Musical is and it isn’t a typical musical. Yes, they break out into song every chance they get and they belt out harmonies beautifully, however, what sets this musical apart, beside the obvious grabbing name, is that it has a predominant theme of self-awareness. “I won’t talk about it, but I’ll sing it. This is a musical after all.”

When it starts out, one may begin to think that this production will be a man-hating, feminist buzzkill.  This in its own self-awareness, is where the musical shines. While it makes some valid points, it’s also not afraid to poke fun at itself at the same time to show that everyone has levels of ridiculous behaviour. As the characters grow in life and love, you can really see certain re-evaluations, which then makes this comedic musical quite touching and even more lovable.

I was really impressed how the cast and crew were able to adapt the show to a change of venue and a smaller performing area. They performed choreography in a tight space outside under a canopy tent that was originally meant for a stage with wings.

In the end, instead of dwelling over regret and wondering what could have been, grab a drink, go sing some karaoke with friends. F*@kboys The Musical is here for a good time, not a long time (yep I just put in the lyrics to Trooper).

You Spin Me Right Round – SpinS Windsor Walkerville Fringe Festival Review

SpinS - featuring Janoah

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine:

https://yqgrocks.com/you-spin-me-right-round-spins-windsor-walkerville-fringe-festival-review/

SpinS is a difficult show to describe. It’s part circus, part mime, part clown, part performance art and part chaos. Maybe that’s the point though – a little bit of mayhem.

Janoah Bailin starts out with a cool way to set the stage, by using his one-wheeled companion, the unicycle. While on the uni, he reaches into his bag and pulls random things out and places them all around the stage. Not everything the audience sees will make sense until the props are used later on in the show.

Be prepared for oodles of funny bits. Situational humour is at the forefront, like how to get from one spot on the stage to another without Janoah’s feet touching the stage (reminding me of the “floor is lava” game we played as kids). There is also plenty of interactive audience work, to groan-worthy puns.

Janoah shows some superb juggling skill using balls and rings. His diabolo work was pretty impressive too. Best though, was his work with clubs (which also has a nice tie-in with the name of the show, but no spoilers for you!)

I appreciated some of the interesting artistic explorations, like the eyeball coloured balls and some unusual feet and leg work (again, you’ll have to see the show to fully grasp what I’m talking about). I was slightly disappointed though that these segments were not expanded upon, as I was wanting more. Maybe in future performances he’ll do just that.

SpinS is not your usual flashy juggling show at all. There are no strict boundaries to adhere by, just an unrestricted flow of energy, story-telling and creativity for all.

You can catch more performances of SpinS at the Windsor Walkerville Fringe Festival. The festival runs until May 26. For prices, times and venues, visit the Fringe website.

Swipe Right: Adventures in Dating at Windsor’s Shadowbox is Rip-Roaring Fun

Promo photo: Adventures in Dating by Rob Tymec

Whether you’ve used dating sites like Lavalife, Plenty of Fish or currently perusing a dating app called Tinder, you’ll know that dating is not always smooth sailing at all. Adventures in Dating is a rip-roaring romantic comedy by Rob Tymec that takes dating to a whole new level of crazy, with only two actors (played brilliantly by Rob Tymec and Teagan Smallhorn) but portraying over 20 characters between them.

We caught the show on Saturday night (May 11) at Windsor’s Shadowbox Theatre.

There will always be winners and losers, and sadly Jeff is on a pretty consistent losing streak going on first dates with women who might have been left too long on the crazy train. His choice of restaurant remains the same each time, and so when each date goes badly, he can still frequent other restaurants without the bad memories attached. What an optimist! While dealing with dates ranging from a chatty cathy and OCD’er to an aggressive feminist who literally knocks him off his feet, Jeff still musters the strength to get through these dates and plot away to find his next one.

Jeff’s salvation throughout these dates is often his waitress hero, Jen. She comes to his rescue a handful of times with words of encouragement and slivers of wisdom.  Their bond begins to deepen with each date under his belt. She brings to the table a whole new perspective, as well as a red table cloth. However, she’s also mending a broken heart and jumps on the bandwagon of serial dating. Tables are turned (rather switched to blue this time), as she reminisces about her “first” date experiences.  Her luck is just as bad as Jeff’s dealing with a gym rat hopped up on protein shakes to a sci-fi geek who is outraged at Jen’s comment of mistaking Star Trek with Dr. Who.

The characters are engaging, funny and down-right quirky. Rob and Teagan are so impressive transitioning from one character to the next. The chemistry together on-stage is wonderful and unless you have been blessed with only amazing dating experiences, the play is quite relatable. It personally felt at times that I was reliving my past dating life.

You can catch Adventures in Dating at the Shadowbox Theatre here in Windsor, ON.

💜You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine: 

https://519magazine.com/swipe-right-adventures-in-dating-at-windsors-shadowbox-is-rip-roaring-fun/

Hooked With Humour at Spiritual Soldiers Coffee Compound

Comedian: Tim Otter

There was not an empty chair in the place Friday night (May 10, 2019), as customers piled into the Spiritual Soldiers Coffee Compound in Windsor to enjoy an evening filled with music and comedy.  As newbies checking out this place on Erie Street, observing the atmosphere and interactions in some ways felt like Cheers (without a stitch of alcohol in sight, only delicious smooth concoctions and beverages!) where everybody knows your name.  I’ve never been to a spot where so many people hugged each other, it was like their own personal greeting. If I don’t really know someone well enough, I’m more of a fist-bump/ hand-shake or head nod kind-of gal, but you know we all have our preferences. Best of all, when you want a safe haven whether you’ve overcome addiction or in the process of doing so, this is your ideal spot to check out without judgment.

The evening started out with some acoustic guitar by the incredibly talented, Cassidy Young. I had heard of this musician by name before, but never had the opportunity to check him out live. I’m so glad that I did! Emotions ran high as he started to perform his own unique covers of songs such as: Say Something, Zombie and Breakfast at Tiffany’s just to name a few.

Then it was time for the Windsor Improv Troupe which consisted of: Dylan Macdonald, Alex Monk, Eric Minch, Nancy Lefebvre, and Mark Worsley.  One of Dylan’s skills that really stood out to me was his ability to switch accents (from Greek to an Aussie) so flawlessly.  He had me roaring with laughter.  I loved when Eric and Alex did skits together because they played so well off of each other.  Mark was a joy to watch on stage, hitting his comedic delivery every time. With Nancy, she’s a firecracker where you really don’t know what hilarity will come out of her mouth and I think that’s a true gift.

The improv games that really stood out for me were the hilarious round of Jeopardy, The Dating Game, Lines From a Hat, and Store Return. Sipping my peppermint tea, it was great to not just watch these performances either, the audience was part of the show being able to shout out answers and dictate what objects, words and phrases the Troupe would ultimately use.  It was definitely not easy to create creative and funny scenes on the spot and yet they all managed to do so with ease.

A special guest appearance was made by one of Windsor’s top Comedian’s, Tim Otter, who honestly reminded me of just the most lovable lumberjack. He had the best deadpan humour which included quips about a zombie grandma and having a non-Tom Selleck body.  After his stand-up comedy, Tim chimed in on some of the improv skits.

Overall, it was a fun night and goes to show you that variety is the spice of life.

Check out all the awesome upcoming events happening at: https://www.spiritualsoldiers.ca/

Update *no longer in business.

Windsor’s Stars of Tomorrow Shine in Villanova’s Playful Mamma Mia!

You can also check out my review at 519 Magazine: 

https://yqgrocks.com/windsors-stars-of-tomorrow-shine-in-villanovas-playful-mamma-mia/

It’s a trip down memory lane, as Villanova Players performed the broadway musical hit; Mamma Mia, directed by Ms M.J. Grado with musical director, Ann Marie Brunet.

So what’s the story all about? Sophie is getting married to the love of her life, Sky. Everything is perfect, except for one small little detail. She doesn’t know who her real father is. Sleuthing around in her mom’s diary, Sophie discovers that she has 3 possible fathers. Her mother, Donna, won’t divulge much of her past, so instead of playing “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” and inviting either Harry, Sam or Bill, Sophie decides she will just invite all of them! Once they arrive, she’ll know who her father is right away, right? Well that may not be the case.  The only secret she desperately needs to keep is her mom from finding out.

A few highlights of the show:

The choreographed dance sequences were so entertaining, especially one particular scene from “Lay All Your Love On Me” which had a hilarious flipper-dancing group making the audience roar with laughter.

Donna (played by Regan White) was phenomenal. A true shining star and hit every high note. She was able to command the stage with ease. Her chemistry with Sam (played by Justin Bobbie) was heartwarming and my personal favourite was their “SOS” duet.

Sophie (played by Charlotte Salisbury) is a fun role that was made easier with Charlotte’s angelic vocal chops.  Her ability to show vulnerability in the character really makes for a promising future in theatre.

The finale was full of vibrant energy from the entire cast, not to mention some snazzy glittered costume choices that you’ll probably want to parade around in while belting out Abba tunes.

I will say that I am absolutely delighted to see the blooming talent that stepped foot onto the stage. It’s not an easy thing to do at all, so a big congratulations to all the cast and thank you for the music!

Our First Windsor Express Basketball Game - WFCU Centre

Our first Windsor Express basketball game experience at the WFCU CENTRE.

Thank you 519 Magazine for the awesome tickets. Loved having court-side seating to see all the action!

Windsor Express killed it against London, 121- 88. Good job boys!

Just a few photos from the game!

Shot looking down at the court

Sitting right at court side. 

Swish!

I got to hold onto the Windsor Express ring for a few minutes!

Spilling the Tea: Tea With the Dames – WIFF Movie Review

Check out my review from the WIFF; Tea With The Dames

The documentary Tea With the Dames, directed by Roger Michell  is an intimate look into the lives of Dames; Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith. Now you may be asking yourself, what shenanigans could possibly take place when you get four legendary British actresses in the same room together?  Well if you think these ladies are just snooty and uptight, you may be in for quite a surprise, as these feisty octogenarians can dish it out and roll with the punches like you wouldn’t believe.

Drinking tea and later on sneaking in some champagne, there are so many memorable moments in the film. I will admit that I was not very familiar with all the work of Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright, but they now hold quite a special place in my heart, as their individual accomplishments and talents are worthy of acknowledgement and praise.

If I’m going to be totally honest (which you know I am), Judi Dench and Maggie Smith really unintentionally stole the spotlight. Although all four are close friends, Judi and “Mags” have the best chemistry together, and you can really feel it from their banter back and forth. Judi’s occasional but hilarious foul-mouthed outbursts and Maggie’s ridiculously sarcastic charm and wit keep you wanting more.

Even the most melancholy topics (yep, grim reaper I’m talking about you!) don’t really faze these youthful Dames, as they talk openly about their embarrassing moments, frustrations, and insecurities throughout their careers and even today.

When you exit the theatre,  you’ll be left thinking about the words of wisdom from these dignified Dames who encourage and support each other in a way that make the bonds of friendship everlasting. Getting older doesn’t mean you stop having fun. No, never. You can drink champagne without a poignant reason for celebration (just being alive is a gift in itself), but you also know that you may need a nap in the afternoon and that’s okay too.

We are always Searching: Movie Review

Check out my next movie review; Searching

https://519magazine.com/we-are-always-searching-movie-review-searching/

In the midst of perfection, we tend to lie to ourselves, believing that life will always be a smooth straight road. When heartache shows up, it can be a short-term visitor or a long-term tenant that fills your heart with a daily dose of grief.

The movie “Searching” is an intense thriller that has the starting elements of predictability. John Cho plays the role of a workaholic yet grief-stricken father, David Kim, who is trying to deal with the passing of his wife and feeling overwhelmed with raising a teenage daughter, Margot on his own.  Of course, Margot (played by Michelle La) is lost in her own identity, as most 16-year-olds are, but puts on the facade that everything is just fine. As text messages start getting unanswered and no one knows the whereabouts of Margot, David decides to report his daughter missing, and with the help of detective Rosemary Vick, (played by Debra Messing – note she is unlike the beloved “Grace” from the nostalgic tv show Will & Grace!) that’s where the story really begins.

As a parent, when your teen doesn’t return your text message after the third attempt, there is always a nagging feeling at the back of your mind that something is wrong. Sometimes you can brush it off and be reassured that they are probably out with friends or absently once again forgot to charge their phone. The last thing any parent wants to face is that their child is in danger, especially an abduction.

The layers of the film get deeper as the time goes by. I couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen as the film just grabs you and you feel the emotional wounds that harbour the father. As soon as you piece together the puzzle, you will realize that your assumptions are wrong and you’re back to figuring out the mystery. Very well-paced and just terrific acting.

I will add in that the movie did an impressive job on capturing the social media commentary that often occurs when breaking news stories like topics of kidnapping and abduction come into the public eye. A delicate battle of logic versus emotional appeal that is truly culturally-relevant.

Overall, I would highly recommend checking this movie out. Sometimes when you are searching for answers, you only find half of what lies beneath the actual truth.