Find Your Grail: Stratford’s Spamalot Review

The ridiculous and pun-filled humour in Stratford Festival’s 2023 production of Monty Python’s Spamalot is a hilarious musical comedy from Eric Idle and John Du Prez that is directed by Lezlie Wade and Choreographed by Jesse Robb.  With elements from the 1975 motion picture “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, this one has a whole new flavour of obscurity that is combined with incredible performances, toe-tapping dance numbers, intricate stage elements, and vibrant costuming that is fit for royalty or maybe a dominatrix.  

The story revolves around King Arthur and his eccentric bunch of Knights of the Round Table who go in search of the elusive Holy Grail. It is completely bonkers, as we all know that nothing always goes to plan in life. Nonetheless, we are here for the laughs and all the mishaps!

Jonathan Goad leads this impressive production, playing King Arthur, with Eddie Glen as his submissive squire, Patsy. Included are: Aaron Krohn (Sir Lancelot), Trevor Patt (Sir Robin) and Liam Tobin as Sir Dennis Galahad.  Also to note, many of the actors played multiple roles, which was most impressive.

You'll be in for plenty of surprises that will literally and figuratively moo-ve you (yes a terrible pun inserted intentionally, you’ll know why after seeing Spamalot). There are also catchy musical numbers that will have you singing along with the multitude of talent that graces the stage from many of Stratford’s finest performers. 

Highlights:

👉All and I mean ALL the groan-worthy puns!

👉The French Taunter whose insults you could slice with a baguette.

👉Knights Who Say "Ni" (couldn’t stop laughing!) 

👉“He Is Not Dead Yet” was performed so brilliantly.

👉The spicy, sultry and spunky “Lady of the Lake” played by Kimberly-Ann Truong

👉Eddie Glen who played Patsy felt like he was meant to be born on stage, as his comedic timing was perfect. 

And more (but I’m not spoiling anything else!)  

The level of mockery that you’ll hear and see on the stage is done in the usual Monty Python style and so there are no shortage of laughs that may seem a little uncomfortable if you’re not familiar with the dry British humour. 

There are plenty of ideological themes throughout that may offend as well, but like many musicals from Stratford, this performance gets some tweaks with clear messages of love and humanity tossed in for good measure, something that is definitely rattled in today’s world.                      

And so my friends, with that gentle warning, I would encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and see Spamalot at the Stratford Festival’s lovely Avon Theatre.  

On a personal note, this was a great way to spend our upcoming 15th anniversary together, as my husband and I are big Monty Python fans and love finding any reason to go and see performances in Stratford! It’s really our home away from home. 

By audience demand, more shows have been added. Truly another production that deserves much praise and multiple viewings!  

Go in with an open mind and heart and always look on the bright side of life.

💜Official website for more info and tickets: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/

Worth Every Penny: 2022 Stratford’s The Miser Review

After seeing the incredible production of Chicago at the Festival Theatre, another opportunity led us to fill the gas tank up and head right back to our beloved Stratford this week to be part of an exciting video taping of the hilariously- modernized stage show The Miser, staring Colm Feore and directed by Antoni Cimolino. Not only that but we had front-row tickets, something that was extra special and gave my husband and I the opportunity to get quite a view.

Before sitting, a quick photo before the show started.

Lots of cool props on stage to set the tone!

Molière's 1668 satire comedy is spun quite a bit differently with Ranjit Bolt’s new adaptation of The Miser, which doesn’t take itself too seriously and is riddled with pop culture references and plenty of millennial nods that explore the conflicts of greed, family legacy, love and who could forget, money.

Charlie (Qasim Khan) is head over heels for penniless Marianne (Beck Lloyd), and sister Eleanor (Alexandra Lainfiesta) is smitten by the butler, Victor (Jamie Mac), yet they are both consumed with fret over the notion to tell their wealthy, curmudgeon father, Harper (played by Colm Feore) who will gladly axe them entirely out his inheritance, if they don’t succumb to his demands.

Meanwhile, Harper is up to all sorts of trickery of his own, devising an arranged marriage for his daughter and planning to actually marry Marianne with a little help from matchmaker, Fay (Lucy Peacock).

Paranoid that everyone is out to steal his money, chaos erupts with poignant moments to reflect upon and scenes that leave you in pure full-bellied laughter.


Some highlights:

👉Taking things to another level, my husband told me that my eyes lit up when I first saw Colm Feore walk onto the stage. He shined as Harper, giving such a passionate performance and showing his tremendous skill of physical comedy.

👉Charlie, played by Qasim Khan. What a delight to watch perform. He had a sharp quick-witted tongue and commanding presence on stage that leaves the entire audience laughing whenever he flounced into the room.

👉Ron Kennell as Jack – a wearer of many hats (chef, chauffeur) and is down-right hilarious and cooks up quite a performance.

👉The set and costume design by Julie Fox was outstanding, especially the ridiculous pastel-like purple top hat and bell-bottomed ensemble that Harper (Feore) slipped into, which had discount Rocky Horror attendee meets Abba vibes!

We’re taken on a wild ride here with some surprising twists along the way that I’m not going to spoil for you. Fitted with yet another perfectly-crafted cast that brings loads of humour, talent, and laughter, The Miser is, as my title says, worth every penny!

Have you seen this one yet? If so, leave me a comment or send me a message via my webform! I always love to hear from my readers.

Visit the website to see what's currently playing.

*Tickets are available to see The Miser until Sat. Oct 29th, 2022.

💜https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/

They Had It Comin’: 2022 Stratford’s Chicago Review

Stratford's Festival Theatre

Directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, along with Music Director Franklin Brasz, Chicago is set in the Roaring Twenties era and checks off all the boxes of showcasing a crime-inspired musical that’s full of corruption, murder and chaos. So take your seat because you’re in for the time of your life here at the Stratford Festival Theatre, with the dazzling production of Chicago.

Many of the dance numbers were very catchy, almost to the point where you could sing along if you didn’t already know the tunes, and then combined with the dynamic choreography performed by many of the cast of talented Gangsters all the way to the Razzle Dazzle Dancers, it’s perfection. Songs like, Razzle Dazzle, All That Jazz and Cell Block Tango exploded on stage.

Let’s not forget the gorgeous costume designs as well by Dana Osborne, from well-crafted suits to sultry and sparkly vaudeville outfits. The set design by Michael Gianfrancesco oozed smokey jazz bar days, where prohibition went well with a cup of coffee and a bit of mayhem.

In this story, two of the lead prison inmates and fame-seekers, Chelsea Preston as Roxie Hart and Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Velma Kelly were deeply committed to their performances and engaging. Their characters were both trigger-happy (thus being jailed for crimes of passion), seemingly coming across as rivals, as one never likes to share the spotlight. However, by intermission, it’s a sure thing that the commonalities of bringing down their scuzzy lawyer, Billy Flynn, (played brilliantly by Dan Chameroy) is paramount to their freedom and success to overthrow the constraints of societal expectations.

With many surprises along the way that I won’t spoil, a few things really stood out:

👉The shocking and stunning operatic vocals of reporter, Mary Sunshine, played by Robert Markus.

👉Dan Chameroy ignited the stage as sleazy lawyer, Billy Flynn, with a sheer spectacular performance from start to finish in the song “All I Care About.” Commanding a stage is very hard to do, many try, few succeed, yet Dan succeeds every time I have seen him perform. The most recent one before the pandemic struck was in the cult-favourite, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

👉Then we have Steve Ross (I loved him in HMS Pinafore). This role was made for him, as Steve gives one most touching performances as Amos Hart, Roxie’s rather clueless, gullible yet lonesome husband. Mr. Cellophane was clearly made for this man to perform. As we hear the entire audience let out an “awww” as he exits the stage, we need a minute to take in a breath to appreciate what we just experienced in our thoughts and collectively as audience members.

👉Again, all the dancers who complemented so many scenes. Incredible stamina, flexibility, precision and energy.

After 2 years of not being able to see any performances due to the pandemic, walking through the Festival Theatre doors again was an utter joy for myself and my husband. Seeing Chicago was a perfect way to not only celebrate our 14th anniversary together, but to enjoy world-class entertainment and you know... all that jazz. 

Check out the link below for current productions and what's happening for the exciting 2023 season!

💜Official website: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/

Fantasy is Alive In Stratford’s The Neverending Story

Photo by Emily Cooper

Stratford is known for its world-class theatre and every year the lineup is different, so there is something for all ages to enjoy. Going on our honeymoon after celebrating an 80’s inspired wedding was perfect because of two very special shows at the theatre this year; The Neverending Story (1984 release) and Little Shop of Horrors (1986 release). Let’s look at The Neverending Story in this review.

If you were born in the 80’s, The Neverending Story probably holds a special place in your heart. Maybe it was your connection to Artax the Horse or the sweetness of Falcor the Luck Dragon. Perhaps it was even the empathy felt for Bastian losing his mother at a very young age and only left with fleeting memories.

It was quite interesting to see this production and to learn about the lengthy time it took to bring a tale like this to life on stage. The story highlights the innocence, bravery and imagination that lies in each one of us. There was a fantastical feel from the set design, especially with the creative puppetry undertaken by so many talented people.  Also the music was incredible and fit the whole mood and style that I think Franklin Brasz, the Director of Music was trying to convey from the original music by Hawksley Workman.

The gnomes Urgl and Engywook surprisingly stood out for me the most. They reminded me in a lot of ways of Miracle Max and his wife, Valerie, from The Princess Bride.  Maybe it was the banter back and forth or just that underlying love they had for each other.  I also thought the scene of Bastian running from his school bullies was thrilling, from the lighting to the puppetry of car lights in action.

My criticisms are few, but I would have liked a bit more from The Childlike Empress played by Mamie Zwettler. I felt she was a bit of an afterthought.  Also there is a lot of times where the emotion doesn’t quite capture the moment and then it is rushed off to a completely different scene. I think the pacing could have been focused on more.

Overall, the visual nature of the play was wonderful.  The details that weren’t present in the movie version (like the talking, wisdom-filled Artax the horse) added another level to the fantastical experience that I believe will continue to evolve for generations to come and the beauty of knowing that our imagination is limitless when we tell our own Neverending Story.

The Neverending Story runs in The Stratford Festival’s Avon Theatre until Nov. 3. For more visit: www.stratfordfestival.ca

You can also check out my review at 519 Windsor

A Botanical Nightmare of Joy in Stratford Festival’s Little Shop of Horrors

Photo by: Cylla von Tiedemann

Stratford is known for its world-class theatre and every year the lineup is different, so there is something for all ages to enjoy. Going on our honeymoon after celebrating an 80’s inspired wedding was perfect because of two very special shows at the theatre this year; The Neverending Story (1984 release) and Little Shop of Horrors (1986 release). Let’s look at Little Shop of Horrors in this review.

When you grow up with nothing and people treat you like nothing, how can you thrive, especially when you’re downtown on skid row? For Seymour, an orphan taken in by a demanding and demeaning shop owner, you get that lucky break, a fortunate opportunity lands in your lap where you are the talk of the town and everyone suddenly loves you because you have something that they want.  In this case, a rather “strange and unusual” looking plant named Audrey II pops up. It’s sweet and inviting at first, but an evil lurks that you can’t quite put your finger on.

Desperation, abandonment, greed, hope and of course, the need to be loved are are themes that are explored in this musical-style performance.  A side note, you can really feel like the heart-ache from Audrey, played by Gabi Epstein. It’s subtle at times, but for anyone who has battled with breaking away from cycle of domestic violence, tears may shed when she sings “Somewhere that’s Green.” Do not despair though, knowing that wholesome and loving men like Seymour exist in the world can bring a smile to your face.

There were so many stellar performances all around in this production, like Seymour, played by Andre Morin. Then there is the sadistic dentist, played by Dan Chameroy. He was absolutely brilliant and exhausting to watch on stage with his boundless energy! You may remember him last year at Stratford, as the eccentric Dr Franken-Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show. This man is multi-talented! A special nod to the incredible singers; Vanessa Sears, Starr Domingue and Camille Eanga-Selenge, who put the extra harmonizing doo-wop shoo-bop in the musical.  Also, who could forget the grocer, played by Jordan Mah. What a hoot, he really added a ton of comic relief. Lastly, the toothy, green-leafed star, Audrey II, voiced by Matthew G. Brown! The intricate details were incredible, growing from a tiny plant to a massive one before your eyes. The multiple puppeteers on each one were great.

If you have seen the film, you’ll notice some differences in this live version, which I think were well thought-out and really heightened the dramatic feel of the musical in itself. Also, it’s a heads or tails on the ending, but the message from the moment the curtain rises up until the final scene is crystal clear, don’t feed the plant!

Little Shop of Horrors has been extended to Nov. 9, 2019 at The Stratford Festival’s Avon Theatre. For more information, visit www.stratfordfestival.ca

You can also check out my review at 519 Windsor

Not Just a Pelvic Thrust: Stratford’s Rocky Horror Picture Show Entertains

I have been a fan of Richard O’Brien’s 1975 cult-classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for such a long time. I remember setting my sights on Tim Curry (who played Frank N. Furter) in fishnet stockings, smudged lipstick and eyeliner and feeling that twinge of excitement. I had no idea boys (other than my heart throb Robert Smith of The Cure who smudged his makeup proudly) could look so feverishly handsome this way and I had even less knowledge about what a sweet transvestite from Transylvania was all about. One thing that was crystal clear, I knew early in my life that I was not quite like the other girls and that was okay.

I had the pleasure to see a stage play of Rocky Horror before, which was really impressive. I bought my first pair of fishnets for the event, put on gobs of makeup and looked like a walking dominatrix.  I felt really uncomfortable until walking through the theatre doors and saw everyone was dressed in a similar fashion. For one night, no one was judging.  I could swoon over all the boys who looked liked girls, or maybe it was girls who looked like boys. It was hard to tell at times.  I hung up my fishnets that night after coming home with a little jump to the left and then a step to the right.

Fast forward to the present day. When I found out that the Stratford Festival was putting on the broadway musical at the Avon Theatre (produced by David Auster),  I was incredibly excited to see what this version would look, sound and feel like.  Of course after seeing the movie countless times (note the tv special in 2016 was cringe-worthy and I couldn’t even get through it) and getting a taste of a live theatre performance, it wasn’t just about the music, the characters really needed to WOW me.

I have a lot of praise to give, which I will go into more detail later, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a flawless performance in my eyes. Here’s why:

One of my favourite songs “Eddie’s Teddy” was a huge letdown. How can I describe Eddie’s (Trevor Patt) character? It felt like a fake orgasm.  Sorry, I had to be so blunt but where was the hyper-masculine, bad-boy, you’d never bring home to your parents that we all grew to love? He was lost in a sea of air guitars and broad way smiles. Nope, pass.

Then there was Rocky (George Krissa). I’m going to be superficial but it was something that really stood out. Rocky’s hair was poofy and kind of reminded me of Carrot Top. His physique was… perfection and even being higher up in the balcony section, I could count his glistening abs. His hair though was another story. I much rather preferred the slick down hair cut, just like what was in the movie. Character wise, I don’t think he was able to get the right balance of passive creature and aggressive. Plus during Touch-a-Touch-Me, he should have looked at Janet’s ta-ta’s with awe and lust, yet his facial expression told a different story. Instead it felt like “yeah i’ve seen these before, let’s move on.” For a song that is meant to be highly sensual and sexual, my libido fell flat.

Next, oh Janet! (Jennifer Rider-Shaw). Although her voice was angelic and her look was pure as snow, I didn’t really get the demure vibe even at the start of the show that Susan Sarandon (1975 movie) pulled off so wonderfully convincing. Also, where was that repressed sexual tension? It was really missing for me.

Then we have Columbia (Kimberly-Ann Truong). When I think of her, all I can envision is the phallic lollipop sucking. It was really distracting and not in a good way. I felt her role was really over the top, yet in the scenes where she should have been highly dramatic (when Eddie’s death was announced), it felt like she was holding back.  She hit that level of crazy that just didn’t work for me. Her whole character was really quite confusing to be honest, but despite those flaws, she had quite the voice on her!

Magenta (Erica Peck) didn’t really grab me. Magenta was the spitting image of Tim Burton’s ex-wife, Helena Bonham Carter, yet she kind of blended into the background with the phantoms. Plus where was her inappropriate lusty self? Lost in the shadows, I guess.

Dr. Scott…well this was played by the same person as Eddie, so I definitely didn’t enjoy this performance.

Now onto the positives!

Riff Raff (Robert Markus) and Frank N. Furter (Dan Chameroy) were incredible, beyond anything that I really could have dreamed of! You could see the passion and love in both of these characters.  To me, they were the stars of the show.

Brad (Sayer Roberts) also did a great job, exuding in overt geekiness and awkwardness, just like what I remember. Plus, what a voice!

The narrator (Steve Ross) was also enjoyable. His deep voice gave me chills and he never broke out of character once, even when he went down to his skivvies and fishnets!

The choreography (done by Donna Feore) for the dance scenes were wonderful. I loved hearing all my favourite songs with a few surprises along the way. The set, lighting, and costuming (kudos to: Michael Gianfrancesco, Dana Osborne, Michael Walton) were done really well. I have to find out where Frank N Furter gets his lingerie. Ooh la la! Also, despite a lot of the character flaws, the vocals of everyone really blew me away, especially Frank N Furter’s solo part of “I’m Going Home.” I almost shed a tear.

I loved the audience hecklers who blurted out random comments throughout the show. They had the audience in stitches. Be warned that they don’t hold back. You will hear lots of profanity! Nothing is off limits, including a quick shout-out for the legalization of marijuana, which fit in rather perfectly since it was actually legalized on the day we went; Oct. 17, 2018 and some mentions of sexual positions that you may or may not have tried already at home.  There are audience alerts up mentioning mature themes and offensiveness, so if you tend to trail along the overly-sensitive path, this show is NOT for you.

Despite some criticisms, I really loved the show. I understand the blood, sweat, and tears that go into making these productions and I can appreciate that they didn’t want to stick to the film entirely and used their own creative juices to add a bit more flair.

If you are looking for a fun-filled, gender-bending good time, then I would highly suggest you book your tickets to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show. They have added a number of new shows, but they sell out quickly, as does everything in Stratford because this is truly world-class entertainment.

The show runs at the Stratford Festival until Nov. 25, 2018. Tickets start at $25 and are available online.  *update now extended until December 2018!

💜You can also check out my 519 Magazine  review of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Stratford, Ontario!

Luck Be A Lady: Our 2017 Trip to Stratford

I'm trying to catch up on blog postings and I realized that I never shared our trip to Stratford, so I hope I have convinced you to book some time out of your busy schedule and take a trip down to Stratford for the day or evening and catch one of their incredible musicals or plays!

Stratford Theatre has many different promotions that go during the season. Our favourite is the $29/ticket where they randomly pick your seats! It is usually just for a limited time, so we had to make a decision whether to go this year or not.

As an early celebration to our 9 year anniversary, we made a spontaneous decision to go during the week and check out another play, this time; Guys & Dolls.  We also booked a complimentary Stratford Warehouse Tour too, which actually ended up being a private tour! It was a great experience and we saw so many costumes from all the other plays, plus got to look at various props and learn some history.  Another cool part was at the end where we could choose our own costumes and pose for photos! 

After the tour, we walked around a bit (wow the humidity was pretty brutal but we lucked out with just a few drops of rain during our visit!) and headed to the souvenir shop so I could pick up some presents for my family. I got my brother a Stratford hat and my parents Guys & Dolls t-shirt. I also bought myself a t-shirt because it was in purple, my favourite colour! <3

Guys & Dolls was absolutely incredible and we had great seats! The cast was so energetic! The dance scenes were flawless and you could tell the time and dedication that was put in. You could really feel the emotional connection between characters and the chemistry. Also, the vocal chops on the actors and actresses were phenomenal. I admit, I didn't know all the songs, but I don't mind when that happens because I grew to love so many!  I don't have any photos of the inside because there are absolutely no photos allowed during the performance. Just being there and enjoying the experience was delightful. 

Once the performance was done, we were both very hungry and ready for a good meal. We booked a reservation prior to the show at our favourite spot; Fellini's.  They get extremely busy! I will admit that I was a little apprehensive on eating out at a restaurant because of all the digestive issues going on with me, but I didn't have any problems at all. I limited the amount of bread that I ate for our bruschetta appetizer.  Sorry, no photos of our meals, as I just enjoying a quiet and relaxing meal with my honey and didn't take out my camera.  

To end the meal, we stopped at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory! If you want THE BEST chocolate, go here. Oh so good! Bill had a mouth-watering Tiger Peanut Butter Cup and I had a yummy cashew cluster.

By the time we finished our chocolate treats, it was time to head back to Windsor! 

We had a wonderful little mini-getaway and I felt very rejuvenated and ready to get back to regular every day life.  

Enjoy some of the photos that I took of our trip. As always, if you wish to use any of them, please contact me. :)

Bill belongs in the theatre, doesn't he?

I had to take a photo of this because of the mannequins

Some of the costumes

More props used for various performances

Feeling like royalty, complete with the almighty look

Us posing

One of my favourite photos that I captured. So peaceful

Walking along the gorgeous pathway by the river, this guy is busy cleaning himself

 

Pretty flower from the gardens

Stratford Trip

Bill had a gig up in Stratford yesterday and so I came along. He mentioned we would get to go to Fellini's Restaurant again, so how could I say no? :)

We had a delicious lunch! I love the atmosphere, as it reminds me of many New York-style restaurants that I visited many years ago. The service at Fellini's is always top-notch too. If you have never been here, I would highly recommend it. If you are going for dinner though, make reservations, as they get really busy!

Check them out on Facebook or their website

Artistic menu cover

Perfect place for a party!

Lots of booths to choose from and on the other side, you can watch the chefs cook

A peek into seeing the chefs cook

Appetizer -  bruschetta

Main dish - fusseli with chicken, grape tomatoes, and almonds in a white wine pesto sauce. Delicious!

Orange Almond Cake. A nice light dessert.

Afterwards, I just took a walk around and did a little window shopping, while Bill went off to perform.

Downtown Stratford

Memorial Gardens