‘Love From A Stranger’ Twists and Turns in Classic Christie Style

 While 10,000 British pounds sterling may not seem like a life-changing sum of money, when Agatha Christie penned the short story Philomel Cottage in 1924, it was enough money for the protagonist Cecily Harrington to quit her job and take up with a man she had only shared one lunch

Farewell to an Ottawa gem: The ByTowne Cinema

 By Matt Horwood After 32 years of operation, the independent ByTowne Cinema has been forced to close its doors due to numerous challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Declining audiences and a smaller selection of films to show gave owner Bruce White no choice but to shut down the theatre on

Theatre Thrives at the 1000 Islands Playhouse

 All photos/graphics courtesy of 1000 Islands Playhouse. The 1000 Islands Playhouse sits where local culture and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking views meet. Right now, the Gananoque theatre is gearing up for its 35th season and 10 performances that promise love, mystery, music and unforgettable performances. The playhouse operates out of

‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ at the Gladstone

 Chris Ralph as Vanya, Mary Ellis as Sonia and Teri Loretto-Valentik as Masha. Promotional photos by David Whiteley.  It is going to take a lot to convince people that on a beautiful sunny, warm day that the place to be is inside a theatre watching a play.  However, that is

Don’t be Afraid of Virginia Woolf

 Photo by Andrew Alexander. Get your theatre fix this week in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  It is currently playing at the Gladstone Theatre and in short, is a fantastic production. The play is classic and entertaining, but bear in mind going in that the plot is dark

May The Fringe Be With You

 A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… Okay, actually just over a decade ago in Kamloops, British Columbia. But for Canadian actor Charles Ross, originator of the Off-Broadway hit One Man Star Wars Trilogy life certainly can feel like you’re in another galaxy sometimes. It all started

The Undercurrents Festival Showcases Innovation in Contemporary Independent Theatre

 Sarah Waisvisz in Monstrous. Photo by Christopher Snow. The undercurrents theatre festival is well-known in Ottawa for bringing socially and politically relevant, contemporary independent plays to the stage.  The festival, which started at GCTC and moved to Arts Court in 2015, has cultivated a history of originality throughout its six

The Fantastic Phoenix Players

 Founded in 2001 and now in their 14th season, the Phoenix Players are an unstoppable force in Ottawa’s theater community. The Players are a community theater group on a mission to produce a quality and accessible theatre experience for their members and audiences. The group offers opportunities for anyone to

‘The Creation of the World’ is Worth Your Time

 All photos by Andre R. Gagne. When The Creation of the World and Other Business opened in 1972, the New York Times reviewer said “…the whole thing has the air of a comic-strip version of Genesis.” As the years went on, Creation’s press didn’t get much better. 20 years later

Feel the Love with Odyssey Theatre

 All photos by Maria Vartanova. Odyssey Theatre, the open-air theatre in Strathcona Park that specializes in telling stories with the use of masks, opened its 30th season on Sunday night, and this year’s theme is love. With a nod to three Spanish literary giants, (Cervantes and Tirso de Molina from

Phoenix Players: Rexy!

 Take a step back in time with Rexy! Phoenix Players is back at the Gladstone Theatre with a production of the beloved political satire, Rexy! Phoenix Players, a staple in the capital community since 2001, brings affordable, high quality live theatre to the communities in and around Ottawa. Dedicated to

‘Stuff Happens’ at the NAC

 Photo courtesy of Andree Lanthier Take yourself back to post 9/11, to the time of George W. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ in Iraq and the cast of characters like Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz and Tony Blair, just to name a few. There have been so

Get Great Vision from Fish Eyes at the GCTC

 Beyoncé, eat your heart out. When it comes to shaking your booty and making the moves on the dance floor, there is nobody like Anita Majumdar. Majumdar, the star, playwright and choreographer of the current double bill at the GCTC, Fish Eyes and Boys with Cars, has Beyoncé beat by

Celebrate Jane Austen in Perth tonight

 There is no question Jane Austen fans were celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice in 2013. However, it’s not too late to tip your hat to the occasion. The play Elizabeth - Darcy: An Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which had two successful Toronto runs,

Great way to spend your night … Catch 9-5

 There is nothing like a good musical to pick you up when you are feeling down and 9-5 fills the job nicely.  For those you may have forgotten, 9-5 was actually a 1980 film that went on to become one of the highest-grossing comedies.  Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dolly

Once Upon a Kingdom Theatre Celebrates Five Years in Ottawa

 Aiming to unite Ottawa's diverse cultures through artistic experience, Once Upon a Kingdom Theatre (OUK) celebrated five years of successful work in the community on Jan. 18 at Woodroffe United Church. Attendees participated in a Pantomime workshop and were entertained by children and professional adult actors with enchanting performances. "It

Shakespeare in Ottawa’s Great Outdoors

 Every summer, local theatre enthusiasts gather in parks around the city to experience productions by A Company of Fools. As part of Torchlight Shakespeare, the company has presented an outdoor production during the summer season since 2003. Scott Florence is the artistic director of A Company of Fools, which is