Category Archives: Dance, theatre & musicals

Pollyanna and the lessons of 2018

Posted on January 5, 2019 by barczablog

In past years my annual review was out in December, but this time it’s later than usual: because I’ve had a real holiday this year, more sleep and more silence than usual, dodging the viruses & germs pursuing other members … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Reviews, University life | 3 Comments

From the Water: vivid and powerful

Posted on December 14, 2018 by barczablog

I saw the opening night performance of Will King’s From the Water, presented by Seven Siblings Theatre at Tarragon’s Extraspace. A rush of responses across several categories helps me to write. It’s wonderful to be moved, to be excited on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Questions for Will King – Seven Siblings Theatre

Posted on December 8, 2018 by barczablog

Will King is a graduate from the BFA Acting program at the University of Windsor. With training that includes the Moscow Art Theatre School, & workshops at R.A.D.A. the Stratford Festival, and the S.I.T.I. Company from New York, he is … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

No Forbidden Questions as Aaron & Michael talk about Verbotenlieder

Posted on December 6, 2018 by barczablog

Aaron Durand + Michael Nyby = Tongue in Cheek Productions. No that’s not a formula but come to think of it there is a curious creative chemistry, a tendency to energize. I find it exciting to talk to them, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Questions for Thomas Gough: Ebenezer Scrooge

Posted on November 23, 2018 by barczablog

If you go to the theatre in Toronto it’s quite possible you’ve seen Thomas Gough. He has an avuncular presence, perhaps a result of years as a teacher, and so he’s perfect for roles such as Brabantio in Othello or … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Space Opera Zero

Posted on November 17, 2018 by barczablog

When I write about the shows I see I’m sometimes overwhelmed by envy, wishing it were me who’s up there singing or playing. We’re never more alive than when we’re dying onstage. And so I’ll often toss off these spontaneous … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Vitals

Posted on November 16, 2018 by barczablog

Whenever I see a new theatre piece, whether spoken or musical, I’m juggling a few balls, responding to the work that was composed / written the interpretation / direction of that piece the performances / acting in the piece Whatever … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Psychology and perception, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Helen’s Necklace via Canadian Rep Theatre

Posted on November 11, 2018 by barczablog

I knew what I was going to see when I got to the upstairs space on Berkeley St. Oh sure, it was Canadian Rep Theatre’s staging of Carole Fréchette’s play Helen’s Necklace in John Murrell’s translation, directed by Ken Gass. … Continue reading →

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Circa Humans

Posted on November 10, 2018 by barczablog

Tonight I saw Humans by the Circa Ensemble a visiting troupe from Australia. I read the following brief preamble from Yaron Lifschitz, the Artistic Director of Circa.  While it was poignant before the show, it was positively illuminating to re-read … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Workshop Ecology

Posted on October 27, 2018 by barczablog

I’ve been tossing and turning, struggling with several questions in my head. I regularly wake up in the night to fine-tune something that I’ve blogged, fixing a wrong spelling, adding wrinkles & nuances. It’s been a turbulent two weeks, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments