Category Archives: Reviews

TIFT Great Expectations

Posted on April 1, 2012 by barczablog

I had great expectations.  I had driven to Barrie for the latest Talk is Free Theatre (“TIFT”) show at the Mady Cenre for the Performing Arts adapted and directed by Richard Ouzounian from Charles Dickens’ novel, none other than Great … Continue reading →

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Melancholia

Posted on March 20, 2012 by barczablog

I am watching Melancholia for the second time.  Had I been able to get tickets when it came to the Toronto International Film Festival I would have seen it on a big screen.  Even on a small screen it’s quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Psychology and perception, Reviews | 1 Comment

AtG-7DS = Against the Grain Theatre-Seven Deadly Sins

Posted on March 17, 2012 by barczablog

Against The Grain (“AtG”) Theatre’s production The 7 Deadly Sins (and Holier Fare) resists easy categorization.  As I ponder this question (what is this show?), and try to stifle the impulse to classify, I can’t help noticing that the question … Continue reading →

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Carlos: By Request

Posted on March 11, 2012 by barczablog

A singing teacher I know tells me that he always gives a speech to his students early on.  It’s about the math, the reality of having a career in opera, when there are so many people studying, so few actual … Continue reading →

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Mirror images

Posted on March 5, 2012 by barczablog

I couldn’t help noticing an odd symmetry at the Academy Awards in February 2012. Two films won equal numbers of awards (Hugo won five, as did The Artist) Both films concern the early decades of cinema One film is set … Continue reading →

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Dark Matters, or What does Dance know of Puppetry?

Posted on March 2, 2012 by barczablog

Dark Matters is every bit as mysterious & profound as its portentous title.  The work was conceived, directed & choreographed by Crystal Pite, presented by her company Kidd Pivot Frankfurt RM (KP are supported by Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain) In the … Continue reading →

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Move(me)ant. The Marat/Sade Occupied

Posted on March 1, 2012 by barczablog

There are so many things going on in Move(me)ant. The Marat/Sade Occupied that it helps to be a good multi-tasker.  Its first public preview Tuesday February 28th gave us much more than a play. This student production at York University … Continue reading →

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Beckett: Feck It!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by barczablog

I just saw Queen of Puddings Music Theatre’s production, in association with Canadian Stage, of Beckett: Feck It!  You hear a title like that and you may well wonder what they were thinking, what they were trying to say. I … Continue reading →

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Tryst with Liszt

Posted on February 20, 2012 by barczablog

Neapolitan Connection presented “A Romantic Music Tryst with Liszt,” as a much a playful exploration as a concert, presented in the intimate Studio Theatre at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. The piano was not set up for a recital, … Continue reading →

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Dani Girl

Posted on February 19, 2012 by barczablog

Dani Girl is an original musical from the young team of Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (book & lyrics), now at the beginning of a Toronto run co-produced by Talk is Free Theatre and Show One Productions. Watching this … Continue reading →

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