Mark Andrew Lawrence - Page 4

Angelwalk Theatre presents the Toronto premiere of [title of show] at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Though the production values are minimal, the dynamite cast take hold of the material and milk it for all it's worth! * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Loretta Swit has played the title role in Willy Russell's Shirley Valentine everywhere from Chicago to Guam. Now she brings Shirley and her friends Wall and Rock to Mississauga's Stage West Dinner Theatre.

This is one not to miss - a first rate touring edition of a much lauded Broadway revival of one of Rodgers & Hammerstein's most challanging and rewarding musical plays. Jason Howard, Carmen Cusack, Jodi Kimura and Anderson Davis head a settlar cast. * * * * * (out of 5)

The Civic Light Opera Company wraps up their 2009-10 season with an enjoyable staging of the musical Funny Girl, anchored by a performer more than up to the task of the role of Fanny Brice. * * * * 1/2 (out of 5)

A terrific cast and a score made up of 80's evergreens makes Rock Of Ages an energizing night out. The cliche-ridden plot serves solely as an excuse for the two dozen period songs, but the in the end it's the music that delivers the high-octane entertainment. * * * * (OUT OF 5)

Almost ten years to the day, Mamma Mia returns to the city where the show had its North American premiere. It isn't the happiest of homecomings, due to an annoying tendency for the cast to overplay the material. Still the songs are as effervescent as ever and the book cleverly weaves them into a slender story. * * * (out of 5)

A revival of GREASE offers a watered down version of the original stage script, needlessly interpolates four songs from the motion picture version, and pointlessly brings in Taylor Hicks to play Teen Angel. Some lively choreography fails to compensate. * (out of 5)

The Gene Wilder screenplay becomes the unsatisfactory basis for a failed Broadway musical. The star performance of Roger Bart goes a long way to making the performance endurable, but the show is far cry from being any kind of musical theatre classic. * * (out of 5)

Curtain Call Players manage to successfully make the epic musical TITANIC work on a smaller stage. A huge ensemble of 50 ensures the choral aspects of the score are excitingly presented, and although the director cannot completely solve some of the show's more obstinate problems, the production generated an enthusiastic response from the opening night audience. * * * * (out of 5)

Rex has a reputation as a big Broadway disaster. It is well known that the show had many problems on the rocky road to Broadway in 1976, but The Civic Light Opera Company's new production shows off the show's strengths. Sheldon Harnick attended the opening night performance and pronounced this production to be everything he had always hoped the show to be. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Leave it to Theatre Erindale to unearth a relatively unknown recent play and turn it into a brilliant showcase for the female members of the school's acting ensemble. A String of Pearls is a fascinating and funny piece that is highly recommended, with the caveat that there is some strong language and adult situations involved. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

It will never be regarded as one of Broadway's greatest, the show Footloose can be fun and entertaining when the production features an energetic and youthful cast and a charismatic leading man. Meadowvale Music Theatre's production scores on both of these points, and even if the production occasionally falters, the energetic performances help compensate. * * * (OUT OF 5)

Birdland Theatre has joined forces with Barrie's Talk is Free Theatre to present a mesmerizing production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's darkly comic piece Assassins. Fans of the show will no doubt want to see it, but others are well advised to take this scary ride and see for themselves. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Amicus Productions presentation of Noel Coward's comedy Fallen Angels proves to be a real crowd pleaser thanks to its leading ladies. * * * * (OUT OF 5)

If you have fond memories of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House books or the popular 1970's TV series, steer clear of the Canon Theatre because your expectations sure to be foiled. The same applies if you are a musical theatre fan out to see this new musical adapted from the novels. Despite a few fine performances the show as a whole just does not work. * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Caitlynne Medrek gives an incandescent performance as the title character in Encore Entertainment's engrossing staging of the 1997 version of The Diary of Anne Frank. * * * * * (OUT OF 5)

Patty Jamieson, Jacquelyn French and Jeff Lillico head a superb cast in a ravishingly beautiful production of The Light in the Piazza playing a limited 3-week run at the Berkeley Street Theatre. * * * * * (OUT OF 5)

Shaw's classic play is given a fine revival by Stage Centre Productions. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Caryl Churchill's once daring play has lost some of its edge over the past three decades, but thanks to a terrific cast and solid direction, it still entertains. * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Dixie Longate brings her Tupperware Party to Mississauga sending the crowd in the RBC Theatre at the Living Arts Centre into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Dixie - we love your cups! * * * * (OUT OF 5)