Scarborough Music Theatre's Annie on easy street.

Scarborough Music Theatre's Annie, presented at Scarborough Village Theatre from November 4-20, 2010 is already completely sold out so they need no boost from me -- but I'll give them one anyway.  Having seen the show, I would say it's a winner.  Though the show was inspired by Harold Gray's popular Little Orphan Annie comic strip (first published in 1924 and only just recently canceled in June of this year!), this presentation of Annie brings what could be a 'cartoony' piece to life with fully fleshed out and believable characters who charm and entertain their audiences.

Amanda Sinclair, first time Director, has pulled together a fantastic cast including James Robert Woods as Warbucks, Zandee Toovey as Hannigan, Patty Sullivan as Lily St. Regis, John Palmieri as Rooster Hannigan, and, of course, the charming and talented newcomer, Devin Cecchetto as Annie.  Amanda has presented a solid, minimalized staging of this show.  Unfortunately, some of the scene changes were cumbersome - a common problem on that stage.  And there was, unfortunately, some unevenness in the overall production but this was outshone by the obvious warmth and investment of this very talented cast and Director.

Len McCarthy, Musical Director, steered his cast to some beautiful vocal work.  However, the orchestra was, sadly, not clean and tempos were a bit strange, suggesting that Len was struggling.  Also, the orchestra, at times, overpowered the singers and could have used a bit of ramping back.  However, vocally, the show was very strong and enjoyable.  Cheers, to Len and his cast.

Choreographer Amy Helsby did an excellent job of capitalizing on the talents of her cast, inserting choreography seamless with the blocked action and with absolutely appropriate physical styles -- from the gymnastics of the orphans to the prim and proper movement of Warbuck's household staff.  Occasionally, the focus of the moment was a bit unclear; however, very solid work from both the cast and the choreographer.

The orphan ensemble was excellent and full of energy, and it was obvious that each had worked hard on developing an individual character.  I did have some trouble understanding them at times, though, both because of miking and vocal placement.  However, their dancing and acrobatics were stunning, making them a joy to watch.  Congrats to these very talented young people.  The adult chorus was called on to play numerous roles during the show from the down and out, to servants, to performers in a radio show and rose to each occasion with distinct character work and a solid focus throughout. Kudos to them and their Director.

There were so many highlights in this show. Zandee Toovey (Hannigan), John Palmieri (Rooster), and Patty Sullivan (Lily) burned up the stage with "Easy Street" easily making the presentation of this song one of my most memorable moments in community theatre.

James Robert Woods (Warbucks) and Devin Cecchetto (Annie) had a lovely chemistry and warmth which charmed the whole audience.  Both performers sang beautifully and were a joy to watch.

All in all, SMT has a winner with Annie, an enjoyable show for all ages.  There will still be rush tickets available (despite the sold out show - there were empty seats in the theatre last night).  Just get yourself down to the box office early on a show night.  If last night was any indication, you have a good chance of seeing a great show.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee gets it right.

I took my family to see Encore Entertainment's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Sunday afternoon and we enjoyed the show immensely.  Director, Mario DAlimonte, Music Director, Ellen Kestenberg, and Choreographer, Larry Westlake have put together a strong ensemble cast to present a tight, enjoyable show.

Spelling Bee tells the story of a group of quirky kids trying to win a regional spelling bee.  It's a cleverly written, funny show and, as part of the action, audience members (who volunteer) are called up on stage and participate in the bee.  Much of the action is adlibbed and this talented cast pulls off both the impromptu and scripted work beautifully.

This is truly community theatre as it should be and I highly recommend you go see it. 

Saying no.

I am a director in theatre.  I love it.  Love it.  And I think I love it partially because the essence of art is a positive.  It's saying yes.  Yes to new opportunities, yes to crazy ideas, yes to the humanity of it all.  I love to hear the word yes, as well.  It's my favourite word, in fact.  In my own personal philosophy, yes is life affirming. 

So, why, do you think, am I saying no a lot, lately?  It's got me a bit worried because I do so much like yes.

Well, what am I saying no to?  A lot of mainstream society, right now.  I am saying no to television, to fast food, to the daily grind, to playing games on my cell phone when real people are sitting right there.  I am saying no to standardized education for my daughter.  I am saying no to buying a new car every four or five years, to redecorating my house every three, and to buying a whole new wardrobe as the seasons change.  I am saying no to....

Uh, forget it.  Nothing to worry about, here.  Move along.

No Excuses - Our rights are ours to lose.

We are in a period, worldwide, in which society is more restricted.  They're even ramping back on liberal minded policies in Denmark, for goodness sake.  So, so...the pendulum swings.  However, basic human rights (should I say human necessities) are starting to be restricted here in Canada.  This is scary.  Recently, Alex Hundert (one of those jailed in the fallout from the protests of the G20 meeting in Toronto) was offered bail.  He refused because the conditions were so draconian:  he was not allowed to express his political views, or consort with political activists, or plan political meetings or marches.  Huh?  This is a guy who is not yet convicted.

I keep wondering how this kind of censorship could possibly be thought appropriate in a free society?  And no one seems to care.  Why not?

I would have said ten years ago that folks simply didn't know.  That the mainstream media wasn't reporting what they should and few folks read the papers anyway.  But now?  Well, now there are loudmouths like me.  And there are tons of mes out there, just waiting to jump up and down and do their lollies over this kind of thing.  Okay, I'm not doing my lolly.  I am a little too stunned that the courts attempted to so completely control Alex Hundert.  However, the internet is full of folk like me who are darn happy to put this information in your face(book).

So, no excuses.  It's not ignorance.  Perhaps we just don't care. 

These rights we have, this freedom, it is ours to lose.

We should keep our lunch money.

When we discuss keeping  corporations operating in this country, employing lots of Canadians, we all think that our current neo-liberal measures make a lot of sense:  taxes reduced systematically since the 1970's, laws eased, environmental disasters cleaned up or ignored by government, massive mistakes bailed out by governments, obscene remuneration packages and bonuses ignored.  Oh yes!  We must take care of these corporations.  Why, the fabric of society is at risk.  Everything we've worked toward will be lost if we don't help the corporations.  Where will we work?  We all need our cubicles!

Well, that's just the lobbyists talking and the media parroting..  Are we really supposed to listen to lobbyists?  Should we really listen to the media?  Uh, no.  Yes, I understand that businesses could pack up their balls and go to the States, but I bet this simply wouldn't happen.  Other countries (Scandinavian) have proven that reasonable taxes and humane, moral laws do not send businesses running.  Even in our own country, we have seen that banks (under much tighter restrictions than in the States) are still humming along happily with lots and lots of cubicles.

The fact is this:  in pandering to the corporations, we've given our lunch money to the schoolyard bully.  And we all know from childhood that the bully will never be assuaged.  He will want this day's lunch money, and the next day's lunch money, and then, our new pair of running shoes, and then...  Where does it all stop?  Why are we so eager to let this happen?  Could it be that we are, truly, all living in fear?

I think the answer is yes.  The baby boomers en masse are, obviously, entitled, whiny, snotty-nosed wimps.  It's on our watch that this all happened.  We're so scared that we're going to lose these cubicle jobs and the benefit packages that go with them.  And what's the result?  Pretty much what you'd expect on any playground.  We are, of course, getting what we most fear.  The fabric of our society is currently unraveling; the middle class disappearing; there is a war on poverty and the environment.  Fear has sent us down a road to certain failure.

Maybe we need to stand up and give these corporations a bit of a black eye, metaphorically speaking.  Maybe we need get our lunch money back (get taxes back to 1970 levels, make corporations accountable for their own environmental impact, insist on a reasonable minimum wage, heavily tax insane bonus packages).  Why not?  Currently we are standing in the schoolyard with an empty tummy and bare feet.

And, really, what are we risking by taking a stand as a people?  A bunch of cubicle jobs that everybody hates.  Hmmmm.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

The rise of Rob Ford in Toronto is confusing.  The man is clearly anti-transit, anti-arts, anti-city, anti-humane.  Is this a triumph of stupidity over reason?  Of selfishness over care?  Of crassness over thoughtfulness?

It's funny. I always wondered how the heck Julius Caesar could have won power in ancient Rome.  Clearly, he was an egotistical punk, willing to do anything to gain power and, clearly, those who knew him would have been smart enough to know that.  Now, unlike Rob Ford, Caesar was brilliant, don't get me wrong.  There's not a lot to compare the two.  But a violent punk, nonetheless.

Could it be that the liberal factions in Rome were split then just as the liberal factions in Toronto are split right  now?  Could it be that there were too many reasonable voices and not one strong voice around which we could all rally?  Watching this happen in Toronto makes me think that, perhaps, split liberal factions was one of the factors that allowed Caesar to power and helped the Republic devolve into an Empire.

What devolution will we experience in Toronto, if Mr. Ford gets into office, I wonder?

I would call for the leading liberal candidates to come together.  I know you believe your platforms have little in common but compared to Rob Ford, folks, you are all, practically, running the same campaign.  I have no idea how you could choose among you.  Play a game of rock, paper, scissors if you have to, but pick a leader, get behind her or him, and win this fight against Rob Ford.

I know; I know.  Some of you will have to put personal considerations and personal ambitions behind.  But if you don't, you run the risk of damaging that very thing you are running to protect.  And, when Ford leaves, there will be more of a mess to clean up.  So, come on.  You can do it, folks.  Rock, paper, scissors.

All or Nothing

In Ontario, the government funds not only a public school system but a Roman Catholic School system as well.   Sounds rather magnanimous of the people of this fine province, huh?  Especially since the number of practicing Catholics has dropped so much, it's not in the toilet, it's more flushed out into Lake Ontario somewhere.

But it makes me wonder?  If we are funding the Roman Catholics, shouldn't we be funding absolutely everybody else?  The Jewish, the Buddhists, the Taoists.  The Islamists, Bahai, Hindu, Confusionists, Jainists, Shintoists, the Sikhs...the, the, the....

Phew.  Funny about systemic discrimination.  We don't really think about it.  But it isn't really fair, is it?  We can't fund one religion and not fund all the others.  We would be implying that the only real religion is Roman Catholicism.  That's the one we should trust to teach our children.  You know, the one that is sodden with pedophile priests.  That one.

Hmmm.  On second thought.  What about the 'nothing' option.  Let's not fund any of them at all.  Let's have public education be public and any religious instruction be the responsibility of the parents.

Huh.  Maybe that's too radical....