K-W & Beyond

Theatre Aquarius is celebrating its 35^th season as a professional theatre company. It is located in downtown Hamilton in the Dofasco Centre for the Arts, a $12 million dollars state-of-the-art facility, and it has an impressive history of well known as well as new and innovative productions. There is a lengthy record of such plays as The Music Man, Death of a Salesman, Sound of Music, On Golden Pond, Evita and many more very much worth of attendance. This season The Diary of Anne Frank already closed in October, and in 2010 Tuesdays with Morrie, Doubt and The Rocky Horror Show are planned.

Half Life by John Mighton, directed by Anthony Black

It is an ambitious endeavour to stage Half Life – with all its background and details and nuances. It is not a play for a weekend entertainment or wondering tourists; it requires some preparation and life experience. It helps if one was born before President Kennedy was shot.

Two nursing home residents meet and in their foggy reality they believe that they have met before, some 50 or 60 years earlier. They search for memories and wish for another chance of love, closeness and companionship. Their adult children perceive it as bizarre and inappropriate. The wish for affection and closeness is terminated by those in control who know best.

Jerry Franken as Patrick is impressive, his acting very convincing. Barbara Gordon as Clara unfortunately does not present the believable image of old bedridden and confused lady. It takes guts and style and confidence, not to mention the necessary make up and an understanding director to present the old befuddled woman locked up in the nursing home, and not many modern actresses in North America can – or are prepared – to handle that. Other parts of Reverend Hill (John Jarvis), Anna and Donald – the adult children of the seniors - played by Briony Glassco and John Fitzgerald Jay – are much more authentic. Unfortunately this production does not rise to the level of performance that took place in 2007 at CanStage in Toronto. But they have different resources. Still we are looking forward to future productions.

Half Life continues at The Aquarius Theatre in Hamilton till November 7.

To find out more go to the web-site www.theatreaquarius.org, or phone 905-522-PLAY.

Canwest Cabaret Festival – The Young Centre for the Performing Arts October 29 to November 1

This is the second year that the Festival is taking place – four days total of 60 performances in five small spaces converted into cabaret settings with tables, wine, beer or water available. It is the celebration of Canadian songwriters and singers, the crowd is enthusiastic, many people buying multiple tickets for the shows. This time I attended only one show: Leonard Cohen Songbook, next year I will mark it in my calendar and plan for more.

Leonard Cohen is well known and highly appreciated in Canada – and as I discovered, in Great Britain as well. No, he was not present at Canwest Festival, it was a group of singers and musicians singing his songs from his recent London Concert, receiving long and emotional applause from the audience. We have heard such well-known and memorable songs as "Hallelujah", "I’m your man", "Take this waltz", "So long, Marianne" and "Everybody knows". Patricia O’Callaghan and Brent Carver were exceptionally successful at interpretations; both were to have another concert during the festival.

Other performances were to celebrate Joni Mitchell, Denzal Sinclaire, Stevie Wonder and many others. Some of the shows were sold out days ahead, others were selling on the spot. The location is great, the light food selection available was great, what can I say – great idea, thank you Albert Shultz! We will come again!