Monday, 29 April 2013
Saturday, 20 April 2013
My Fair Lady: Shaw 2011
So most of us know the story of Pygmalion that was revised to a musical made famous my Julie Andrews, Rex Harrington and Audrey Hepburn. (If you don't, please research because you won't be let down). Well in 2011, my grade 11 drama teacher mention this woman, Deborah Hay, who he went to university with and how she was in My Fair Lady at The Shaw Festival. So I convinced my mother to get some tickets (it was easy because it was a fun musical) and I ventured off to Niagara-on-the-Lake to see what my teacher was talking about.
2 years later, I am still fascinated with this production of My Fair Lady. There was everything in wonderful in the show; the edgy design of costumes completed the antique set, the elegant dancing dazzled with the fresh voices. The performance by Benedict Campbell shouldn't have been overlooked as well, he knocked Professor Higgins out of the park and was a an excellent force to be wrecked with Hay's Eliza.
There was something real I saw on that stage that night, and that was the night my heart was stolen by Deborah Hay. She was the show stopper, with Cockney accent and all. She made the role her own, not necessarily following the footsteps of Andrews (who's brilliant, but no replica required). It was evident in every beat she danced, every note she sung, and every line she said. Deborah Hay became an inspiration to me in the she took her final bow and it was because she re-created Eliza Doolittle.
And that's why I am at school for theatre performance, to be my own actor. Even though I have so many actors I look up to and admire, I admire them because they don't try to be another actor, they are their own actor in their own right. For me, it' difficult, but that's why I am learning and that's why I still keep Deborah Hay's performance in my mind.
I am envious that my drama teacher went to school with such a fine actress and knows her. But it reminds me that it took even her to learn the ways of theatre before she became her own performer.
If you'd like to see more fabulous Shaw Festival Productions click on this link http://www.shawfest.com
With love,
Lisa Alves
Sunday, 7 April 2013
I'm Still Here
I would like to apologize for my absence from my blog. It's been quite a hectic couple of months as a theatre performance student. I've seen a lot of shows, done a lot of work, performed for my peers and faculty, creating with my peers and working my ass off. I've also recently just gotten into a bit of a tumble where I unfortunately sprained my left ankle.
So yes, my time away has been very busy, but I would not have traded it for the world because I've grown so much and I can't wait what's around the bend.
I hope to be posting some more thoughts on shows and what not and I hope all of you who have been reading continue to enjoy your days with smiles and happiness.
With love,
Lisa Alves
So yes, my time away has been very busy, but I would not have traded it for the world because I've grown so much and I can't wait what's around the bend.
I hope to be posting some more thoughts on shows and what not and I hope all of you who have been reading continue to enjoy your days with smiles and happiness.
With love,
Lisa Alves
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Saturday, 23 February 2013
End Game: Soulpepper 2012
I quickly fell back in love with Beckett and apologized for my quick dislike of his work thanks to Soulpepper. This piece of theatre is bleak but so full of complexity and thought. Daniel Brooks direction was absolutely fabulous and was evident from beginning to end. Diego Matamoros played Clov to Joseph Zielger's Hamm, which has probably been one of the richest relationships I've seen in theatre. Eric Peterson also graced the stage as Nagg with Maria Vacratsis' Nell. The presence was so alive in all four of them even though two of them were in a garbage can for their performance. And even when characters weren't on stage their energy was still present.
Julie Fox's dry walled set design appears as almost like a supporting character for the cast, give such a definite texture and feel to the piece. Richard Feren’s sound design and placement and everything he did with the echoes and faint wind sounds were the cherry on the sundae.
Kelly McEvenue also worked as an Alexander Technique coach with the cast to help them endure the slanted stage and unnatural physicality. And since she's been one of my instructors at Humber it was a pleasure to hear about the process and thoughts behind the piece.
It was such an engaging piece of theatre that I would have loved to see again and again to pick up on the things I missed. It was a knock out that made me appreciate Beckett more than I ever had.
You can get a season subscription to Soulpepper's 2013 season through their website, if you want to see fabulous productions like Endgame
Soulpepper
Website http://www.soulpepper.ca
Twitter https://twitter.com/Soulpepper
If you had a chance to see Endgame, let me know what you thought in the comments!
With love,
Lisa Alves
Roz and Guild: What Shakespeare Missed... BIG TIME
Soulpepper has begun their 2013 season with a brilliant play by Tom Stoppard. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (1966) is the piece of Hamlet Shakespeare missed. It's a comic masterpiece that follows Roz and Guild, two minor characters in Hamlet, as they wait to be summoned to the Danish court and then later this English King. It's intellectual writing weaves wonderfully through the pitiful story we know as Hamlet.
But the great this is, YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HAMLET! I personally haven't cracked open my copy of Hamlet for five years, so I was relying on my Lion King knowledge to help me out; and I understood and followed the story perfectly. It's because Stoppard detracted the importance on Hamlet to Roz and Guild, so really it's a whole new story for audiences whether they are Hamlet fanatics or not.
Joseph Ziegler's direction of this piece of theatre was evident with his wonderful style. Ziegler lead the the ship of this creation splendidly. Ted Dykstra and Jordan Pettle played the leading men. These actors played such great opposites with one being a bit more intellectual than the other and one being a little more carefree than the other. Dykstra played such an open role and was a pleasure to watch even when he was just listening to the craziness of the other characters. Pettle seemed like he approached his role the way his character naturally is, intellectually and dynamically. He was open and pleasure to listen to. Is was also great to be in the presence of Nancy Palk and Diego Matamoros once again, as they played Gertrude and Claudius. Kenneth Welsh and his group of traveling gypsy actor were the party of the show and added such a great tone to the performance.
The stage was in the round and the set was mobile, allowing for me to feel as if I was part of Roz and Guild's world which had a reminisces feel of Beckett's Waiting for Godot.
Speaking of Waiting for Godot, the play had that existential quality to it, dealing with the fate of these poor laughable characters, along with the confusion and oddity.
If you want to get tickets, please do because it is a must see! Soulpepper has added three new performances, extending the run for your viewing pleasure!
Soulpepper
Twitter https://twitter.com/Soulpepper
If you have seen it, comment here to tell me how you enjoyed it! :)
With love,
Lisa
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Till Eulenspiegel - Humber
It's the 3rd Year performance student's production. They've been working so hard on this semester and I can't wait to see the preview tonight!
If you want to check it out, follow the information bellow.
Don't miss out on a fantastic performance!
Till Eulenspiegel (In the afterlife of Jerzy Kosinski) opens ON FRIDAY!
Reserve your tickets at humber.theatre@humber.ca
February 23,26,27,28, March 1 and 2 @ 7pm
Matinees: February 24th and March 2nd at 2pm
Adults $15
Students/Seniors $10
Alumni $5
DON'T MISS IT!
With love,
Lisa Alves
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