The City of Oshawa is seeking visual artists to transform a trio of upright pianos to be placed around the city. The 88 Keys Project will be unveiled July 2016 with pianos at Civic Square downtown, at Northview Community Centre and the South Oshawa Community Centre. The painted pianos will be available to the public for some ivory tickling of their own. Pianos as public art have been successful in many cities and places around the world. Locally pianos have been made available at The Pit at Durham College and as shown in the video below in Cobourg, Ont. Oshawa while known as the headquarters of General Motors Canada also was the site of piano making factories including R.S. Williams. Williams pianos were chosen by Queen Victoria for Windsor Palace. It would be a wonderful addition to the project if the pianos donated had been part of Oshawa’s industrial heritage. Piano donations are still welcome so if anyone has a Williams maybe, maybe? Artists have until Friday Apr. 15 to contact the city with their ideas for the project and an honorarium of $1500 will be awarded to each artist.
Rick Kerr, Joseph Lauria and John Lunman maintain pace with The Timekeepers
THE TIMEKEEPERS, Producer: Carolyn Wilson, Director: Phil Ireland, Performers: Rick Kerr, Joseph Lauria, John Lunman
As theatregoers, we are acutely aware how a strong, dramatic impact of any play can leave a profound influence on us long after the curtain has come down. We know that a play is good if we are thinking about a number of its issues in the days to follow. This is how I felt after I had seen the London, New York and Toronto companies of Yasmina Reza’s ‘Art’ and John Patrick Shanley’s ‘Doubt, A Parable’. Well, upon seeing Saturday night’s performance, I can count Dan Clancy’s ‘The Timekeepers’ up there as well.
This past weekend’s performance is a clear indication that ‘The Timekeepers’ is so compelling and haunting that you will find yourself reflecting on it in the days to follow thanks to the extraordinary and moving work of three veteran performers and to the keen, sharp direction by Phil Ireland. Staged in the intimate auditorium of Oshawa’s Arts Resource Centre by the Durham Shoestring Performers, the audience is immediately thrust into a claustrophobic cell in the concentration camp of Sachsenhausen, Germany. The opening five-minute pre-performance is mesmerizing and simultaneously terrifying.
In his New York Times Review, Rob Kendt wrote “The Timekeepers” looks like yet another case study in concentration-camp psychodrama. Throw two contrasting characters — in this case, a Jewish artisan (Rick Kerr) and a gay hustler (Joseph Lauria) — into confinement and watch the sparks and, inevitably, their unconquerable common humanity fill the room.” Agreed, this play is a story of unconquerable common humanity, and yet, ‘The Timekeepers’ is more than this. In his program notes, Mr. Ireland stated an interesting quote from Jane Yolen in ‘The Devil’s Arithmetic’: “fiction…can be that witness, that memory [to] remind us that the swallows still sing around the smokestacks.” When you have three dynamic and experienced actors who continually reflect Kendt’s and Yolen’s messages throughout the production, you have the makings of a terrific night of live theatre.
Messrs. Kerr and Lauria hold the skilled acting chops to maintain the brisk, razor-edged duet of dialogue where we, as audience, never lose focus not even for a split second. We are moved from fear to laughter and to tears in a matter of seconds in not knowing what is going to happen next. On top of this, we never know when the brutal capo (a formidable and masterly performance by John Lunman) will arrive which heightens the tension moment by moment. The sound of the ticking clock in each scene change to indicate the passage of time reverberates in the auditorium and in our memory.
Get to see this one before it closes! ‘The Timekeepers’ continues at Oshawa’s Arts Resource Centre (behind Oshawa City Hall) March 30 – April 2 inclusive at 8 pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door or visit the website for further information.
Oshawa Little Theatre's Sweeney Todd is a cut above the rest
SWEENEY TODD, Producer: Johnny Soln, Music Director: Lyle Corrigan, Director: David Silvestri
Well, one of the grand daddies of all musicals opened March 23 at the Oshawa Little Theatre in blazing glory. ‘Sweeney Todd’ is one musical (and it’s not a comedy by any means, albeit there are some humorous moments) that most singers and actors would like to add to their resume. Set in 19th century England, the story details the return of barber Sweeney Todd (a diabolical delivery by David Cardinal) to London after 15 years of exile in order to take revenge on the corrupt judge (an astounding performance by Tom Lynch) who banished him, by conspiring with a local baker, Mrs. Lovett (a wickedly attentive performance by Tabitha Alexis) who is in desperate need of fresh meat for her pies. There are elements of the Parisian Grand Guignol in how Lovett and Todd conspire to turn the ‘worst pies’ in London to ones that are ‘oh, so good’.
Like a good number of Sondheim musicals, ‘Sweeney’ is one that is particularly difficult to sing because the music comprises so many harmonies and melodies. I am positive music director Lyle Corrigan would have had to work these singers and actors stringently to ensure those notes were hit. Thank goodness the majority sported microphones as this is a show that requires every single word sung to be heard; otherwise, it is extremely easy to get lost either in the plot development or the orchestra overpowering the company.
Upon entering the auditorium, we are treated immediately to a veritable feast for the eyes. Ian Handscomb and team’s spectacular set design combined with Colin Hughes’ stunning lighting effects transport us immediately to the London of long ago. Once again, the costume team at OLT must be recognized for its painstaking work involved in selecting materials, textures and fabrics to complement each player whether he or she is a central character, supporting character or ensemble member.
As SWEENEY is a three-hour production with intermission, the pacing and staging are of utmost importance to director David Silvestri and, for the most part, the cast works diligently to maintain the momentum in propelling the story forward. Some of those set pieces look extremely hard to manoeuver and, as performances continue, I’m sure all the marks will be hit quickly and safely. There are some outstanding moments that need to be highlighted. As the simpleton Tobias, Sheldon Suepaul tugs at our hearts as he sings “Not While I’m Around” to Mrs. Lovett. I wondered how the murders would have been committed once the infamous barber’s chair was revealed – with the use of lights, each one is chilling to watch. As lovebirds Johanna and Anthony, Taylor Rodkin and Jason Butler Burns convincingly juxtapose that goodness can and tries to exist in the dark underbelly of London. Alison Braley-Rattai’s Beggar Woman captures beautifully the life of the poor and just that final element of sadness that sends Todd over the edge. Jeremy Cook as Beadle continually senses how following the law is of utmost importance even though the world around him is crumbling. Johnny Soln offers much needed laughter as the shyster, Pirelli, before the carnage begins.
What is most outstanding in this production, nevertheless, is the vocal work of the entire ensemble, and this would include when the principal players join in. Once again, it is encouraging to see how many of these performers range from extensive work on other shows to those who are just beginning their involvement in community theatre. Kudos to Lyle Corrigan as the singing in this production is comparable to what one would pay big bucks to see on the Mirvish stages in downtown Toronto.
‘Sweeney Todd’ continues at the Oshawa Little Theatre March 25 – 31 and April 1 – 9 at 8 pm with some matinee performances at 2 pm. Contact the box office at (905) 723-0282 or for further information.
Joe Szek: Dancyn Productions puts the best in Best Friends by Daryl Marks
BEST FRIENDS by Daryl Marks
Dancyn Productions
Produced by Linda Lyons and Zac Mansfield and Directed by Daryl Marks
by Joe Szek
The autobiographical ‘Best Friends’ opened Thursday February 25 as a labour of love for its playwright and director, Daryl Marks. In the Program End notes, he tells us how the death of his dog, Shakespeare, had such a profound impact on him. As anyone who has ever lost a pet can attest, we become attached to these ‘critters’ so much as they have become members of our family. Although I have never owned a pet, I can recall how the death of the dog of my best friend, his wife and two boys left me with some emptiness for awhile each time I visited their home.
The premise of Marks’ play is interesting. Shoe salesman/part time actor Turner (Paul Kit) is struggling in the aftermath of losing his dog, Dickens. In a pub where people gather who have lost their pets, Turner meets troubled, free-lance photographer, Alice (Stephanie Koktan) whose own pooch, Daytona, is ill. These two lost souls begin a slow, intimate connection dance on many levels. As the story continues, we see how other people connected to Turner and Alice’s lives are interwoven into this story of laughter and hope. A number of seasoned performers from Durham Region (Zade O’Blenes, Heather Sessions, Dave Drennan, Glenn Ottaway and Daniel Wyse) have assumed a variety of supporting roles to help propel the story forward.
Congratulations must be extended to DANCYN PRODUCTIONS, the newest live theatrical based company in the Durham Region. It is to be highly commended for taking risks in showcasing original and, sometimes, unrecognized works. Executive Producer and Company Director Joan Mansfield validates the plethora of talent within Durham and wants to extend as many opportunities as possible for local performing artists to be a part of DANCYN’S season. The number of astonishing hours of work that DANCYN puts forward to transform a community events hall into a performance space is absolutely incredible. As Arthur Miller once wrote in ‘Death of a Salesman’ that ‘attention must be paid to such a person’, audience attention and recognition must be paid to DANCYN for its selfless professionalism in wanting to promote and mount quality live theatrical productions.
‘Best Friends’ continues until March 5, 2016 at 8 pm with some matinee performances at 2 pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
Joe Szek, Borelians in Port Perry have a home full of hope
HAVING HOPE AT HOME
Produced by Kyle Brough and Directed by Helen Coughlin
By Joe Szek
This season, the Borelians of Port Perry have selected stories that have touched our hearts and souls, and David S. Craig’s ‘Having Hope at Home’ is a gentle reminder of just how important family is to each of us no matter what occurs in our lives. Not only do we have a chance to laugh at what happens before a baby is born, but also we are brought to tears in being reminded that the arrival of a newborn infant signals an opportunity for a fresh start for everyone.
Michel Charbonneau and Carolyn Bingham (played convincingly by real life and charming husband and wife Kyle and Justine Dickie) have moved away from the rush of Canadian urban life to live on the old Bingham family farm (complete with peeling wallpaper and out dated but comfortable furniture) with their eccentric grandfather (a hilarious Howard Linscott), where they plan to raise a child and run a dairy business. Together all three find solace in tradition and inspiration in each other. On a winter night, Michel and Carolyn’s baby is about to arrive. But modern medicine meets midwifery head on in a torrent of family feuding headed by stuffy, pretentious and over protective parents Bill and Jane Bingham (played so skillfully by David Geene and Joanne Norman that we want to get up on that stage and cuff them). As tensions rise between three dysfunctional generations, it takes the baby’s arrival with the midwife (a nicely grounded performance by Carolyn Goff) to heal the rift in this funny, heart -warming story of forgiveness.
There are so many individuals behind the scenes to make community theatre pulse and, in this production, these selfless people have given of their time to ensure this play is a success. Subtle touches within the set and use of props strongly indicate to the audience how drafty this farmhouse must have been, complete with the plastic over the windows and the periodic sound of the howling wind. It is clearly obvious that director Helen Coughlin was taken with the emotional impact of this story and has not turned it into a simple ‘sitcom’ we might find on television today. Instead, she has worked tirelessly with each cast member to ensure flesh and blood humans emerge from the comedy, the drama, the pathos, the arguments, the discussion and finally the conclusion where we learn the baby will be named Hope in the midst of all this confusion.
There were some poignant moments deftly handled with great care. Two of them occur in the second act. The reconciliation between father and son of Russell and Bill Bingham (Messrs. Geene and Linscott) out in the woodshed where the son believes his father has set out to die in the cold employs just the right amount of human compassion and kindness while mixed with some funny one liners. As diminutive midwife Dawn Shaw, Carolyn Goff’s silence as she stands up to the towering David Geene says plenty without saying anything.
In his program notes, producer Kyle Brough describes community theatre as participating and seeing the thrill of something alive and breathing and within reaching distance that will only exist for the few fleeting hours that it is happening right in front of us. Make your way to Port Perry’s Town Hall to see ‘Having Hope at Home’ and to breathe in this ‘live’ excitement as it plays out in front of you.
A Home Full of Hope runs February 25, 26, 27 at 8 pm and February 27 at 2 pm. at the Town Hall, 1873, in Port Perry.