Consequential theatre - Joe Szek on 'Lies & Consequences' by Rare Day Projects

By Joe Szek

Thank goodness I stayed for the Q & A after the matinee performance of ‘Lies and Consequences’ because I learned a great deal more about the genesis of the story and how it came to fruition for playwright Carol Libman (to whom I was introduced and also saw that she was selling tickets to the event. What selfless devotion of Mrs. Libman to ensure the production runs smoothly). For this sometimes-controversial and shocking story of ‘What happens when a family secret…is secret no longer’, I believe Q & A’s are extremely important for debriefing of highly sensitive subject material.

The intimate black box venue of The Red Sandcastle Theatre made me face head on what the playwright and director called a healing journey for themselves. This journey was sometimes difficult and uncomfortable for me. Why? Director Jeanette Dagger comments in the Program Notes she “was shocked to discover how many women, at some point in their young lives, have been either sexually harassed or abused…and to discover the variance of the overall effect of these incidents on their futures.” I began to wonder how many of my female friends and/or family members might have faced the same issues and I was completely unaware of what happened. If anything happened to my family and friends, which story is the truth?

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Hands together for Coal Mine Theatre's 'Hand to God' - story by Joe Szek

By Joe Szek

Robert Askin’s ‘Hand to God’ might come dangerously close to brash irreverence for fundamentalist or deeply devoted/devout Christians. For this practicing Catholic who still holds the tenements of the faith close to his heart, I wasn’t offended whatsoever at the very dark elements of black comedy hidden within the tightly wound script.

If anything, this wickedly sinful yet so much corrupt fun of Coal Mine’s production allowed me to have a good laugh for the very reason I’m allowed to laugh in live theatre. Why? ‘Hand to God’ allowed me to venture to the very edge of what might considered to be appropriate versus inappropriate human nature without ever feeling uncomfortable. The use of puppetry allowed me to make believe and to buy into any kind of outrageous ‘what if’ situations which come along in the plot.

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Alumnae Theatre's 'Impressionism' is artful and uplifting - story by Joe Szek

By Joe Szek

"Impressionism" is an interesting take on a story of two people whom we think and eventually know are destined to be together. Katharine Keenan (Liz Pounsett) is the owner of a small impressionist art gallery where Thomas Buckle (Ted Powers) has been working for two years. Thomas is a photojournalist who brings Katharine coffee each morning and then goes to explain a story about the coffee and where it came from. The art gallery is used as a place where Katharine and Thomas can escape from the toils and struggles of the world. She has had failed relationships and is tired while he has been travelling the world as a photojournalist.

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Joey "Ramone" Szek says hey ho lets go to Four Chords and a Gun

By Joe Szek

Hey, Ho, let’s go…

C’mon, it’s the Ramones. What else would I be expecting from a play of a fictionalized account inspired by a true-life event surrounding the Ramones and Phil Spector? It’s got everything – lots of swearing, sex, drug use and a 20-minute mini concert at the end.

It’s also entertaining as f*** and a f*** of a good story. (I had to put this in since the line underneath the title on the posters is NOT A F***ING MUSICAL).

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Toronto Cast of Four Chords And a Gun Photo by Dahlia Katz.

'Rumours' by Ajax Community Theatre - commentary by Joe Szek

By Joe Szek

A community theatre that does not have access to the performance facility prior to move in can present challenges on several levels with load in of the set, props, costumes and touch ups where necessary. Cue to cue of lights must be monitored with sound along with rehearsal time to ensure that what was rehearsed elsewhere and working can also be staged in the facility.

When the said production runs into technical issues pre-show time, I feel for the company as I’ve been there as an actor – pulses racing, remaining calm, hoping and praying the audience is not getting annoyed because the production has not started on time. When the production finally begins and there are still glitches, “Eeeekkkk!”

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