Downtowns of Durham: Listen Up; Oshawa is the Music City

By Will McGuirk

t’s the bells that ring out over Downtown Oshawa that set the tone for the city. The sonorous peals are a joy to hear, and one’s mood is lifted by such a musical soundtrack. Music can be found throughout the city’s core, and not just on the many stages the entertainment district of Durham Region is home to. From large to small, Oshawa has plenty of venues, and they cater to all types and tastes. 

The 6,000 capacity Tribute Community Centre serves as the place to see the international big-name acts. It is also home to the Oshawa Generals and their boisterous fans. Goals by the 2015 Memorial Cup winners are met by a roof rattling roar. The enthusiastic and vocal support of game day fans is the inspiration for Noel Harding’s sculpture ‘Reverb’ which is situated in the central plaza outside the main doors of the area. This metal piece is curved to amplify the sound back out and is covered in half-cut out speech bubbles to represent the diverse voices of the Region’s biggest city.

Read more at DowntownsofDurham.ca

Downtowns of Durham: Feeling the Vintage Vibes in Orono

By Will McGuirk

The fanciful village of Orono, tucked in away off the 115, is the dream destination in Durham Region for a day of antique hunting. One could spend hours digging through all the fabulous vintage finds at one of scores of market stores in the downtown but, of course, those dreams are on hold for now. 

However, if one was dreaming, the suggestion is to start the day at the Buttercup Hollow Pantry at the north end of Main Street, mulling over one’s antiquing plan of attack. The shop operates in a way like an indoor farmers market, showcasing local produce such as wines, honeys, syrups, and pottery. There is a seating area next to the fireplace, perfect for enjoying the silky taste of their butter tarts.

Read more at DowntownsofDurham.ca

Downtowns of Durham: Newcastle Has a Nose for Cooking

By Will McGuirk

There are over 100 places all over the world named Newcastle, including one right here in Durham Region. The historic town of Newcastle, located in the south-east corner of Clarington, was once home to the influential Massey family, of manufacturing and philanthropic fame, and is now home to a growing community of young makers and diverse food options.

While the neo-Georgian Newcastle Community Hall, built in 1923 and gifted to the town by Chester Massey, anchors the centre of the downtown on King Street, many of the buildings around the hall and along the main street are former family homes and are now home to family-run restaurants.  

Read more at DowntownsofDurham.ca

#StayAtHome - Carey Nicholson of Theatre On the Ridge

By Joe Szek

How are you and your family doing during this time of worldwide upheaval? Have your lives been changed or transformed on account of COVID-19?

“Our lives haven’t changed dramatically on the outside with no real shifts. Like everyone, we’re shifting inwardly. My husband, Andy, and I live in a rural area so social distancing has not been a problem. My family unit (which also includes my mother) has been involved in a regular routine. We’re doing more walks, eating healthier and we are more mindful of what we practice daily. We’re being reminded that we don’t need as much as we thought.  I’m also baking more which, while being personally stress reducing, makes everyone happy.”

READ MORE AT ONSTAGE BLOG

Scarborough Players Present Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

By Paul Love
Guest Reviewer

Pride and Prejudice, which Jane Austen wrote in 1813, carries the distinction of being one of the most beloved novels in English literature. Christopher Baker’s theatrical adaptation is the version of this costume drama currently being performed by the Scarborough Players.

Set in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of the Bennet family, and the desperate quest of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet to marry off their four daughters because their property is restricted such that it can only pass to a male heir. The play revolves around the Bennet’s second-eldest daughter, Elizabeth, who refuses to be drawn in by the artificial notions of society, believing that people should marry for love and not for prestige or money.

Alex Saul delivers a star turn as Elizabeth, moving about the stage like a whirling dervish of energy and enthusiasm, giving us a character who is capable, intelligent, and willing to speak her mind. And when she does speak her mind, it is with an impeccable English accent. In fact, credit should be given to the entire cast for delivering great English accents that enhanced the production rather than distracting from it. Jacob Klick gives an effective performance as Mr. Darcy, the man who finds himself drawn to Elizabeth. Mr. Klick believably captures the mixture of pride and social anxiety that make up this complicated character. His volume was a bit low in some places, making it difficult to understand him, but that is no doubt a by-product of opening weekend jitters. Kayla Kempers does a great job portraying the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, and Saam Kordestani gives a good performance as the object of Jane’s affection, Mr. Bingley. Malorie Mandolidis is an absolute delight as the energetic Mrs. Bennet. Whether she’s loudly extolling the virtues of her daughters or chasing after them, Ms. Mandolidis infuses much humour and warmth into the show. Chip Thompson is perfect as Mr. Bennet, presenting his character as a caring father who is often overwhelmed by his wife’s exuberance, but who loves her all the same, and who wants his daughters to be happy as well as financially secure. Will van der Zyl gives a standout performance as the eccentric Mr. Collins. He smartly plays his character for laughs, which keeps Mr. Collins from being too uncomfortably creepy. Katie Ribout is devilishly good as Mr. Bingley’s sister, Caroline, delivering her character’s harsh words with a wonderfully stone-cold disposition. The expression of utter disdain on her face when she’s forced to dance is highly entertaining.

(L-R): Molly Keenan, Laurel Schell, Chip Thompson (seated), Malorie Mandolidis, Alex Saul, Kayla Kempers, photo by David A. Fitzpatrick

Director Katherine Turner manages to keep the pacing of the show nimble, with character movement that makes sense for the thrust stage, and infuses the dialogue with energy. Taking on the role of Set Designer for a production on a thrust stage is always a challenge—particularly when you are presenting a play that takes place in eight different locations—but Lester Ruiz has handled it like a pro. The upstage archway works perfectly as a backdrop for almost all of the locations, while the few set pieces—mostly chairs and tables, which are wonderfully ornate and perfectly suited to the time period—round out the sense of place and time. Major kudos to Mr. Ruiz or whoever it was that came up with the idea of having the name of each location appear above the set (in fancy script, no less!). This saves the audience members a lot of guesswork and potential confusion. A good costume drama needs good costumes, and Mary Nowlan and her team have done a wonderful job. The costumes are beautifully tailored and period-appropriate, with wonderful pops of colour that add to the positive energy of the whole production. It is clear, too, that Hair Designer Darlene Thomas has put the same kind of care and passion into the detailed hairstyles.

If you are in the mood for a good costume drama, look no further than the Scarborough Village Theatre and Scarborough Players’ production of Pride and Prejudice. The theatre is located at 3600 Kingston Rd. in Scarborough. Remaining performances are March 12, 13, 14, 19, and 20 at 8 pm, with additional matinee performances on March 15 and 21 at 2 pm. Tickets are available by visiting the website. The show is approximately 3 hours, including a 15-minute intermission.