I was looking forward to the Festival’s production of A Chorus Line & was not disappointed. The singing was fantastic, the dancing was good to superb, the staging was solid (if not inventive) & the orchestra was excellent. No wigs or elaborate costumes to distract from the emotional core of the piece until the gold lame & sequins hit the stage for the big finale.Donna Feore handles a large cast well – each performer comes across as a distinct character – even those who merely dance in the audition scene than opens the show. Nearly 20 men & women on the stage at one time who kick-ball-change, jette, spin at the same time without bumping into each other. Fast paced, dynamic & tireless while also singing, doing monologues and projecting without pulling focus – amazing & breathtaking work.
The emotional substance of the text is still relevant today even with the advances in gay rights people coming out are still being rejected by their families. But at the time these were brave words to present on stage. To pick out a particular monologue or performer is unfair as each of the performers give satisfying & real performances. As the text covers a wide range of types I was somewhat disappointed there were no lesbian show girls.
I did enjoy Ayrin Mackie as Shelia & Matt Alfano as Mike. Matt’s tap routine was, for me, one of the solo dance highlights of the show. The choreography was solid, much of it dictated by the actual text so Donna was somewhat constrained & as such the dancing was of the early 70’s period when the show was first produced. Stalwart as opposed to inventive. The one routine that didn’t work for me was Cassie’s big number: a five minute routine that seemed like twenty. There was more energy in the music & lighting than in the steps – what it needed was a dash of Travis Wall (So You Think You Can Dance?) to elevate it. What I Did For Love was sublime & there was crying in the aisles.
This is one singular production that I would highly recommend. The other Festival productions I saw this season are: A Little Night Music: http://wp.me/p1RtxU-1Rn; The Hypochondriac: http://wp.me/p1RtxU-1X6
Angel Spoons
Angel spoons
tap the soles of my feet
the spoons have stirred coffee
so they are warm sweet
sugar flows up through me
sings a little song
under every word I speak
gives them a little tingle
of the dance of the clouds
of the java of hava a good day
hava a good time
become a friend of mine
as we can dance together
while angel spoons play
the way we see the world
the still the twirled
the rapid the desired
the quick of fire
sleek of the stream cup
the liquorice tango tangle
that wraps us black red
on and off the bed
the zig zag zip that locks us
into a cascading tinkle of spoons
on the roof of our mouths
dangles off the eaves of the night
trapping and romancing
the streetlight
the ginger cat fragrance
of fresh brewed mood
the moon reflects so small
off the golden toe nails
of the jangling moments
angel spoons echo
through the time left
to get from the night to the day
they giggle with play
insinuate into the silence
with their small silver chime
I hear a faint near jingle
reflect darting glints
over the faces of the dancing people
suspended inches over the ground
swirling twirling shirts shirts
fleshy fragrant
breathing revolving
the happy tappy grace
angel spoons nudge us in circles
like coffee
warm sweet
wishing the well to one and all
sprawling calling
recalling the tickle in the blood
that means prayers have been answered
our soaring spirits aren’t sore footed
from glancing off the sun
to bridge the gap between
the tinkle and the ear
the click strum of spoons
on the palm
carries a message
drops us back into the endless fold
where we can enjoy
angel spoons
tapping on the soles of our feet
on going 🙂 when new podcast are posted: Disability after Dark iTunes
October 6 – Thursday Toronto, 7:30 pm, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1047981975249926/
November 1 – 30 Participating NaNoWriMo
December – Thursday Dec 1st – Toronto, 8 pm, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St.
http://www.queerslam.com/season-3-dates.html
Early 2017:
my first local feature in over a year: location date TBA
April season 3 FINALS – Friday April 15th Buddies in Bad Times – early show – 7pm start
http://www.queerslam.com/season-3-dates.html
June 2-4: attending: Capturing Fire 2017 –
check out these poets from Capturing Fire 2015: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx5KD1eDccdjdTdQ28kZRNg
Hey! Now you can give me $$$ to defray blog fees & buy coffee in Washington – sweet,eh? paypal.me/TOpoet
Like my pictures? I post lots on Tumblrhttps://www.tumblr.com/blog/topoet