Alumnae Theatre continues its 2016 programming for its annual New Ideas Festival (NIF) of short new works with an engaging Week 2 program in the Studio space this week. Here’s what’s happening this week:
Housekeeping (by Jean Koppen, directed by Anne MacMillan). Three cleaners find something unexpected in a wealthy client’s home and their everyday routine is thrown into disarray as they debate the moral and ethical implications of their discover and what to do about it. At times darkly funny, the play highlights the stark realities of class, precarious work and distrust of a justice system that treats the rich differently from the rest of society. Really nice work from the cast: Morna Wales is tough, but fair and circumspect as Arlene, the veteran on the team; Aleksandra Maslennikova’s Jo is sharp, wary and cunningly resourceful; and Behiwot Degefu does a great job with the wide-eyed, irreverent and strong-willed rookie Sweetie.
pose ball (by Caitie Graham, directed by Emily Nixon – presented as the first part of a longer piece). When Cata (Chelsea Muirhead) wakes up with an infected wound on her thigh, foggy memories of a Friday night gradually surface – and she discovers that her boyfriend Jules (Ryota Kaneko) and bff Isa (Jenna Daley) have very different accounts of the evening. Sexy, suspenseful combination of psycho-thriller and avatar gaming, featuring some cool projection design (Adam Evenden). Outstanding work from this threesome. Daley’s Isa is a complex character of contradictions; a super responsible, introspective gamer/computer nerd, there’s an edge of obsession and self-destructiveness about her. As Cata, Muirhead is a spitfire; an energetic, rowdy and loveable brat who enjoys living on the edge for reals. And Kaneko brings the sly and edgy swagger with undertones of dangerous as drug dealer Jules.
War and Peace: A Family Story (by Krystyna Hunt, directed by Rebecca Grace). An unusual family intervention as Sam’s (Joshua Morris) daughter Alison (Veronica Baron), sister Rita (Pat Hawk) and wife Molly (Reva Nelson) conspire and execute a plan to improve his health and well-being. Dark comedy ensues with some hilarious work from the cast, with Morris as the tough as nails former military man; Baron as his peace-loving, but equally tough daughter; Hawk as his wry-witted, health-conscious sister; and Nelson as his artistic wife.
Yeats in Love (by Anne Tait, directed by Jane Carnwath). The tumultuous love affair between William Butler Yeats (Jonathan LeRose) and Maud Gonne (Nina Mason) unfolds as passion, poetry and rebellion meet amidst a nation in turmoil. The two are fierce in love as well as political debate, with some lovely moments from LeRose as the sensitive, circumspect and somewhat pragmatic poet Yeats and the Mason as the fiery, impulsive activist Gonne, who Yeats sees as a modern-day incarnation of mythological figure Kathleen Ni Houlihan. Features some beautiful sound design (Rick Jones) featuring Celtic music.
Passion, perception and revolution in engaging and thoughtful New Ideas Week 2 program.
The Week Two program continues to March 20, with talkbacks following the Saturday matinée performance. Also on Sat, Mar 19 is the noon reading: Curved (by Kristin Shepherd, directed by Rebecca Ballarin).
And there’s one more week of programming to come: Week 3 (Mar 23-27).
For ticket info, visit the website. Tickets can also be reserved by calling the box office at 416-364-4170 (press 1) or in-person one hour before show time (cash only). Advance booking strongly recommended; this is a popular festival and the Studio is an intimate space.
Check out the Week Two trailer:
life with more cowbell 
Reblogged this on The Alumnae Theatre Company's Blog and commented:
Review of New Ideas Festival’s Week Two lineup. Playing to Sun March 20.
A different lineup runs March 23-27 for Week Three!
http://www.alumnaetheatre.com/new-ideas-festival-2016.html