Yeah. I’m an addict.
Visited the Young Centre twice in the past 24 hours: last night for Soulpepper’s production of The Fantasticks and today for George Brown Theatre School’s second year period study performance.
The Fantasticks – in its current form – is only slightly older than I am. And I’d never seen it before; nor was I familiar with the plot. I only knew two of the songs: Try to Remember and They Were You; the latter I learned while at George Brown Theatre School.
It’s a lovely, sweet and magical show – and director Joseph Ziegler’s cast is up for it. Soulpepper AD Albert Schultz (the narrator/El Gallo) and Derek Boyes (Mute) set the stage for the story of love and discovery. Jeff Lillico and Krystin Pellerin are adorable as the young lovers, set up via a false family feud by their fathers, played by Michael Hanrahan and William Webster. Scene-stealing props to Oliver Dennis and Michael Simpson as the travelling actors. Loads of fun – go see this: see soulpepper.ca
Today, George Brown Theatre School’s second year class had its annual trial by fire – this time, with Restoration plays. Being a grad of the school, as well as an initiate of said trial (my class performed the first period study at the school – Elizabethan and Jacobean in 1988), I was especially interested to see this year’s class as Lady Windermere’s Fan castmate (and fellow Johnny Depp b’day sharing gal) Tennille Read is in the second year class.
I was only able to stay for three-quarters of the performance. Period study is serious business – and has gone from a six-hour show to a full-day affair, complete with morning and afternoon coffee breaks, and a lunch break. Directed by Jeannette Lambermont-Morey and Sarah Dodd (the latter, I believe is a grad as well), this is a class to watch out for. And from adorable maid to sexy and passionate Cleopatra, Tennille was amazing. A thoroughly enjoyable day of theatre. And they only perform this once, otherwise, I’d tell ya to go see this too.
On the upside, the third year class does a full season of shows – and they share the Young Centre with Soulpepper, usually playing in the Tankhouse Theatre space. Check them out sometime too.