As we head into week 17 of public health measures to protect ourselves, others and our health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s hope for a shift into stage 3, being reunited with loved ones, and looking forward—with both trepidation and excitement—to what the world will be like when we come out of this.Continue reading “Practising gratitude”
Tag Archives: hope
Signs of hope
Each week since we started our pandemic public health measures of staying home, physical distancing, washing hands, wearing masks and looking out for each other, I’ve posted a marquee message. Here are the ones I’ve created to date. My aim is to provide hope, inspiration and food for thought.
Reflections of home during COVID-19
When I went on hiatus with the blog in February, it was with the intention of taking some time away, to step back, get some R&R and figure out where the blog was going to go next as I made the move away from reviewing and focusing on my own art. Since then, I’ve postedContinue reading “Reflections of home during COVID-19”
A sneak peek at Heather Babcock’s debut novel Filthy Sugar
Heather Babcock photo by Astrid Monge. Filthy Sugar cover design by Val Fullard. Two years ago, I had the honour and pleasure of getting a sneak peek at Heather Babcock’s debut novel Filthy Sugar after she approached me to give it a read and write a review blurb. Published by Inanna Publications, it’s setContinue reading “A sneak peek at Heather Babcock’s debut novel Filthy Sugar”
Saying goodbye to the youth of Ireland in the lyrical, hopeful, entertaining Many Young Men of Twenty
Foreground: James Phelan, Tina McCulloch, Emmet Leahy and William Laxamana. Background: Martin McGuane. Set design by Tim O’Connell and Sean Treacy. Costume design by Bernadette Hunt. Lighting design by Karlos Griffith. Photo by Gregory Breen. The Toronto Irish Players take us to a time of desperate hope and dreams, leaving and staying behind, with itsContinue reading “Saying goodbye to the youth of Ireland in the lyrical, hopeful, entertaining Many Young Men of Twenty”
NSTF: Love, grief & celebrating life in the deeply moving, resonant musical Every Silver Lining
Allison Wither & Laura Piccinin. Photo by Tanja-Tiziana. Silver Lining Productions brings its Toronto Fringe 2019 breakout musical theatre hit Every Silver Lining to the Factory Theatre Mainspace for the Next Stage Theatre Festival. Written by Laura Piccinin and Allison Wither, and directed by Jennifer Stewart, with music direction by Aaron Eyre, Every SilverContinue reading “NSTF: Love, grief & celebrating life in the deeply moving, resonant musical Every Silver Lining”
NSTF: Keep calm & sing along with the timely, funny, moving Pearle Harbour’s Agit-Pop!
Steven Conway & Pearle Harbour. Lighting design by Logan Raju Cracknell. Photo by Michael Cooper. Pearle Harbour pops onto the Factory Theatre Mainspace stage for Next Stage Theatre Festival with her timely, funny and moving pre-apocalyptic multimedia drag cabaret Pearle Harbour’s Agit-Pop! Written by Justin Miller and directed by Rebecca Ballarin, with music directionContinue reading “NSTF: Keep calm & sing along with the timely, funny, moving Pearle Harbour’s Agit-Pop!”
Remembering Carlin Belof
Carlin was in her mid-teens and I was in my early 20s when we first met, both students at Theatre Aquarius Summer Theatre School in Hamilton, Ontario during the mid-80s—and I remember being struck by her focus, maturity and talent. An old, creative soul, she was already writing songs that were melodic, poignant and catchy;Continue reading “Remembering Carlin Belof”
Melanie Peterson’s “Christmas Breaks My Heart” a gentle, melodic nod to holiday heartache
Melanie Peterson, live at Free Times Cafe for last night’s “Christmas Breaks My Heart” launch. It was standing room only at Free Times Café last night, as Melanie Peterson celebrated the launch of her new holiday single “Christmas Breaks My Heart”, featuring the talents of fellow Toronto-based singer/songwriter guests Matt Gerber and Angela Saini.Continue reading “Melanie Peterson’s “Christmas Breaks My Heart” a gentle, melodic nod to holiday heartache”
Waiting for the American Dream in the provocative, disturbing, razor-sharp Pass Over
Kaleb Alexander & Mazin Elsadig. Set design by Julia Kim. Lighting design by Chris Malkowski. Costume design by Vanessa Fischer. Photo by Cesar Ghisilieri. Obsidian Theatre takes us to the edge of the world in an urban Black neighbourhood in America with its provocative, mind-blowing production of Antoinette Nwandu’s Pass Over, directed by Philip Akin,Continue reading “Waiting for the American Dream in the provocative, disturbing, razor-sharp Pass Over”
