Review: (Montreal) Organon

Obscurity                          
by Élaine Charlebois

In a word, Organon was…confusing. 

A performance piece created by Alexander Wilson and Mélanie Verville, Organon attempted to shock the audience with its eerie sound effects and haunting, alien-like costumes. Having tried to de-code, without any luck, what the entire show was about, I left Théâtre La Chapelle feeling unsettled and confused by my experience. 

Review: (Montreal) The Glass Menagerie

In The World of Glass

Going back to the source of a well-known Williams work at McGill

by Élaine Charlebois

In a word, Rowan Spencer’s take on Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie was fantastic. 

As Spencer notes in the programme, he based his interpretation on Williams’ original edition of The Glass Menagerie, an uncommonly performed version of the story. While this version of Williams’ play may be less known, the cast and crew members of McGill’s Players’ Theatre were nevertheless successful in delivering a vibrant and captivating performance of the iconic playwright’s work. 

Review: (Montreal) Billy Elliot

It's Not the Movie

by Élaine Charlebois

Following a similar (yet not identical) storyline to the film, Billy Elliot the Musical tells the story of a young boy from a working class family who yearns to become a ballet dancer in spite of his family’s disapproval. The story is set in a small town in Northern England during the historic miners’ strike of 1984/85, a battle that both Billy’s father and older brother are involved in throughout the story. Realising that his desire to become a dancer will not go over well with his macho father who insists that he take boxing lessons, Billy decides to secretly attend Mrs. Wilkinson’s ballet classes after school. Noticing the boy’s great talent, Mrs. Wilkinson offers to coach Billy privately and ultimately encourages him to audition for the Royal Ballet School in London. However, in order to achieve his dream of becoming a ballet dancer, Billy must first deal with the family and social tensions that prevent him from attaining his goal.