THEATRE:
Show sizzlers

Musicals, mentalism, Tomson Highway and more heated highlights

by AMY BARRATT

While the Fringe consumes most of our attention for the next 10 days (see p. 60), there is other theatre going on in town this summer.

Fans of musicals will want to catch A Chorus Line, until June 15, 8 p.m., at McGill’s Moyse Hall. It’s presented by One Foot Productions, the amateur company that produced a popular and, yes, even controversial version of The Who’s Tommy last fall (also the subject of a lively debate on the Mirror’s letters page). A Chorus Line took Broadway by storm in 1975, telling the simple but poignant story of the kids in the chorus. It’s set at a cattle-call style audition for dancers for a Broadway show. The cast of 17—mostly students from a range of CÉGEPs and universities—is directed here by Raymond Zilberberg, with choreography by Lynsey Billing.

Currently in previews with its official opening next Monday is the latest Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre offering, The Golden Land. An anthology of songs and stories, it’s a tribute to the mass migration of Eastern European Jews to America at the turn of the last century. It runs at the Saidye until June 29.

One of the most respected playwrights in the country, Tomson Highway will be in town on Monday, June 16, lending his talents and charms to a Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal fundraiser. An Evening With Tomson Highway features the playwright reading from his works, which include The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, and tickling the ivories. Forty dollars covers the show plus cocktails and hors-d’oeuvres. Or ask how you can sponsor an aboriginal student to attend the event by calling 843-3685.

Maman’s the word

There’s a lot more than stand-up at the Just for Laughs Festival, with some events starting well before the official opening July 10, and others still rolling long after the official end on July 20 (790-HAHA for full schedule).

A couple of years ago, the English side had a theatrical hit with Mom’s the Word, a collective creation by six B.C. moms about the joys and absurdities of living with infants and small children. This year, Juste pour rire presents the French version, Appelez-moi… Maman! It is already sold out for June 18–27, and additional shows have been added from July 2–12.

Juste pour rire also has the French version of everybody’s favourite musical, Chicago. The production stars comedian Anthony Kavanagh as ace lawyer Billy Flynn, who promises to get our two lovely murderesses, Roxie and Velma, off the hook.

The English Theatre offering at this year’s Just for Laughs doesn’t exactly sound like theatre, but it is apparently highly entertaining. Marc Salem is a “mentalist” and in his show, Mind Games, he reads thoughts, identifies hidden objects and the like. Audience participation is a must.

Then of course there’s the JFL On the Edge series, which includes five shows this year, all of which have short runs at the Centaur theatre the week of July 14. New Zealand’s The Topp Twins are back for a second appearance at the fest, bringing their unique blend of yodelling and comic characters. Or check out Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen. Smith is a British playwright and BBC personality known for his funny, eccentric banter. Combined with the morose lyrics of our local bard, this should make for a unique brew.

Canada’s newest theatre festival gets underway at the Saidye in August. The National Classical Theatre Festival is the creation of Gravy Bath productions, in conjunction with the Saidye Bronfman Centre Theatre. This inaugural fest will feature two productions in repertory: an adaptation for the stage of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Madd Harold’s take on Coriolanus. The latter is being billed as part two in the director’s New World Order Trilogy, which began last August with Henry. Octobre. 1970. It’s on the Saidye “B” stage, Aug. 21–Sept. 6.