Gary Smith’s 10 best shows and performances
2018 was a great year for theatre
As always, a season of theatre offers so many chances for discovery of the human heart. Happily, this season found some Hamilton performers sharing their incredible talents on mainstream Broadway as well as the prestigious stages at Stratford and the Shaw Festival. Happily, two of the productions I’ve chosen as the season’s best played at our own Theatre Aquarius, offering world-class drama that provoked, disturbed and sometimes frightened us. As well as entertaining, that’s exactly what drama ought to do. Thank you for reading my reviews and features during the past year and all good wishes for 2019. 1. “FUN HOME” There’s little doubt the Toronto production of the Broadway musical “Fun Home,” part of the Off-Mirvish series, was the best show I saw anywhere in 2018. This first-class treatment of a bittersweet story about a family rocked by love, sexuality and secrets of the heart that threatened to destroy its very centre, was brilliant. A first class cast led by Evan Buliung, Cynthia Dale, Laura Condlin, Sarah Farb and Hannah Levinson. The Jeanine Tesori music, Lisa Kron book and lyrics, and seamless direction from Robert McQueen made this a shattering and memorable theatre experience.
2. “AN AMERICAN IN PARIS” The best touring show to land in Toronto this season was undoubtedly this new and exquisite look at a film classic by playwright Craig Lucas. Director-choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s stunning dance staging gave this production the feel of a splendid ballet, yet always kept it safely in the sphere of musical theatre. A wonderful ensemble cast made the show sing and dance with thrilling precision. The trenchant Ira Gershwin lyrics and graceful George Gershwin music were so far above the lame lyrics and pedestrian music we get for musicals today it made comparisons facetious. Former National Ballet star McGee Maddox played Jerry Mulligan to the hilt, proving he could act, sing, dance and steal your heart. A radiant evening of theatre brought to us by Mirvish. 3. “BLACKBIRD” It shocked, appalled and offended some folks. It frightened others and made them squirm in their seats. That’s theatre that invades the senses. Bold, visceral staging by Marcia Kash for Theatre Aquarius, proved this company could produce contemporary theatre that could sting, not just all those syrupy Christmas musicals and ho-hum comedies audiences seem to crave. David Harrower’s tough drama was acted with conviction and truth by Randy Hughson and Caroline Toal. Each gave riveting performances in a drama that asked tough questions. Bravo Aquarius.
4. “PARADISE LOST” Hamiltonborn playwright Erin Shields’ wise and wonderful play, based on Milton’s epic poem, was the best thing at Stratford this year. Shields’ hard look at sin, sex, evil and passion, was liberated from archaic thought and infused with feminist thinking, genderbending wit and a ribald, salty humour that made you cling to the edge of your seat for fear of laughing so hard you’d fall into the aisle. Jackie Maxwell’s urgent staging, and Lucy Peacock’s driven central performance as a leopard-skin clad Satan, made the play whirl with the race and energy of a berserk Ferris wheel shot free from its axis. This was a brave and thrilling work that ought to be seen again. 5. “FROZEN” This Disney stage incarnation of the multi-million dollar film about letting go and finding freedom in love starred Hamiltonborn Caissie Levy in a thrilling performance that rocked the roof off Broadway’s St. James Theatre. Never mind some of New York’s critics hated it. They hate anything that calls itself Disney and they froze the show out of the Tony Awards. So what? Levy is captivating audiences. And quite frankly this is the best Disney musical yet.
6. “FRAME BY FRAME” The
National Ballet’s too long, but rarified work, choreographed by Guillaume Cote and directed by Robert Lepage, is a rich and intelligent look at the life and work of Canadian film-maker Norman McLaren. Danced superbly and filled with sensitive choreography, this is a work that fills the stage with rich and imaginative performances. It is one of the very best original creations The National has made. Let’s hope they bring it back again. 7. “THE FATHER” Theatre Aquarius produced one of the most disturbing, yet brilliant productions of the year, with Florian Zeller’s heartbreaking drama about dementia and receding into the darkness of desperate memory loss. Eric Peterson gave the performance of his life in this moving drama that crowned the Hamilton theatre season. 8. “MARY’S WEDDING” Hamilton actress Stephanie Hope Lawlor once again proved she’s the real goods with this stunning version of Stephen Messicote’s dream play that examines fantasy, the Great War and a love that survives impossibility and death. This intimate little production by Rooks Theatre and Flat Earth Global Productions once again proved how thrilling the local indie theatre scene is. 9. “CAROUSEL” This glorious Rodgers and Hammerstein musical drama with its exquisite dance sequences was worth a trip to New York City. Sadly it wasn’t transmitted to movie houses in Hamilton the way so many hit shows are. The imaginative staging here, thrilling performances and inventive dance sequences made it one of the joys of the season. 10. “NAPOLI MILLIONARI” This Antoni Cimolino-directed drama from Italian playwright Eduardo de Filippo was one of Stratford’s best productions of the year. Yes, the play is a tad long, but the performances and the direction, along with stellar set and costume designs, made it an evocative evening of theatre. One of the surprise triumphs of Stratford this year, this was a winner in every way with Brigit Wilson leading a superb cast.