This past weekend I made my way to the Next Stage Theatre Festival (NSTF). I chose four plays to attend that were different in story, style, and length.

Daniel Krolik and Amanda Baker Photo: Marco Timpano

Release The Stars: The Ballad of Randy and Evi Quaid
Company: God is in the Dairy
Rating: 3 / 5
Tue Jan 14 9:00pm
Wed Jan 15 6:45pm
Fri Jan 17 7:15pm
Sat Jan 18 2:45pm
Sun Jan 19 5:15pm

Daniel Krolik and Amanda Baker reprise the roles of the famous (or should I say ‘infamous’) couple in the title. They premiered this show at the Toronto Fringe in 2012. The Quaids even attended their last performance. Krolik and Baker decided to re-tell their story at NSTF in this latest version.

The play is funny, sad when it needs to be, and confusing at times. This makes sense given the people Krolik and Baker are portraying. They were both good in their respective roles and feed off each other’s energy, which is to be expected.

At times, I felt lost in the story. In the beginning, Krolik and Baker would take ‘time outs’ and address the audience. They also played the role of brother and sister in a parallel story, which took me some getting used to. Not to worry, I’m not spoiling things for you. I am hoping I was not the only one with a sense of confusion. Perhaps it is also intentional; the play is after all, about finding hope, becoming a happier person, and finding new beginnings.

On a technical front, the lighting and set design work well within the Studio set up at the Factory Theatre. The use of digital media, video clips and photographs, also works relatively well. All in all, I would rate this an entertaining show.

A Misfortune
Company: Common Descent
Rating: 4 / 5
Tue Jan 14 7.00pm
Wed Jan 15 8.45pm
Thu Jan 16 10.00pm
Sat Jan 18 4.45pm
Sun Jan 19 7.15pm

A musical based on a short story by Anton Chekov. This is a story about love, fidelity, and taking chances. It begins with Sofya (Trish Lindström) and Ivan (Jordan Till) taking a walk. It all seems rather lovely until Ivan decides he must tell Sofya he’s in love with her. The only problem is that Sofya is married to an older gent named Andrey (Réjean Cournoyer).

Here is where things get a little prickly. Sofya does not want to leave her husband and family. Ivan is determined his love for her is the ‘real deal’. And halfway through we meet another married couple, Masha (Kaylee Harwood) and Pavel (Adam Brazier), who make everyone question what marriage is all about.

I am picky about musical theatre, but in this case I will say I chose well. I enjoyed watching the cast interact with each other. My favourites were Harwood and Brazier as the married couple who love and hate each other so intensely, it’s just perfect. Lindström and Cournoyer are also quite good in portraying the young wife / older husband who behave more like father and child. Till, as Ivan, fell short in my opinion, in contrast to the other four actors. He does portray Ivan’s romantic nature well enough but it is in the singing that I felt a disconnect. The passion just wasn’t there for me.

I am a sucker for ‘impossible love’ stories; I call it the ‘Hemingway Effect’. A Misfortune is this type of story but much more as well. Delectably witty, funny lyrics, and a strong cast. The set and lighting design are minimal but work well given the space. The music is well suited and matches each of the characters quite well. It was definitely a treat.

Stephanie Jung and Nicole Ratjen Photo: Lauren Vandenbrook

Polar Opposites
Company: TiltHAUS
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Tue Jan 14 8:30pm
Thu Jan 16 8.45pm
Fri Jan 17 8.45pm
Sat Jan 18 6:15pm
Sun Jan 19 4.15pm

Two bears are all alone stranded on a melting iceberg. What could be going through their minds as they try to stay alive and survive the ever changing weather? Stephanie Jung and Nicole Ratjen play these two polar bears caught in the middle of nowhere. The “entirely absurd” part applies to this show. The bears are running out of time, out of space, and out of food. They play a game of ‘chess’ to pass the time. They try to make each other feel better, to no avail. Somehow, the audience knows the story cannot have a happy ending.

The show takes place in the Antechamber of the Factory Theatre. This space is small, perfect for two bears trapped on a piece of ice. As audience members, we are given a bucket of ping pong balls. We are to throw them at the bears representing the harsh weather conditions. In a way, we are also to blame for the climate change and how it’s affected the bears’ habitat. Interesting premise.

There are minimal props, little use of light and music, but it works. I believe this show is to make us think about what it would be like to have no place to go; no food nor shelter because of changes in our surroundings. As absurd as the dialogue between these polar bears is, it is not the main point, I think. The point is for us to think, watch, and ponder our relationship to each other, the planet, and its inhabitants. For a 30-minute show, I think I got a lot out of it.

Kate Hennig and Cyrus Lane Source: Praxis Theatre

Rifles
Company: Praxis Theatre
Rating: 4 / 5
Mon Jan 13 9:15pm
Wed Jan 15 7:00pm
Thu Jan 16 5:00pm
Sat Jan 18 7:00pm
Sun Jan 19 9:30pm

Set in Franco’s Spain, Señora Carrar (Kate Hennig) refuses to have his sons, José (Araya Mengesha) and Juan (Wade Boge-O’Brien) join the militia to fight against the fascists. She already lost her husband and is not about to lose her children as well. Her brother Pedro (Cyrus Lane) believes they should fight. How else can the poor survive without fighting? Others in this quiet fishing village are doubting Señora Carrar’s motives. She must stick to her resolve, but as the military gets closer to their town, can and will she?

From the first few seconds, composer and performer Beau Andrew Dixon sets the tone and mood for the show. This is going to be tense. This show is very dialogue-heavy, which is not a bad thing. We meet several characters but it is Señora Carrar, José, and Pedro whom we interact with most of the time. José and Pedro are trying to sort out how to convince the matriarch to change her stance. There is shouting, there are insults, and towards the end, heartache and courage.

Director Michael Wheeler has done a great job in leading the cast. Dixon’s percussion and his voice as Franco mix very well within the story. The set, all in brown tones, places us in a humble home. The lighting and costume design also add another element to the story. Not one actor stood out to me more than the other, and that is alright too. They work well together. There were some parts where I lost my connection to Señora Carrar, but it was not long lasting. This is the first version of Rifles adapted by Nicolas Billon. It is a story that demands attention, and it’s one I’d recommend to those who are unfamiliar with the Spanish Civil War, and those who like dramatic stories.

NSTF continues until January 19th at the Factory Theatre. I’ve listed all of the shows here. Take a look at the list, and find a show to suit your taste. There is plenty to be sampled.