We were in Toronto last month to attend this show. It’s basically about a Jamaican folk hero whose life ended tragically…kind of a Robin Hood story with an unhappy ending.

Unhappy endings don’t really bother me, as long as the story is worthwhile, but I found the show just OK. I’m guessing that the show is actually more than just OK, but the strong Jamaican accents and patois were completely incomprehensible to me most of the time (and I’m from the West Indies).

Riverdance was back in Toronto earlier this year. Although the concept is the same as when I last saw the show years ago, they’ve added a few things (or at least I don’t remember them being in the show back then).

The most memorable parts of the show for me this time were the two flamenco numbers. The experience was just an awesome fusion of Spanish and Irish dancing.

Watch the clip to see what I’m talking about: Lines, movement, footwork — unbelievably clean and expressive. I could watch this over and over again (except I still don’t have a high speed internet connection at home).

We saw this show 3-4 weekends ago. Turns out that the origins of this production stem from experimental theater.

The experimental aspect was obvious from the time we sat in our seats and noticed bleachers on stage that audience members were seated in. The live simulated sex on stage was also a clue that we weren’t watching The Sound of Music.

Spring Awakening is a show about the trials that teenagers all face — but it takes its perspective to extremes. Maybe this is an attempt to recreate some of that same angst in the audience.

Although it might be sounding as though I did not enjoy the show, the contrary is true. Music, lighting, and acting all gelled to produce an interesting and entertaining production. The show is definitely not for everyone, but every adult who is brave enough to see it will leave happy that they don’t have to contend with their adolescent years ever again.

Never having seen the movie or read the book, I was completely unfamiliar with this story. I loved it.

I think this production is on the move across North America. If it comes to a town near you, go and see it.

Although the cast is all black, the basic themes really have nothing to do with race. It’s all about growing up and making the best of what life god has given you. It’s about living through physical and emotional hardship — through oppression — and finding happiness within yourself.

Throughout our lives, The Girl and I both have come to know how hard it is to break away from the ways of our parents, yet we both know how important it is to do that and find your own way when their ways impede you. This show brought our pasts back to life.

Without discussing the show much afterwards, we both know the meaning it had for each of us.

Our Mirvish subscription is winding down for the season. It’s been a great year of shows and the classic Greek tragedy, Medea, continued the season’s success.

The story is about how Medea, Jason’s first wife, exacts her revenge on him and his new wife. Greek mythos pulls no punches, and neither does Seana McKenna in the role of Medea. Simply awesome.

I think the producers feared that the audience would become lost as we tried to understand the mythology of the time and so we would not relate well to the story. They provided a lengthy written background to Jason and Medea’s history as well as a pre-show lecture. None of this was absolutely necessary, but was appreciated and did spur some extra emotional involvement from us.