The soft smile hanging on my lips through the first half of the The Founder drooped away slowly. The gradual realization of Ray Kroc’s (Michael Keaton) character builds up scene by scene until his ambitions lead him to decisions that aren’t only logical, they’re inevitable.
Henry V: Vue Weekly Theatre Review
Here’s part of my review for Grindstone Theatre and The Malachites Henry V which appeared on Vue Weekly yesterday.
‘All things are ready, if our minds be so,’ but fighting the nature of our own ears isn’t always an achievable task.
The elegance of the space inside Holy Trinity Anglican Church certainly lends itself to champion the spirit of Shakespeare in a modern time, but the effects of that grand mission statement are lost when I can’t hear what the players are saying. Read more
The joint production between Edmonton’s Grindstone Theatre and London, England’s The Malachites is directed by Benjamin Blyth. Brynn Linsey’s performance and King Henry V marks a Canadian first, and you can try to listen to her great performance at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. The play runs tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm.
Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes: Vue Weekly Theatre Review
Here’s a part of my review for Cardiac Theatre’s Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes which appeared on Vue Weekly yesterday:
No one knows what it’s like to die, at least no one alive to recount the experience. Still, the seconds, minutes, and hours before death can be observed and communicated with as much precision as a dying person’s five senses and remaining faculties will allow. Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes is an incredibly lucid journey that leads us through the mind of a boy who suffered one of the most politically public deaths of the 20th century. Read more
Cardiac Theatre’s production of Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes is directed Harley Morison and written by Jordan Tannahill. You can catch Bradley Doré in the lead role while the play runs at the PCL Studio Theatre of ATB Financial Arts Barns. It plays tonight at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid Ep.2 Review: Dragon Heart Sakuga
With a pleasantly humorous commentary on human culture, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon) surprisingly steps up it’s animation this week while also introducing us to another lovable dragon friend.
ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department Ep.2 Review: Double Agent?
The intrigue of ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department (ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka) explodes this week as small-scale malpractice from the premiere gives way to questions of corruption and revolt. And with complex characters as fun to deduce as they are beautiful, this police drama is still on the must-watch track.
Demi-chan wa Kataritai Ep.2 Review: Student/Teacher Boundaries
Demi-chan wa Kataritai’s (Interviews with Monster Girls) second episode brings to the fore one of the few lingering doubts I had about the premiere last week. While the warm character interactions are still there and hints for future character episodes are sown, a sketchy scenario raises some small alarms.
Winter 2017 Anime Preview: Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
The juxtaposition Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid presents is a laugh out loud hilarious one that balances on sturdy character-building pillars in its premiere.
Winter 2017 Anime Preview: ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department
Don’t let the long name of ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department (ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka) dissuade you. The political drama has great writing, directing and art design all going for it.
Winter 2017 Anime Preview: Hand Shakers
For an animation with so many CG elements regularly moving around the screen, Hand Shakers has a distinct lack of flow to marvel at. When coupled with its offensive treatment of a woman in a discordant attempt at titilation, I wanted to shut off the premiere within the first two minutes.
Winter 2017 Anime Preview: ēlDLIVE
ēlDLIVE is fairly standard, supernatural action meets middle school fare, but with a compelling enough conceit to to be worth a watch.
Kevin Pennyfeather 