A Life, Lived

Travel Tuesdays - Stratford

Last week I met my friend Carolyn at Stratford. It was the first time I had seen her in close to two years. There we were, both double dosed, able to hug and watch a performance. It was both weird and blissful.

The festival has just reopened with all sorts of COVID restrictions. They have set up stages under huge tents - but they still only accommodate about 250 people. Everyone is very socially distant. What is on the stage is impacted as well - there is no full orchestra, the number of people on the stage is limited -  so limited in fact that the festival had to create new material for this season. They aren't running your favourite Shakespeare plays.

Anyways. I arrived earlier than I needed to but later than I had intended. As a result there was no shopping for me. I parked in the big parking lot close to the theatre thinking if I parked early I'd get a prime spot. I need not have worried since in the end there were only two cars parked in the entire lot.

I wandered along the rive and visited with the ducks and swans.

The gardens in front of the theatre were particularly lovely this year.

Around the back of the main theatre they have a sculpture commemorating Shakespeare.

Carolyn cut it close but we were seated in time to catch up a bit before the show started.

After the play we couldn't figure out what we wanted to do. I had heard of a new retail space on the outskirts of town so we went there, grabbed some lunch and chatted for what seemed like an eternity but clearly wasn't. How nice to be among good people once again. I've missed that.

The Tower

Yesterday when Paul and I were up and going we decided to visit the Tower of London - the owner of the apartment said it was a 10 minute walk away. I walk pretty quickly but there is no way that walk was 10 minutes - more like 20.

We paused outside the Tower to snap shots of Tower Bridge.

One of the things I really enjoy about London is the juxtaposition of the old and the new.

The Tower of London is one of the most important landmarks in England, and has played a significant role in shaping the country's history. Since being built in the 11th century, it has been used as an armory, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office, the home of the Crown Jewels of England, and perhaps most famously, as a prison that held (as well as tortured, sentenced, and executed) notable figures such as Anne Boleyn and Guy Fawkes.

Today, the UNESCO-designated site of the Tower of London is one of the most visited places in the United Kingdom, and with such a far-ranging background, it's easy to understand why.

This is one of London's busiest tourists spots so my advice is start early - head to the Crown Jewels first and then enjoy the other parts in the complex that the crowds don't go to as they race from site to site. Honestly though, there is so much to do at the Tower that you could spend all day there.

One of the highlights for most is the Crown Jewels, a unique collection of royal regalia which are still regularly used by the Queen in important national ceremonies. The amazing collection includes the biggest cut diamond in the world. Almost equally impressive were the entry doors, or should I say vaults, which are made of some type of heavy duty, nuclear-proof steel that you only see in Hollywood films. Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to take any photos but here are some official pictures to give you an idea of the beauty that awaits inside.

The Royal Ravens are one of the most famous sights at the Tower, and legend has it that if they ever leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall! The birds all have their own names and very different personalities – you can meet them next to their lodgings on the South Lawn.

There are other 'beasts' around the site. For more than a thousand years various royals kept exotic beasts within the castle grounds as a way if impressing visiting nobility, ambassadors, and showing their might to the royal subjects. You'll spot plenty of evidence of these 'guests' throughout the site.

There was one primary purpose of the White Tower – to intimidate and unnerve invaders – and it served its purpose incredibly well! Built by William the Conqueror in the 1080s, the White Tower is the most recognizable tower in the Tower of London. The tower was a castle keep, the strongest part of a medieval castle, and was, in fact, known to be one of the strongest military holds in the Christian World.

Today, it holds the Royal Armouries Collection, including the Line of Kings exhibition. You will also find an incredible Romanesque Chapel inside known as St. Johns’ Chapel. The White Tower also has a macabre history – the top floor of the tower has an 18th century executioner block with an axe! The tower’s basement also has witnessed gore, including the torture of Guy Fawkes and the Jesuit priest John Gerard.

When most people think of the Tower of London, they recall its use as a prison and the site of the beheading of such famous folks as Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey, but this was not its primary purpose when it was built in the 11th century. After the Norman Conquest of England, the castle was built on this site as a royal residence and was protected as such.

After touring the tower for about four hours we headed out. Paul wanted to visited a nearby Marks and Spencers so we did that - I bought stuff, he did not. :-)

Soon we were back at the apartment for a nap before heading out the the theatre.

I had bought tickets last June to see the play Hamilton. I am glad that I bought when I did as it is a tough show to get in to. This must be the number one show on the planet right now. Normally I am predisposed to dislike shows when they are wrapped in a huge cloak of hype but this one was amazing. I laughed, I cried, and I was left with plenty to think about.

All in all it was a fabulous day in London!

Stratford Festival - Napoli Milionaria

When the playbill for this year's Stratford season was released we noticed a comedy set in WWII Naples. Though unknown to most theatre-goers in North America, the author of Napoli, Eduardo De Filippo (1900-84), is regarded as the one of the great Italian playwrights of the 20th century.  He wrote plays and screen plays and acted in both media. Curious, we selected this as our birthday play from Mom. A friend had been to see it shortly after it opened and let me know it was more tragic than comedic. The reviews were quite good so I was even more curious to see the production yesterday.

In the end we saw a wonderful piece of theatre that reminded me of what theatre is supposed to do - entertain, tug at your emotions, and cause you to ponder the world a bit more deeply than before.

The play is divided into three acts with a long gap of time between Acts 1 and 2.  Act 1, set in 1942, has a generally comic tone, and introduces us to Gennaro Iovine, a former streetcar driver, and his family and friends.  There has been bombing overnight and everyone is sleepy and looking forward to a cup of coffee.  Gennaro’s wife Amalia (Brigit Wilson) is angry about the tactics used by her neighbour who, as she is, is involved in the black market sale of coffee.  Her main supplier is the truck driver Errico Settebellizze (Michael Blake), who tells people that Amalia is merely storing goods for him.  In fact, Amalia has an enormous range of goods all stored in and under her bed that range from coffee and beans to eggs and cheese.  Neighbours come to her and if she doesn’t have certain product, she says she can arrange to have it later.  Gennaro generally frowns upon this activity but knows that without it his family will starve. He is also supportive, in a backhanded way, of anything which goes against the directions of the Mussolini fascist regime.

Act 2 begins more than a year after the events of Act 1 and the tone is less comedic. The Allies, who first entered Naples on October 1, 1943, now occupy the town and southern Italy. Gennaro has gone missing and Amalia has had no word from him since his disappearance. The Iovines’ once dingy home of Act 1 is now filled with expensive furniture and a chandelier and Amalia is now well dressed and sports jewelry all due to her continued thriving black market trade. In fact, all the family members seem to have changed. No longer is the focus of their existence survival but rather getting wealthier and in some cases even. Whereas in Act 1 one had a sense that everyone was looking out for one another, in Act 2 the characters were more focused on living for the moment and themselves.

Act 3 is short but powerful. Gennaro who returned from the dead at the end of Act 2  is generally bewildered by what has happened to his wife and children. His house has changed, his room is gone, and the people around him are engaging in a party while the horrors of war continue to unfold. The final act has a few moments that tug at your soul. Gennaro's return brings with him a first-hand knowledge of war and war infects even those who are not fighting. He reflects upon the lack of humanity he finds. In particular, Amalia’s exploitation and lack of pity for the accountant Spasiano. Spasiano will later have to remind her that “Sooner or later everyone must knock on the door of another”.  

The theme for Stratford this year is free will and the choices we make. This play is a wonderful embodiment of free will  and the frailty of human character. The easy choice is often not the best choice - we see this in Act 2. In Act 3 the characters begin to recognize this critical lesson with the help of Gerrano and Spasiano. Gerrano has recognized this throughout the play whereas Spasiano has come to that realization as the result of a fall from grace and intense suffering. Together they help the other characters understand that life is often better when we make the difficult choice and don't chose the easy road to walk along.

McCamus is brilliantly droll as Gennaro, a veteran of the First World War and an out-of-work tram driver who has retreated from life with the onset of this new war and Mussolini’s fascist regime making day-to-day existence a struggle. I am still haunted by his portrayal of a broken Gennaro sitting quietly upon his return, hunched over, seemingly becoming smaller and smaller as the party around him erupts. This image of people being willfully blind to the pain and suffering happening around them is heartbreaking but also incredibly relevant in the world we live in.

At the other end of the spectrum is his tightly wound wife Amalia, played aggressively by Wilson. Wilson follows the play’s trajectory with her role, beginning with full gusto and crumbling internally throughout the rest of the production, wracked with guilt over her job, her family, and the pleasure that she gets from the luxury she lives with.

War can make us better, Gennaro says, in that it makes us not want to hurt anyone anymore. But in the same breath, he has no trouble blaming war for the unscrupulous actions of his wife and others. It’s all a matter of patiently waiting for the darkness to depart, De Felippo tells us.

Whether we believe that or not, Napoli Milionaria is a thought-provoking story and an engrossing history lesson that remains as relevant today as it was when it was written more than 70 years ago.

Does war in fact change people, or does it reveal character?

The play continues at Stratford until October 27th.

Saturday in Stratford

Last weekend we had tickets to see the Tempest at the Stratford festival. Life has been so hectic lately that I forgot all about it until mom reminded me. Apparently on some mysterious date last fall she asked me to go - none of her friends wanted to see it and she really did. I agreed. She bought the tickets and apparently I paid for them. At some point Paul felt left out and demanded to come as well.  Fast forward to last week and we were off.

Because she hadn't taken us out for our birthdays yet she wanted to treat us to lunch. We opted to go to one of our favourite restaurants in Stratford - Pazzo. There are two restaurants int eh building - both featuring the same kitchen. The basement is more casual and the main level more formal. We opted for formal.

I was still full from breakfast so I didn't have a started. Paul's caprese salad (made with buratta) looked fabulous though.

I ordered spaghetti carbonara for my main course and it was delicious. Carbonara is one of those recipes that is so often mangled. The classic is just guanciale, eggs, cheese, and the pasta water to bind it all together. lots of places add cream and other things - even peas! Porca Miseria. This version was pretty close to the real deal - the only change being pancetta subbed for the hard to find in Canada guanciale.

I LOVED this!

Carbonara done right is the ultimate comfort food and  I was a happy guy eating this.

I was pretty full so I decided on a light dessert. Vanilla tartuffo with honey and candied figs.

Ahhhh.

After lunch we drove to the theatre. The play was at the Festival theatre and we built in some time to enjoy the gardens. They did not disappoint.

The play, thought to be the last one written by Shakespeare,  was interesting.

Martha Henry stars as Prospero - usually the lead is male.

After a remarkable 43 seasons, Ms Henry returns to the play that launched her Stratford career in 1962. Back in 1962 she played Miranda and during her last season on the stage she plays the lead.

In Shakespeare's great drama of loss and reconciliation, Prospero, former Duchess of Milan, uses magical arts to bring within her power the enemies who robbed her of her throne and stranded her on a remote island. With the help of the spirit Ariel, she orchestrates a confrontation with her adversaries - and a new destiny for her daughter, Miranda.

Henry delivers the physicality, timing, cynicism, and humour of a woman who is tired — tired of her obvious skill, tired of having to wield it, tired of arguing for her particular place in a world dominated by men. Nevertheless, she persisted — because Miranda survived the shipwreck with her. And Henry’s moments of tenderness almost always concern Miranda. At first she keeps a cynical distance away from her plot for revenge against Antonio and the nobles that helped him over throw her — observing new lovers Miranda and Ferdinand (Sebastien Heins), son of King Alonso (David Collins), from above, or teasing the doe-eyed innocence of her daughter’s paramour — the release of this burden softens Henry’s edge, lets her relax, and finally show affection for the creatures she had to once view as subjects.

This production is visually stunning - so much so that in the third part of the play the special effects almost seem to overwhelm the actors and the plot. Henry pulls it together in the famous last lines of the play:

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,

And what strength I have’s mine own,

Which is most faint. Now, ’tis true,

I must be here confined by you,

Or sent to Naples. Let me not,

Since I have my dukedom got

And pardoned the deceiver, dwell

In this bare island by your spell,

But release me from my bands

With the help of your good hands.

Gentle breath of yours my sails

Must fill, or else my project fails,

Which was to please. Now I want

Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,

And my ending is despair,

Unless I be relieved by prayer,

Which pierces so that it assaults

Mercy itself and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardoned be,

Let your indulgence set me free.

 

With that Henry bids adieu to a fabulous career on the stage. It is a moment full of emotion - an actor still at the height of their career saying goodbye.

 

 

The Kindness of Strangers

The other day I took mom, Paul, and Rose into the city for an evening out. We started off at the office - they wanted a tour and they received the full hour-long version. Easy to do when the office is closed and there are no distractions.

We had a good dinner at il Fornello (although I wasn't able to eat most of mine thanks to the lasting effects of this damn flu).

Then we saw the musical Come From Away - an improbable musical about the days after 9-11. Imagine - a musical about 9-11. The very thought is almost a repugnant insult.

Except this story is not really a tale of mayhem and death rather it latches onto the better sides of the human psyche . . . hope, helpfulness, and looking out for one another.

The show tells the tale of how the citizens of Gander, Newfoundland welcomed almost 7,000 grounded travelers and the crews from 38 planes which were redirected to the town airport in the hours after the 9-11 terrorist attacks after the US closed its airspace. I had read rave reviews of the show as it was developed over the past few years - first as a part of the Sheridan College theatre incubation project and then as it was refined in studio in La Jolla, Seattle, and Washington DC. The Toronto show is the last stop before the play opens on Broadway.

The underlying theme to the play is the extraordinary efforts ordinary people can take when they see a need and the lasting impacts of these efforts. In the scary and uncertain times following 9-11 the citizens of Gander and the surrounding towns welcomed the stranded passengers from those 38 grounded planes and transformed them.  The true Canadian spirit - optimistic helpers who get things done against seemingly insurmountable odds - was the central theme to this play. It is a role we find joy in and play on the world stage.

Lately this is something I have reflected upon a fair bit.

Service to others.

It is a significant part of my familial DNA. Always in the background, quiet . . . but ever present. We do not run for office - that would be too much, but we do join in if necessary or even work independently to try and get things done. This service can present itself in odd ways at times. It has been the source of laughter, stress, and considerable comfort over the years.

I find as I grow older (something I plan on writing about in the future as I have been reflecting a lot on age for some weird reason) it is people being kind to one another in unplanned and unexpected ways that elicits a strong emotional response in me. When I read a new story about a stranger helping out a stranded family when they were in desperate need I can be moved to tears.

This is one of the key trickles of glue which holds us together as a global tribe. It is one of the things we will need to nurture, celebrate, and encourage over the coming years as the world seems to be moving down a dark and mean path.

Now back to that play . . .

The show was fabulous. One of the best theatre productions I have ever seen . . . and I have seen many. I would say 'go and see it' but the reality is it closes in a week and if you did not buy tickets back in October you are SOL.

If you're able I'd suggest go to Broadway and see it.

Now that brings up an interesting thought - how will a play which is as sweet as Canadian Grade A Maple Syrup play in New York? It has been suggested that Broadway might be a bit to cynical for this tale of infinite goodness. Then again, given the mood growing in the US right now it could be just the thing to remind New Yorkers of their shining moments of togetherness where their collective good made a difference when faced with great evil.

Stratford Outting - Bunny

I don't know if it is because my friend Wendy is a high school English teacher or the fact that we like quirky plays but we always seem to see a small production of something 'different' when we go on our annual outing to Stratford. Generally there is a bit of nudity and some language some might find offensive. Always there is an amazing play, well acted and with a story that has you thinking about what you saw and heard for some time.

The new play we saw last night, Bunny, by up and coming Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch, was no exception.

Now before I go too far I should talk about dinner.

We went to a restaurant I had never been to before - Keystone Alley. For three decades The Keystone, as locals fondly refer to it, has been one of Stratford’s more popular restaurants. A café by day and fine dining experience by night, The Keystone is casual yet sophisticated, offering cuisine from around the world with dishes prepared with only the freshest seasonal produce and top quality ingredients. The fact that it has been around for the better part of 30 years does make one wonder why last night was my first visit there!

We started off with Gazpacho - the classic soup made with tomato and cucumber. This was served with a parsley pesto which on the peppery side. For some this soup would have been too 'spicy' but I thought it was perfect.

The keystone is known for their pork special. Every night they feature a different dish with three 'types' of pork preparations. Last night it was pork belly, fresh ham with onion gravy, and cumin spiced pork croquettes. I hemmed and hawed a bit as there was so much to select from but in the end ordered the pork special.

The pork belly was served with a spicy/sweet BBQ sauce and sauteed zucchini. The fresh ham had onion gravy and was served with a mustardy potato salad. The pork croquettes were served with ratatouille. A big slice of corn bread accompanied the plate.

The servings were HUGE. I would have been happy with half of the serving, and in fact, left food behind on my plate (how rare an event is that?).

I thought I'd order some ice cream for dessert. I really only wanted one scoop - they were featuring nectarine sorbet, salted caramel, and blueberry lemon - of course it was the salted caramel I wanted. The server advised that you'd receive three small scoops of each.

SMALL???

Anyway, it was all yummy.

It was a shame the restaurant was located so close to the studio theatre - I could have used a huge walk after all of that food. Alas, it was about 100 steps . . . no way I was working any of that amazing meal off.

As always Wendy had perfect seats for us, although to be honest, I doubt there is a bad seat in the theatre. It only seats about 250 patrons and no one is more than 25 feet from the stage.

Hannah Moscovitch has established herself as perhaps Canada’s hottest young playwright for more than a decade now, with such acclaimed works as East of Berlin, The Russian Play and This Is War. This season, the Stratford Festival is hosting the world premiere of Moscovitch’s latest play, Bunny, for a two-month run at the Studio Theatre.

Starring Maev Beaty and Tim Campbell and directed by Sarah Garton Stanley, Bunny is a drama about a woman named Sorrel, who has difficulty truly connecting to other people in spite of her natural allure and attractiveness to others. Among Moscovitch’s past laurels include a Dora Award for her 2008 play In This World and the Trillium Book Award.

Bunny had an interesting story arc - starting and finishing at the same point. The part in between essentially told the story of how Sorrel arrived at that point. It was a bit offputting at first to have Maev Beaty talk about her self in the first person (Sorrel this and Sorrel that) but as a device it worked because she would step in and out of character to provide some background as to what the character was thinking or experiencing.

The story was very much a post-feminist view of female sexuality and what happens when women push the boundaries of sexual desire. Highlighted through the retelling of three relationships Sorrel has had, and one I think she never actually had but was left as a 'potential', you see how she evolves overtime in how she perceives sexual relationships.

The play was quick, 90 minutes, no intermission. When the last line was uttered and the lights went down I was shocked . . . the play moved quickly and I was left wanting more . . . always a fine sign.

Stratford - The Sound of Music

Yesterday was our annual play at Stratford - a gift from mom. Every year in the spring she asks Paul and I what we'd like to see and on our birthday's we receive the ticket that she has purchased for us. Paul wanted to see the Sound of Music so off we went. I was curious to see how it would be handled - everyone has seen the movie and in many cases the play as well - what could be done? Trying to replicate such a well-known and celebrated story on the Stratford Festival stage seemed a daunting task.

Well, for one was the lead . . . Stephanie Rothenberg, is making her Stratford debut. She shines as Maria and brings an emotional depth to the character that is reminiscent of Julie Andrews' portrayal in the film that is also unique in a special way. Vocally, she is world class and I doubt you'd be able to find a more heartwarming and satisfying rendition of the title song anywhere. She has a star quality that is indescribable, and her Maria is incredibly energetic (she manages to outshine the adorable children) and likable.

Then there was Anita Krause  as the Mother Abbess. She has a fun personality which translates well on stage during "Favourite Things" - which unlike the film is a duet between the Mother Abbess and Maria in the stage show. Her "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and its reprise as the end of the show will leave tears in your eyes - yes, even with an old curmudgeon like me! As expected, her singing is phenomenal. In fact, the numbers performed by Krause and the sisters are all a treat to the ears.

I was curious to see how the children would be played - often the directors selects them because they have the look but they are unable to sing or dance well. The children, played by Sean Dolan, Effie Honeywell, Alec Dahmer, Graci Leahy, Sarah DaSilva and Zoe Brown -- are all wonderfully talented and each brings something unique to the performance. Leahy is hilarious as the unabashedly honest Brigitta von Trapp and Brown, who plays the youngest von Trapp, Gretl, will melt the heart of the most hard-shelled theatre-goer. . . . yes, even me.

One thing which surprised me were the two songs ably performed by the Baroness, Captain von Trapp's amour (Robin Evan Willis) with Max (Shane Carty), the music agent trying to get the kids onstage, have real political sinew. These numbers were cut from the movie. Given the state of our world politics today they crackled with meaning.

The only fault with this production is Director Donna Feore's odd choice to use some dancing cowboys (likely left over from her staging of Crazy for You last year or previous stagings of Oklahoma) to move sets around the stage. However, once off stage the cowboys are quickly forgotten as you get swept back into the story.

Feore has crafted a brilliant production - and her staging of The Sound of Music is probably one of the best you'll ever see and is superior to any other first class production which has played Toronto recently.

The show us now on stage at the festival through October 18, 2015.

Tickets are available online at StratfordFestival.ca.

The Last Wife

Just before we went away last weekend I went with my friend Wendy to see the opening performance of The Last Wife at the Stratford Festival. I don't know if it is because Wendy is a high school English teacher or the fact that we like quirky plays but we always seem to see a small production of something 'different'. Generally there is a bit of nudity and some language some might find offensive. Always there is an amazing play, well acted and with a story that has you thinking about what you saw and heard for some time.

The Last Wife certainly kept our streak going . . .

The Last Wife, Canda's own Kate Hennig’s new play, will premiere at Stratford’s Studio Theatre on August 14th (we saw it on the opening night of the previews). As someone with an interest in history the fact that this play is about the last wife of Henry VIII was enough to spark my interest.

Apparently I was not alone, as Kate Hennig’s “The Last Wife” has already sold out much of its run and been extended twice.

In 1543 Katherine Parr draws the eye of King Henry the VIII.

After the debacle of his fifth marriage to a girl thirty years his junior, Henry found himself in a novel position. For the first time in his tangled marital career, a future wife was not waiting to be claimed. The king turned fifty-one the year Catherine Howard was executed; he was obese, often bedridden and in great pain. His moods grew dark and vengeful. The Tudor court vacillated between the opposing factions of Catholicism and the reformed faith; they waited expectantly for Henry to choose his next wife, knowing she would tip the balance in favor of one party. But which? And was there a woman at court who would risk marrying the elderly king?

The position of Queen was the greatest honor for an Englishwoman; but in the last years of Henry’s reign, it was also the most dangerous honor.

When Katherine agreed to marry the king few could have guessed the impact she'd have. This intelligent, resourceful woman was as fascinating as she was important - she accomplished many 'first'. She was the first Queen of England and Ireland, the first English queen (and one of the first women) to publish a book under her own name, and regent (and by all accounts, a good one) for several months while Henry was away on a military campaign.

Katherine was also a devoted stepmother to Henry’s three children, despite the generally-accepted view that she was in love with her fourth husband Thomas Seymour before Henry’s suit and only married him under duress.

As a stepmother, Katherine is credited with reconciling Henry with his two daughters and playing a large part in the creation of the Act that ensured that both Mary (who would become “Bloody Mary”) and Elizabeth (later the great Elizabeth I) were accepted as legitimate heirs. A great scholar herself, she is also credited in large part with Elizabeth I’s substantial education.

The play is presented in the studio theatre - a small and intimate theatre with fewer than 200 seats. The stage is the typical Shakespearean thrust stage which ensures that there are 'no bad seats' and everyone feels as if they are a part of the action. both Wendy and I were fascinated by the play and found it do be both well written and very well acted. This was a story of a woman ahead of her time, a woman who knew how to use her abilities, talents, and skills to accomplish what she wished to. . . in fact, we were struck with the parallels from the era to our current day.

The play runs until October 7th at Stratford.

Our Annual Stratford Birthday Day

Does that title make sense? I guess so but it is confusing, to say the least.

Every year mom gives Paul and I tickets to see a play at the Stratford Festival in, yes, Stratford, for our birthday. For the past few years our play coincided with a food festival which made the visit even more enjoyable. So enjoyable that last year we stayed for the entire weekend. We had intended on doing that again this year but a) we are going on vacation in less than 2 weeks and wanted to save our cash for that, b) the food festival was moved to the summer, c) having spent the equivalent of a trip to Europe on the cat recently we needed to watch the pennies, and d) I have a MESS of work to do.

Each year we go back and forth - one year Paul selects the play, one year I do. He selected the production of Noel Coward's play Hay Fever. I think it was the draw of Cynthia Dale and the act that it wans't a play with Shakespearian dialogue which Paul sometimes struggles to follow. :-)

After doing a gazillion errands we drove to Stratford yesterday (almost running out of gas on the way. Don't ask I am easily distracted these days). Paul had decided on a Thai restaurant for lunch. 'Stratford Thai' was well reviewed on yelp and tripadvisor so we figured 'why not'

Paul had the Thai version of arancini (fried rice balls) for an appetizer:

(sorry, he ate one prior to my taking the pic. LOL)

He followed this with Pad Thai.

The restaurant had some great lunch specials. For $ 12.95 you could order a spring roll/soup or mango salad and a main course. I went with the mango salad to start:

Followed by the garlic/pepper beef stir fry.

The verdict on this restaurant? I'd give it a 4 out of 5. The food was delicious, prices reasonable (we haven't had lunch for under $40 in some times), and the service wonderful. We did think that the food could have had more heat to it (as in spicy heat). We overheard the waitress explaining to another table that nothing on the menu was spicy but the kitchen could add heat is requested. We will remember that for our return visit.

After lunch we wandered around and did some shopping. Happily when I popped into Your Local Market Co-op store they had some of the Arva flour that they were out of on my last visit. Arva flour is an independent mill which has been in operation since 1819 making it is Canada's oldest continuously operating water powered flour mill and perhaps the oldest in North America. They use organic, local grains for the flour and add no preservatives or chemicals.

Having this bag of clour downstairs makes me want to bake something today! LOL

Next up was our theatre experience.

(no, I did NOT take a picturein the show - this is from the Stratford Festival site)

Hay Fever tells the tale of oft-retired stage diva Judith Bliss who has invited a young admirer down to her home in the English countryside for the weekend. This would be fine if her husband, daughter and son had not also invited a guest for the weekend, a confusion only enhanced by the family's utter lack of consideration for anyone else.

The story is funnier than it sounds - it is a Noel Coward play, after all, not Pinter. Coward is said to have written it in a kind of fever himself, basing it on the antics he witnessed at similar weekend gatherings at the home of American actress Laurette Taylor.

This was the perfect play for me to have seen yesterday- it wasn't deep and didn't make me think hard trying to comprehend the message. LOL The acting was incredible - love a play where the actors are given rein to 'chew' the stage.

Yes, all in all, it was an excellent day!

Les Miserables

Les Misérables is a bonafide phenomenon of the stage, one of the original Mega Musicals. Based upon the novel by Victor Hugo; a story of one man's journey to redemption set against the backdrop of class-struggle and political unrest in post-Napoleonic France, Les Mis is hugely ambitious in scope and scale. It's a grand, sweeping epic and an iconic show.

It is also one of my all-time favourite shows. I think I have seen it 6 or 7 times.

Imagine my excitment when I heard earlier this year that a new Canadian production  was to open in October. This production would be deffirent than the ones I had seen before - In 2009, producer Cameron Mackintosh commissioned a new version of Les Mis for the show's 25th anniversary. He brought on director Laurence Connor to re-invent and re-imagine the show for a new tour. That 25th anniversary tour is the basis for this new Canadian production.

I was skeptical and I wasn't sure how I'd respond to this new version of the show, after all, why mess with a classic, right? I'm happy to say that I was totally blown away. The new Les Mis is as grand, sweeping, emotional and epic as the original but it also feels incredibly fresh and dynamic.

This version is completely re-thought and re-designed - set design, costumes, music, just about everything is different with some differences being significant and others subtle. The familiar turntable stage from the original production is gone - the new musical staging is actually more dynamic without it. The director also brings out a lot of great nuances in the story and several character moments in the show that either weren't there or weren't as strongly developed before.

Making his Canadian stage debut, West End veteran and Richmond Hill native Ramin Karimloo delivers a career defining performance in his portrayal of Jean Valjean. Mr. Karimloo’s performance of Bring Him Home alone is worth the price of admission.

It’s already been announced that he will be reprising this role when the show opens on Broadway in early 2014.

Also notable is Inspector Javert played by Earl Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter who played the same role in the London production delivers a powerhouse performance as does Melissa O’Neil as Eponine.

For those of you who think you know Les Misérables and aren’t planning on seeing the new 25th anniversary production currently on stage at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, you should seriously think again.

Les Misérables, is playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre through February 2.