More Stratford Festival Reviews

Before the end of September, let's take a look at three more of the shows currently onstage at the Stratford Festival. We'll complete the list for the season in early October.

Love's Labour's Lost (Tom Patterson Theatre to October 4) ***
I can't count the number of times I've seen a production of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost, usually performed by the Young Company at Stratford, and in most cases they are pretty good. I remember one production, mind you, that still gives me nightmares it was so bad, so many years ago...

This new production, however, is one of the better ones you'll see. Michael Langham is listed as the director, but I hear the late Richard Monette had to step in to complete the directorial duties during the planning stages for this production, although no credit appears in the program to this effect. This is always a Young Company staple, as the young actors have appropriate parts alongside some chosen veterans. Although some of the young members flubbed a few lines at the performance I attended, I found the Young Company to be particularly strong this year. The senior members are anchored by Peter Donaldson as Don Adriano de Armado, and he is a joy to watch here. Another standout is newcomer John Vickery as the schoolmaster, Holofernes. He is proving to be a real find this season, if his comic abilities are anything to go by. Overall, this show will not disappoint, even though most of us have seen it at least once or twice before.

Hamlet (Festival Theatre to October 26) ****
Yes, Hamlet is back at Stratford, and what an inspirational Hamlet this production is! It is one of the must-see productions at Stratford this year. The sets and costumes are from the Edwardian era, which at first glance might seem a bit odd, but everything is very clean and sleek, and I found I didn't mind the more modern setting as much as I usually do. The dramatic effects, I found, highlight the action rather than get in the way of them.

We are blessed with a very strong cast here, and they all perform beautifully. Not since 1986's production on the Avon stage with Brent Carver in the title role have I seen such a dynamic portrayal of Hamlet. After years of seeing Ben Carlson at the Shaw Festival, I frankly didn't think he had it in him, but he is great here; he appears scheming yet with an innocence that's quite disarming. Support is offered by James Blendick as The Ghost of Old Hamlet, his father; Scott Wentworth as nasty as ever as his uncle Claudius, and Juan Chioran in a relatively small but effective part as Osric. And I was especially pleased to see Maria Ricossa back again as Hamlet's mother Gertrude. All in all, a very satisfying production directed by Adrian Noble. If you see just one of Shakespeare's offerings this season, make it this one. You won't be disappointed!

Cabaret (Avon Theatre to October 25) ****
The Stratford Festival last staged Cabaret on the Festival Stage in 1987 with Brent Carver as the Emcee and I thought that production was a benchmark production at the time. This new production is just as good, although things do tend to get a bit crowded on the smaller Avon stage at times. I found the first act to be especially long, and then the second act just flies by. The other notable thing about the production is yes, there is a slight bit of nudity in the first act, which apparently has caused some to leave the theatre at intermission in disgust. Let's just say Bruce Dow as the Emcee proves to be a cheeky fellow here...but really, you can't do a show like Cabaret without a bit of flesh showing through, can you?

Director Amanda Dehnert works with a strong cast here, led of course, by Bruce Dow as the sinister Emcee. Others in the cast include Sean Arbuckle as Clifford Bradshaw and Cory Obrien as Ernst Ludwig, who works for the SS and is proud of it. Special mention goes to Nora McClellan as a particularly effective Fraulein Schneider and her suitor, Frank Moore as Herr Schultz. And what can you say about Trish Lindstrom as Sally Bowles? Some might wish for the return of Cynthia Dale to the Stratford musicals, but Lindstrom possesses a fabulous voice and a great stage presence. If you have only seen the movie version of Cabaret, this stage production, like the original from 1966, will prove to be very different. That being said, it will stay with you for years to come. Go see it!

September 25th, 2008.