Sandra Shamas: Love Life

Wit’s End III: Love Life

Winter Garden Theatre, Toronto until April 3 (excl. March 15-20)

reviewed by Tina Rogers

Sandra Shamas mastered story telling decades ago, and continues to deliver her two-hour monologues in her inimitable and hilarious style after an almost nine-year gap since Wits End II. In the cozy familiarity of the Winter Garden Theatre on Yonge Street in Toronto, Sandra Shamas had a packed house of mostly women, but also a noticeable number of men, laughing out loud.

“WIT’S END III: LOVE LIFE continues Sandra’s story. She is still on the farm, still dealing with everything life throws at her. With brilliant insight, Sandra tackles every hurdle, and along the way she pokes fun at her own foibles in an earthy, honest and hilarious way. From exploring changes in her body as she ages, to dealing with the delicate negotiations of purchasing the perfect little red tractor, to hiring someone to help with the heavy farm machinery, Sandra never loses sight of the importance of loyalty, humour and love.”

Admittedly those of us ‘of a certain age’ likely related more intimately to her accounts of Sex-Ed in the sixties, and more recent menopausal symptoms, but there was indeed something for everyone in her material which she delivers with aplomb and a delicious sense of mischief behind her twinkling eyes. Over two hours with a short intermission, and not once did she falter or lose her engaged audience.

“Love Life” is less about romantic interludes and more about the joys of living an interesting and tumultuous life, including becoming a small farmer, going to parties in Toronto as a single woman, and the coming of age stage for women over 50. The material is extremely well written and presented impeccably. The time simply flew by, and left us all wanting just a little more.

Can’t wait for Wits End IV, but we sincerely hope it won’t be another nine years in the making. This is Sandra Shamas at her best.

From the SHOW website …

One of Canada’s most celebrated comic artists, Sandra came into her own as a performer, writer and producer in the mid 1980s with My Boyfriend’s Back and There’s Gonna Be Laundry. From its very first performance at the Edmonton Fringe, the show was a smash success, eventually touring the country and even playing the legendary Old Vic Theatre in London, England (the first Canadian show to have that distinction in the theatre’s long history). Two more Laundry plays followed, each playing to sold-out houses across Canada; the trilogy eventually published and shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award and the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour. Sandra won a Gemini Award in 1991 for Best Performance in Comedy, and won the Best Theatre Award at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in March 2003.

After some time away from the spotlight, Sandra returned to performing with Wit’s End, a show that chronicled her move to country living. It played 11 sold-out weeks at the 1,000-seat Winter Garden and then toured to major theatres across the country. It was followed by Wit’s End II: Heart’s Desire, which enjoyed similar success.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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