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.

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by Ted Loviscek

If you are used to going to the theatre and seeing one long show, with one theme, the same storyline, and the same characters throughout, An Evening With The Second City is not that. It is closer to 20 short shows (sketches), with actors playing many characters, and if there is one theme, it’s that it’s all funny.

Current events are being spoofed, satirized … topics range from local events to relationships to religion to funerals. All have a place in making you laugh. If you are seventy or twenty, there will be something (or everything) included to get many laughs from you. This current ensemble cast consists of Rob Baker, Dale Boyer, Adam Cawley, Caitlin Howden, Inessa Frantowski, and Kris Siddiqiand and is directed by Chris Earl. Not only does this group perform the show, they also wrote it  – a ‘collective creation’.

The ensemble has been assembled from the best from the Second City touring company that came from the best from Second City student productions. They usually stay with the group two or three years. The director has been with the company for 20 years, himself starting as one the performers. Director Earl explains, “In terms of sketch comedy, I think we are the gold standard. Our mandate is to be topical and satirical. We’re not going to be as underground as the others. What we will do is put on a show with a level of sophistication, theatricality, and polish, that you wouldn’t normally see with the other sketch troupes.”

Performing the scenes without props (except chairs) and no special make-up or costumes, the cast still keep all their voices, faces and characters believable. We see the problems of home schooling, showing how dysfunctional parents discover and cope with their daughter’s “sex-ting”, and sketched  continue to roll. Male/female relationships. Bratty children. The Catholic Church. Funerals. YouTube. All are targets for this bunch of six.

And if you aren’t laughed out after the two hours of show, as a bonus after a short break the cast is back – trying out and performing new material that may be included in their next show.

Being both and a writer and performer, Ted Loviscek has written and reviewed the performing arts, the entertainment scene, and its people in Toronto for publications including the Grapevine, Toronto Tonight, and the Toronto Star. As well as being a published, and prize-winning playwright, part time comedian, he has contributed material to radio programs on CFRB and AM640 — as well as having written and performed on CBC television.

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It’s a little gem! Sadly, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks ends its short run at the Rose Theatre in Brampton on January 17. But we were fortunate to catch it.

This witty comedy was sensitively written by Richard Alfieri and brought to life by two dynamic actors who drew us into the laugh-out-loud comedy and the touching pathos in this bittersweet story about the nature of friendship. Lily, a 72-year old widow played masterfully by the most elegant star of stage and screen Constance Towers, 76, (most known for her work on General Hospital, and middle-aged dance instructor Michael, engagingly played with panache by musical theatre star Jason Graae, 51, used foxtrot, tango and waltz to uncover lessons about love, loss and redemption.

PR by dkpr public relations inc.

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Colin Mochrie is an award-winning, multi-talented performer and writer, born in the 1950s in Kilmarnock, Scotland, setting foot on Canadian soil in 1964, where he has since remained. You may know him from 12 years on the successful TV show Whose Line is It Anyway?, and for the comedy series Getting Along Famously for which he was co-creator, executive producer, writer and star with his wife Debra McGrath.

He has appeared in many Canadian comedy series, is a sought-after featured performer in several films – and will host the Canadian version of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Resident of Toronto’s Leaside, Colin performs more than 100 live improv shows per year with Brad Sherwood. In 2009 Colin and Brad performed at the National Press Correspondents Dinner for the US President and the executive branch. Recently seen performing live in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre, at the Gilda’s Club benefit It’s Always Something, he spoke with Tempo Toronto about life beyond 50. (And, by the way, he is a really good person.)

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