The Children’s Republic offers new twist on powerful play

Paul Rainville has played Dr. Korczak in Hannah Moscovitch’s The Children’s Republic not once but twice, which makes it all the more surprising that he says he stumbled into it in the first place. “I got to play him in Ottawa in a very different version of the play,” says Rainville. “The woman who was […]

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The Sadies keep moving ahead, even if it’s without a direction for now

Dallas Good, guitarist/vocalist of Toronto country-rock band The Sadies, says that their new album, Northern Passages, has no direction, but that’s okay with him. “I wouldn’t say there is an overall theme of the album.” says Good. “My brother [guitarist/vocalist Travis] and I are both songwriters, so the lyrics will vary. If I had to […]

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New Music Revue: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart craft pop with honesty

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart The Echo of Pleasure (Painbow Records) 3.5/5 Maybe it’s because I’m a dad trying to juggle diapers and chores between episodes of The Octonauts, but when the promotional material that comes with music I’m reviewing uses terms such as “big-hearted, idealistic pop songs,” I want to poke holes […]

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Comedian Mike Delamont brings Scottish drag-queen God back for sequel

What started off as a local performance for local comedian Mike Delamont has evolved into a national sensation. Delamont’s new show, God Is a Scottish Drag Queen: The Second Coming, expands on his original one-man show, God Is a Scottish Drag Queen. Through humour, Delamont tackles societal issues in the performance, although he says the […]

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What’s Going On: September 5 to 19, 2017

Tuesday, September 5 Launched to sea Head down to Bolen Books to listen to Michael and Anita Hadley launch Spindrift: A Canadian Book of the Sea on September 5. The anthology has 170 pieces from more than 130 Canadian writers; the book launch has no cover charge and light refreshments. Win-win. The festivities start at […]

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Eclectic local six-piece Astrocolor gear up for Rifflandia

If half of you wants to go clubbing until you regret it, but the other half of you wants to sit at home with a cuppa and a good read, locals Astrocolor will meet you wherever you find yourself along that continuum. The band mixes electronica with jazz, along with other genres; DJ/producer Neil Cooke-Dallin […]

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The Glass Castle a sobering metaphor for life

There are certain movies that ignite the viewer, make them feel alive but also, in some ways, kill them at the same time. The spark that Woody Harrelson ignites while playing Rex, an abusive but, somehow, occasionally inspiring and kind alcoholic in The Glass Castle (2017; 4/5) burns viewers as they watch the film. The […]

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Bed and Breakfast director utilizes vocal mask theatre for summer comedy

When it comes to finding a community, some understanding, and a good clean laugh, Bed and Breakfast—a play that centres around two gay men who open a bed and breakfast—won’t disappoint, says director Ashlie Corcoran. Corcoran has been involved in the play since its early stages, working closely with writer and actor Mark Crawford, whose […]

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Forestrial Brain showcases the flora and fauna of the wild west coast

Forestrial Brain is a collaborative project by artists Jim Holyoak and Matt Shane that’s centred on the wild imagery of Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast. The duo spent eight days hiking the island’s famous West Coast Trail, documenting what they observed and drawing sketches of all the different plants, animals, and landscapes that they encountered […]

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GoFundMe launched to save Hermann’s Jazz Club

When Hermann Nieweler founded Hermann’s Jazz Club in 1986, it attracted local musicians and patrons with the promise of a casual atmosphere, good music, and friendly company. Today, the venue is the oldest jazz club still in operation in Canada. Nieweler passed away on June 10, 2015, and from that moment the future of the […]

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