2026 Theatre Notes

Clyde's / Can Stage Bluma Appel (April)

Clyde's is a Broadway play written by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. Premiering in 2021, this comedy-drama focuses on formerly incarcerated kitchen staff seeking redemption while working at a truck stop sandwich shop, often cited as a companion piece to her play Sweat. Cincinatti Playhouse in the Park

Loved the allegory of the quest for the perfect sandwich and the idea that prison is also a state of mind. Clyde's anger confines her and in the end becomes the catalyst that sets her workers free.

Fire and flames lit and licked the stage in the kitchen, conjuring hell and purgatory.

Fabulous ensemble cast; most gathered for a talk-back after the performance.

The Surrogate / Crow’s Nest Studio Theatre (March)

 

"Set over the course of a single sleepless night, The Surrogate is a 21st-century exploration of privilege, and the complexities of modern family-making in a world where the rules are still being written." Crow's Theatre.

Although themes were highly charged (ethics of surrogacy, state-side politics, nature of relationships) this didn't feel moralistic or didactic. Told the story and then left you reeling.

The Slotkin Letter review was critical of playwright Moishin Zaidi's debut  for having too many threads running through it at once; however I didn't feel it overwhelmed or clouded the story so much as depicted how complex and multi-faceted life and death can be. What a fabulous first effort!

The Studio Theatre was the perfect venue. The more intimate space suited the personal themes. A nice touch in the set design was drawing the audience in with the choice of seating - hard white chairs that would easily suit a hospital waiting room. Appreciated this detail.

Talk-back after with actors and director (Christopher Manousos) gave some insight into how the stage play was crafted and evolved.

Produced by Here for Now Theatre, Crow’s Theatre, House and Body and b current

You, Always / Berkeley Street Theatre, Can Stage (Feb)

Canadian playwright Erin Shields tackles some tough themes in this play about sisterhood: cancer, MAID, divorce, eating disorders. 

The stage was stark and minimal, which allowed it to morph easily from one place into another. 

The two actors were challenged to jump quickly between childhood, adulthood, and adolescence in a series of rapid vignettes, and they pulled off the transitions well, using a lilt in their voice or a shrug of the shoulders to help frame their age. 

Conflict between the two sisters gave rise to arguments beginning with "You, always...." While I know conflict is the dramaturge's friend, I could have used a few more scenes featuring their love and support for one another to even the balance. My favourite scene was when they donned the costumes from childhood stories, and it was well placed in the arc because their yelling at each other was getting a bit one note. 

By the end of the show, there were many people crying in the theatre but personally, I couldn't help feeling a tad manipulated. 

Fool's Full Moon - April 2026

The moon was full on April 1st.

The illustration of the Trickster Moon can be purchased from Matty Rose Templeton.

In honor of April Fools, I'm excerpting from this post from April in the Wheel of the Year Part 1: April Fools, Trickster Deities, and Wisdom - By Lucya Starza

The probable origin of April Fools' Day is that it started in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII's Gregorian Calendar replaced the Julian Calendar, meaning New Year's Day fell three months earlier. News travelled slowly back then. Many people didn’t find out about the changes and continued to celebrate the start of the year on what had actually become April 1. They got called "April Fools". However, there are references to April Fool type customs before 1582. Chaucer's Story The Nun's Priest's Tale, written about 1400, is about two fools and takes place "thritty dayes and two" - or 32 days - from the start of March, which would be April 1.

April Fool traditions vary from country to country. In France, people who are tricked are called Poisson d'Avril, which means "April Fish". A common joke is to stick a paper fish to a person's back. In Scotland, the victim of a hoax is called an April "Gowk", which is a Scottish word for cuckoo. Cuckoos start to arrive in the country this month.

Tricksters

The trickster is also an important figure in folklore, mythology, magic and divination. They appear in cultural traditions all over the world as deities, characters, spirits and animals. Tricksters include Norse god Loki, Greek goddess Eris, Indigenous American Coyote and Raven, and Reynard the Fox from European folklore. They break the rules and use cunning to gain the upper hand. They can be serious troublemakers or humorous pranksters - the bad guys of legend or simply clowns. Nevertheless, valuable lessons can be learnt from them. In his book Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth and Art, Lewis Hyde writes that the trickster is one of the oldest mythological archetypes, dating back to the time of hunter gatherers, when trickery was often needed to catch food. He writes:

"The trickster myth derives creative intelligence from appetite. It begins with a being whose main concern is being fed and ends with the same being grown mentally swift, adept at creating and unmasking deceit, proficient at masking his tracks and seeing through the devices used by others to mask theirs."

Tarot Symbolism

In tarot decks, the Magician, the first trump of the Major Arcana, follows the Fool, which is the zero card. The Magician is something of a performer. The dapper chap in The Wisdom Seeker’s Tarot by David Fontana (pictured) looks like an entertainer. In some decks he’s actually called the Trickster, such as in The Elemental Tarot by Caroline Smith. He plays the crowd using sleight of hand, he juggles the elements with confidence and makes a little knowledge go a long way. Essentially, the trickster is a guide or archetype for hard times, who teaches us to turn adversity to our advantage, to learn not only how to get out of trouble but also how to take advantage of it as if by magic. Of course, the trickster doesn't always win, but he gives himself a good chance of doing so.

The Wisdom of the Fool 

While tricksters can win the day, there’s also value in the wisdom of the fool. In many decks, including The Wisdom Seeker’s Tarot, the Fool card shows a carefree young person in colourful clothing enjoying a sunny walk along a cliff. They are travelling light with a little dog at their heels, but possibly just about to walk over the edge. The positive aspects of this card offer the lure of adventure and freedom from responsibilities. It’s about new beginnings, setting out on a journey and not quite knowing where that will end or what people or places one will meet along the way.

Of course, some of those places might be dangerous and some of those people might be tricksters. You don’t want to take a fall. So, along with the fun of being carefree, the message is that one should look where one is going and watch for potential dangers. The little dog represents our natural instincts and intuition giving us a warning, which we should pay attention to. Sunny days in April can seem the perfect time to set off on a journey or adventure, or start a new project. The wisdom is to heed your instincts, and decide which risks are worth taking.

Full Blood Moon - March 2026

Moon was full on March 3, 2026 and there was also a lunar eclipse around 6:04 - 6:33. Slept right through it! 

Instant Replay on Epic Toronto  

Epitourists: French Canadian Comfort Food

It was the guys turn to prepare the culinary treats, and 'boy' did they deliver! Comfort Food with a French Canadian theme. Laura and Peter hosted Kaarina, Mike, Rob and me for a Wolfe Island winter getaway.

MENU Les Gars Canadiens-Français

Appetizer 

Cretons de Quebec, Deux fromages du Québec (Morbier, Crem triple), Pork Rinds, Gherkins, Maple Pecans, Pickled Beans (Rob's & Diane's)

Cocktail: Quebec Cocktail

Soup 

Soupe aux pois Résidente

Wine: Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva

Main 

Tortiere

Wine: Lupa Meraviglia Tre di Tre (a score of 99 from Luca Maroni)

Dessert

Recette de pouding chômeur

Charlevoix 1608 cheese paired with Chenin Blanc was a prelude to a delicious French Onion soup Laura served the day we arrived. The main culinary event was the following day. 

Rob chose the Appetizer course. The 'pate' is typically served cold on morning toast, but it worked nicely as an appetizer served alongside pork rinds, cheese, and maple pecans. There was enough leftover for a breakfast nibble.

Mike found his recipe for Pea Soup from Canadian Living magazine. I wonder if this is one that Laura had a hand in testing when she worked there? Quite delicous! 

Peter prepared the tortiere; seasoned boldly with thyme, sage, nutmeg, cloves, salt & pepper. It looked so tasty everyone dove in and we forgot to take a photo, so Laura's Christmas pie above is a stand-in. The pastry was perfect.

Courses were all cooked and prepared ahead of time, with the exception of dessert. Rob made it before dinner and timed it so it would be nice and warm when served. Unfortunately the eggs were forgotten on the counter and didn't make it into the cake batter - pas de problème. Creme fraiche saved the day. Lots of maple syrup! Pouding chômeur, translates to "unemployed man's pudding" or "poor man's pudding," and is a quintessential Québécois dessert that originated during the early years of the Great Depression. Rob remembers his Nova Scotian mom making it when he was a kid in Winnipeg. This particular recipe was from Rideau Hall.

Links to recipes:

Quebec Cocktail (Rob used Compari and 1/4 oz of simple syrup)

Cretons de Quebec:

Classic Pea Soup

Tourtiere

Pouding chômeur

The meal was fantastic! So was the company and winter retreat.

Freddy the cat charmed us all and mooched the Cretons de Quebec - as well as some of the pork rinds. Quite hilarious watching him crunch away.

Well fed, he (mostly) ignored the birds at the feeder. Finches, bluejays, junkos, cardinals, chickadees. An Eastern Towhee even made an appearance. Apparently it is quite a hit with the Island's birders, as Laura discovered someone staking out her property to add to his bird list while another visitor traded honey for the privilege. 

I always enjoy a good wood fire. Perfect for warming toes and watching dancing flames. Those of us who wanted outdoor fun indulged in some snowshoeing and outdoor hiking. 

Jalisco

The final leg of the Mexico trip was a stay in Jalisco. After all the busy sightseeing in Mexico City and El Chepo Barrancas, hanging out in the warm sun and listening to the waves was a balm. 

We've been wanting to stay in Yolapa ever since our son came back with rave reviews. A boat ride from the pier at PV, it is a sleepy beach town. Very laid back. No cars, but ATVs, on cobblestone streets. We decided to spoil ourselves with accommodations right on the beach. The balcony was huge and the sound of the waves played all day and night. There was a bit of a river as well, with lots of different birds splashing in: brown pelicans, black storks, blue herons, laughing gulls, white egrets, frigates and black-necked stilt birds.  We did explore  the trails a bit, enjoying views of the waterfall, fishing boats, and village square. Our favourite restaurant was Abuelos, with its open-air ambience and live musicians. 

We divided our stay between Yolapa and Peurto Vallarta. In PV, we stayed in Zona Romantica. Our hotel didn't have much of a view, but it did have the perfect location. In the city’s main square, Plaza de Armas, perfectly situated between the Malecon, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, and the Arches at the Malecon amphitheater. 

We also spent a few hours on the water in a small boat whale watching tour, see humpbacks sound and mothers with their calves. Our last night, we spoiled ourselves with a table on beach and a serenade from an excellent mariachi band. 

Two weeks later there were troubles with the cartels. The bustling Square, and the OXO we shopped at, became the scene of vehicles lit on fire and smoke rising, with tourists asked to shelter in place. So glad we missed that action!