Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays
February 1 to March 4, 2012
Various Venues – check website for more information
http://www.atplive.com/playRites/playRites.html#productions
For a theatre critic in Calgary, it’s never really a good time to go away as there is always something new and potentially interesting on the stages in the city. And while I’m immensely grateful for this, it does become frustrating when you realize just what you are missing when you do book a vacation.
Unfortunately this month, vacation for me means missing all the openings for the Enbridge playRites Festival. Believe me…I’ve already done the phooey-phooey dance and it didn’t help much. So…..I’m relying on my lovely and loyal applause-meter.com readers to provide some reviews for me.
I will be back in town February 18, with just a week or so left to catch the shows. So dear readers, what should I see? What do you recommend and what didn’t light your spark? I will be posting last-minute reviews on the shows I do manage to see, but would be immensely grateful if you could help steer me in the direction of those most worth catching and reviewing…for whatever reason!
The shows this year are:
Thinking of Yu
By Carole Fréchette, Translated by John Murrell
February 1 – March 4, 2012
DRAMA: Pilot Episode
By Karen Hines
February 2 – March 3, 2012
Ash Rizin
By Michael P. Northey and Kyprios
In association with Green Thumb Theatre
February 3 – March 3, 2012
Good Fences
By the Downstage Creation Ensemble
In association with Downstage
February 14 – March 4, 2012
Personally, upon first glance, my tastes will tip me towards Thinking of Yu and Good Fences. But maybe it’s the other two that are the standouts. Drop me a line, let me know and look for my reviews when I get back.
Until then, I encourage you to find yourself in a dark theatre and leave you with the words of Oscar Wilde. “I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”
Applause! Meter 
Definitely catch “Drama”.
Thanks DvB……I have heard that Drama is good. Looking forward to seeing it and posting a review. Have you seen Good Fences yet? Curious to know your thoughts on that one. I’m hoping to see and review both upon my return.
I saw Ash Rizin this week and reviewed it on my calgarymusicals.com blog yesterday. Although I doubt it’ll be to everyone’s taste, I quite liked it (as did the thirtysomething hip-hop fans I took with me) although I’d say it has some flaws. Worth going to see if only because it’s hip-hop which is unusual, and because it’s the first musical PlayRites has ever put in its Festival in its 26 year history. Hoping to catch Good Fences, but don’t know if I’ll see it before you do.