Review by Ivy Wigmore

On April 10th, the PEISO celebrated the end of this season with “A walk with Brahms” under the direction of Mark Shapiro. A member of the orchestra said to me back in 2013 when he took the helm that it was “a bit of a miracle.” We’ve recently learned that Shapiro has signed on for a further five years as the orchestra’s musical director.

You may or may not have noticed
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Review by Ann Thurlow

The second time I went to The Little Kitchen, after I had ordered, I saw owner Danny Shum writing something in Chinese on a white board. I asked him what it was and he told me it was a menu item for his Chinese customers—North Americans wouldn’t like it. I persisted and he finally told me it was pork belly.

“Danny, my friend,” I said, “we’ve got to talk.” And I told him about
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All New People

Review by Sean McQuaid

Your stuffy stenographer being eternally, unrepentantly old, I have never been a particularly hip and happening hepcat. So when theatre producers talk about doing an edgy, adult show—which tends to signify some combination of sex, violence and/or profanity—my enthusiasm typically wanes. 

Hence my initial wariness regarding ACT’s production of All New
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Romeo and Juliet 

Review by Sean McQuaid 

Your incurable romantic—well, certainly an incurable something, anyway—has enjoyed William Shakespeare’s iconic 16th Century tragedy Romeo and Juliet since well-meaning educators first thrust it upon me decades ago. It may be flowery, melodramatic and occasionally implausible, but it boasts several unforgettable characters, a
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Review of PEI Symphony
by Ivy Wigmore

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Zion Church so full, nor a crowd so clearly happy to be there. On February 7th, the PEI Symphony Orchestra presented “Beethoven and Beyond,” under the direction of guest conductor Dinuk Wijeratne. The current resident conductor of Symphony Nova Scotia, Wijeratne has worked with the Gryphon Trio, Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and
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Review by Ann Thurlow 

Yes, you might be saying (if you read the article about Terre Rouge), but what happened to John Pritchard? He went to Upstreet Brewery, that’s what. And now, along with your craft beer, you get tapas to whet your appetite for more beer or, in my case, even more delicious food.

Traditionally, tapas are offered in bars in Spain to encourage customers to order more
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Aladdin: Another Fairly Tall Tale

Review by Sean McQuaid 

As many Canadians embrace the "sunny ways" of Canada's cheerful new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, your curmudgeonly critic concedes at least one point on the subject: tonal change is a powerful thing. 

A couple of years into his gig as Artistic Director at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Adam Brazier has often struck a
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A Christmas Carol

Review by Sean McQuaid 

Your seasonal scribe has a well–documented passion for Christmas in general and 1843 novella A Christmas Carol in particular; so when the North Shore Players staged their new theatrical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale in December, ye olde reviewer headed for North Rustico’s Watemark Theatre like the wise men following the star. 

There’s
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