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One of the reasons I fell in love with my husband was because he loved going to the theatre. His parents had seasons tickets to the theater in Vancouver when they were growing up. I have always loved going to dramas and musicals when I was in Montreal but my true love of the theater developed each an every year that I have attended Stratford.
The last time my in-laws came to visit we went to the to see Elf at the Grand Theatre. We often go to to see a play or a musical as a family and this had become a tradition when we get together. Christmas musicals are always so fun. There is nothing like live theatre to bring a story to life.
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This year we decided to go to see the musical Crazy for You.
This musical is a ‘rollicking’ good fun. I have to say that the beginning of the musical is a bit weak with a few uneventful songs. I have seen quite a few musicals and I don’t know if the male lead, Josh Franklin, was up for the part. His voice was good but his dancing skills I thought were not as strong as some of the other dancers. I think that when you have the lead in THE musical of the season you have to be top notch. Not so with much with Franklin. Polly Barker, played by Natalie Daradich also was a bit weak. I don’t know, maybe I have higher standards but I clearly remember the 2012 production of 42nd Street with Jennifer Rider-Shaw as a stand-out performance of singing and dancing.
All that set aside, the production takes on a whole new dimension when the whole ensemble of cowboys and show girls takes stage. The production numbers are complex and must be managed precisely. The Festival Theatre at the Stratford Festival is a almost a complete circle and is fantastic for these types of performances. The Director and Choreographer, Donna Feore, used her talents well as the ensemble delivers entertaining and ‘show-stopping’ numbers. This is her 20th season with Stratford and has directed and choreographed other wonderful productions including, Fiddler on the Roof, Charlie Brown, Cyrano de Bergerac, Oklahoma!, Oliver!
My daughter noted that some of the songs were also in the Broadway show that we saw a few summer ago, Great Work if You Can Get it staring Matthew Broderick. It just goes to show that these musical productions do stay with your children. My son, who is 13, absolutely loved Crazy For You. The subtle (and not so subtle) jokes made him laugh out loud. That is one of the main reasons we love going to the theatre with them.
He was a big fan of The Stratford Festival
Overall the production comes together best when the ensemble is on stage. It has humour, great dancing and singing and is entertaining. I would recommend that you go and enjoy the show. We certainly did.
Crazy for You
The New Gershwin Musical
Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by Ken Ludwig
Festival Theatre
April 21 to October 12
Opens May 27, 2014
Approximate running time:
2 hrs 42 min, including one interval
About the Musical
Sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a derelict theatre, banker Bobby Child falls for its owner’s daughter, Polly Baker. Can he reconcile the demands of duty and love – and his own dreams of dancing? “I Got Rhythm,” “Nice Work if You Can Get It” and “Someone to Watch Over Me” are just some of the gems in this dynamic musical’s dazzling score.
Stratford Festival through the years – Reviews
- What’s Playing at Stratford in 2023
- One of the Best Plays at Stratford this year: Much Ado About Nothing – 2023
- Watch past productions of Stratford Festival online – Stratford@Home – 2020
- Richard III – 2022
- Little Shop of Horrors – 2019
- To Kill a Mockingbird – 2018
- Twelfth Night – 2017
- Theatre Do’s and Don’ts – It’s Simple Etiquette: Leave your candies at home
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