Three hot tips on April theatre

Byron Toben

April, 2009

Over the River and Through the Woods

The author of this comedy/drama, Joe Di Pietro, is best known for his musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. In this play, popular Off Broadway, he deals with the conflicts of an Italian-American third generation grandson in moving across the continent for job advancement and the grandparents – all four of them – intent on keeping the family together in one place. These concerns will certainly resonate with the large Jewish audience at the Segal.

The whip-smart dialogue – DiPietro was a marketing copywriter before hitting it big in show biz – plus the usual superb production values of the Segal – augur for a well spent evening.

Over The River plays at The Segal April 19 to May 10.

Info: 514-739-7944

Paradise Lost

In George Bernard Shaw’s 1903 masterpiece, Don Juan in Hell, the Devil refers to John Milton’s 1665 epic thusly: “(He) described me as being expelled from Heaven by canons and gunpowder; and to this day every Briton believes that the whole of his silly story is in the Bible. What else he says I do not know; for it is all in a long poem which neither I nor any one else ever succeeded in wading through.”

Finally, local actor Paul Van Dyck has waded through it and created an inventive multimedia show, including puppets of Adam and Eve, for a user friendly version of the classic rap.

Paul may be familiar to readers for his memorable bits in Vampire Lesbians Of Sodom, Dracula, The Real Inspector Hound and Sahara Crossing. Oh, by the way, if you think Shaw was rough on blind Milton, you should see what he had to say about Dante for his 1335 Inferno.

Paradise Lost plays at Theatre Ste. Catherine till April 12. $15 (pay what- you-can on the 5^th and 12^th)

Info: 514-284-3939

Cherry Docs

The Docs refer not to fruit surgeons (popular stand-up Derick Legwenus nailed that with his memorable Dr. Avocado routine), but to the Doc Marten’s footwear beloved of Skinheads. In David Gow’s much feted drama, a Neo-Nazi is charged with murder. Legal Aid assigns a Jewish lawyer to defend him and the process leads to the lawyer questioning his own liberalism. Montrealer Dan Jeannotte and Winnipeg-born Sean Carney can be counted on to sizzle in this conflict, directed by MECCA winner Gabrielle Soskin.

Cherry Docs plays at Theatre Ste. Catherine April 16 to 26 with 7 evening and 6 matinée shows. $21/$15 students, seniors/$12 on April 22 or 23.

Info: 514-481-1327