features
Reefer Madness - A Review
Oh god, someone I know is approaching me. A former classmate had me trapped at an intersection, the kind of acquaintance you're friendly with but never know what you should say. This would normally be tolerable, but I'd been high since my celebratory wake-n-bake at 4:20 AM, and the brownies I took at 4:20 PM were just starting to kick in. Come on, focus. My bloodshot gaze started burning a hole in their forehead.
Because You Never Asked - A Review
An archive of memories and artifacts, a beautiful assemblage of a difficult history. Every object, sound, and written word was representative of intergenerational storytelling. With the opening show being sold out, I was lucky to have gotten there an hour early. I had just enough time to look through the glass enclosures filled with passports, letters, pictures, and a well loved doll before the room was too crowded. Seeing all of these things left me with a mixture of tender nostalgia and hurt.
FringeMTL 101
“Fringe is a verb, and fringing is the action. I Fringe because I believe in the idea, but I also believe in the values of what we're trying to do, which is promote diversity, community [and] artistic freedom."
McSweeney’s List (19, April 2023)
I don't travel much. I've often wondered if I'd be more inclined to explore had I been born somewhere else, or was born rich AF.
As laid back as Montrealers notoriously are, I'll be the first to admit the weird arrogance I carry having been born here. Visiting Florida, I was shocked by the fact that the oldest building in town had been built in the 1920's. Pardon me? Our cobblestone and architecture are comparatively ancient.
The Birds and the Bees - Candyass Cabaret and “April Showers”
The first warm day of spring. Birds, bees, and fresh air. I’ve been enjoying the shift in weather and energy, rediscovering the joy of sitting on my balcony in a tank top, of having my toes out in the sun, and of looking for reasons to leave the apartment. With the warmer weather, I feel the desire to explore Montreal’s cabaret nightlife. First one on the list, Candyass Cabaret at Cléo’s!
Mainline Theatre - MTL Venue Series
The Montreal FRINGE Festival Corporation was founded by Kris Kieren and Nick Morra, and incorporated in 1991. In 2000, the company’s name was changed to the MainLine Theatre, allowing for year-round productions. Most importantly, MainLine’s venue, situated above Segal’s grocery store at St. Laurent and Duluth, opened in 2005 as a centre for the city’s English theatre community.
McSweeney’s List (12 April, 2023)
"Does this remind you of '98?"
My kid shoots me this question via Snap Chat, which is generally how we communicate, but this time her phone service is down and she can't call. The internet is an underrated miracle.
The Rishta - In(Spiring) Conversation with Uzma Jalaluddin
As a wife and mother, a public high school teacher for over 20 years, a bestselling novelist, and now the first commissioned playwright for Silk Road Theatre, Uzma wears her many hats with grace.
McSweeney’s List (5 April, 2023) GiggleFest Edition
I know a dude who once wrote a glowing review for a book he never read. There's barely credit to be given for the 4 pages he did read, so while I'm reluctant to mention them at all, I think it makes the story more interesting. His quote is still being used by the author, because how are they to know?
Spirale 2023 - A Review of Fragments éphémères
Here I was, going up to the seventh floor of Concordia’s JMSB building for the millionth time. Shared between the theater and dance departments, it is the creative gem of a serious building built for business students. Over the course of three years, I had become accustomed to that floor.