Hot theatre choices on Edmonton stages for your long weekend, a survey

By Liz Nicholls, .ca

You don’t lack for choices in Edmonton theatre as the long weekend approaches (Queen Victoria wouldn’t have it any other way). Consider some of your options: the premiere of a new Canadian play with a whimsical and profound concept; one of the great plays of the 20th century produced by a new Edmonton theatre company. Plus the continuation of a funny Canadian comedy with a heartwarming undercurrent, and a Canadian adaptation of a 19th century classic novel … and more.

Randy Brososky as Salieri in Amadeus, Initium Theatre in partnership with Psychopomp Theatre. Photo siupplied

•Edmonton’s newest theatre company, Initium Theatre, introduces itself with Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, in collaboration with another indie, Psychopomp Theatre. At the centre of the 1979 play, Shaffer’s most popular, is the 18th century career composer Antonio Salieri, whose star in a music-centric culture (and place in history) is eclipsed forever by a boorish young genius named … Mozart. Salieri, waging a war of vengeance against his divinely gifted rival, is a figure with tragic dimensions. In Jon Shields’ production, this great plum role is taken by Randy Brososky, with Drake Seipert as the upstart Wolfgang and Cassie Hyman as Mozart’s pert wife Constanze. Amadeus runs through Thursday at Campus Saint-Jean (8406 91 St). And the music is sure to be good! Tickets: showpass.com.

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Horseplay playwright Kole Durnford, Workshop West Playwrights Theatre. Photo supplied

•At Workshop West, the best-friendship of a horse named Horse and a jockey named Jacques, “bonded like brothers,” is the point at which Horseplay saddles up. The new play by the young actor/playwright Kole Durnford, a Métis artist originally from Stony Plain, premieres Friday in a Heather Inglis production that stars Alexander Ariate and Lee Boyes. It runs through June 1 at the Gateway Theatre, 8529 Gateway Blvd. Tickets: workshopwest.org. Stay tuned for a interview with the playwright, coming up shortly.

•In Where You Are, the season-ender at Shadow Theatre, we meet a family with dark (and dark-ish) secrets roiling beneath the tranquil comic surfaces of retirement. The comedy by Canadian playwright Kristen Da Silva has a fulsome measure of funny lines, and takes a turn into heart-warming, and tragic, in Act II. You’ll laugh and possibly cry. John Hudson’s production, led by Coralie Cairns and Davina Stewart, with a delightful performance by Nikki Hulowski as a daughter with problems of her own, runs through Sunday at the Varscona. Take a gander at the review. Tickets: shadowtheatre.org.

•Little Women, the evergreen, much-adapted 19th century Louisa May Scott novel, taken off the page and onto the stage by Canadian playwright Jordi Mand, continues its run (through May 25) at the Citadel. It’s a (very) faithful adaptation, a series of book highlights more than a play, delivered by Jenna Rodgers’ excellent cast led by Hayley Moorhouse, Christina Nguyen, Donna Leny Hansen and Erin Pettifor, with Nadien Chu as Marmee. Have a peek at the full review. Tickets: 780-425-1820, citadeltheatre.com.

Kory Fulton, Niko Combitsis, William Lincoln, Devon Brayne in Jersey Boys, Mayfield Theatre. Photo by Marc J Chalifoux.

•At the Mayfield, release your inner Sherreeeeeee, as Jersey Boys continues, with its dramatic story of the rise and fall of the pop band The Four Seasons  — and dozens of their ridiculously contagious hit songs. It continues through June 8. The review is here. Tickets: mayfieldtheatre.ca, 780-483-4051.