Sleeping Beauty - Theatre Review

By: Angela Guardiani

When I was very young, I lived a life devoid of glamour. I yearned for rhinestones and lipstick and drama but lived with bowl cuts and knee socks and science fairs. In other words, I was a very average ten-year-old who wanted to be Miss Piggy. 

Around Christmas of that year, though, my mother let me dress up in my Sunday best (I remember admiring my shiny new patent leather shoes) and took me downtown. I knew we were going to see a show and braced myself for the usual ballet / opera / Shakespeare that my parents usually dragged me to, calling it “culture.” 

Instead, what I saw was pure magic. 

Jeff Hyslop (from Today's Special!) sang! And tap-danced! Karen Kain, the most exquisite ballerina, pirouetted across the stage and cracked jokes, like Miss Piggy but better. Instead of sitting quietly and politely, I was told that I should boo the hilariously evil villain and cheer for the good guys as loudly as I wanted. And there were more sequins on stage than I had ever seen in my life. This was unbelievable! For the first time in my life, I was watching a show that was geared unapologetically to me.

That was Aladdin, one of the very first holiday pantomimes produced by Ross Petty. More than twenty years later, the annual spectacular is still thrilling kids with its over-the-top, kid-friendly fairy-tale extravaganzas. The celebrity guests stars are still there and the sequins are as sparkly as ever. But I now realize that what was pure anarchic hedonism to my ten-year-old self has plenty of sly wit, improvisational comedy, and topical references to appeal to my adult self, too. It was hard to know who was having more fun – the six tweenagers I sat beside, bopping along to every musical number, or me. I think I can safely recommend this show to all ages. 

The fairy tale production this year is Sleeping Beauty, but let me be honest with you – the story doesn't matter. It's cheerfully twisted out of shape to give the cast of thousands as many one-liners as can be squeezed into a two-hour show. The King and Queen of Torontonia (Laurie Murdoch and Lisa Horner, who, for me, shall forever be the “Start the car!” lady from a certain Ikea commercial) invite four fairies to gift their newborn Princess Rose with harmony and light. But alas, they forgot to invite the wicked Malignicent. Rose is cursed to prick her finger on a needle and fall into an enchanted sleep, but thankfully for the audience, we get follow Rose on a psychedelic journey through Dreamland (complete with sentient sheep and aging hippies) instead of watching her sleep. Rose manages to find a way back to the real world by using her brains and her heart, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Of course, the story is only a frame on which to hang ridiculously opulent musical numbers and campy scenery chewing. AJ Bridel is utterly charming as the compassionate and thoughtful Princess Rose, and James Daly makes a sweet and respectful love interest (with some slick dance moves). Paul Constable (the Canadian Tire guy!) and Eddie Glen remind me of something an old professor of mine used to say; there's just something really funny about a great big guy and a tiny mouthy guy together on stage. As the good fairy Sparklebum (my inner ten-year-old finds that name incredibly hilarious) and evil minion Egg, they make quite the dynamic duo. The dance ensemble are fantastic - colourful, energetic, and dressed in some very snazzy Chucks – but the show belongs to its villain. Hilary Farr (from Love It or List It) prowls and sneers and slinks across the stage, dripping with sparkles. She's part evil 80s soap opera schemer and part wannabe Darth Vader, and she is fantastic. With a commanding stage presence and a rich, purry, poshly-accented voice, Farr is the villian everyone loves to hate. Go ahead and boo – it's incredibly satisfying.

If you couldn't tell, I enjoyed myself immensely at Sleeping Beauty. I wondered, though, if I was letting my own nostalgia colour my experience too much. Was it the ten-year-old drama queen driving this review, or was it the older and wiser theatre reviewer? I turned to my partner, C., who accompanied me to this performance. I knew he'd be an impartial observer – he'd never seen a Ross Petty panto before. 

“C.,” I planned to say, “are you objectively enjoying this show? Have I remembered it as being better than it is?”

Turns out I never needed to ask at all. C. couldn't answer me. He was laughing too hard, tears of mirth rolling down his face. If you want an escape from the realities of adulthood, take a trip to Dreamland. I think you'll find it most rewarding.

Sleeping Beauty plays at the Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge Street) until January 7, 2017. Tickets are $27 - $99 and are available in person at the box office, by phone at 1-855-599-9090, or at rosspetty.com.

Photo by Bruce Zinger. 

The Union Station Holiday Market

By: Carly Spears

The  Toronto Market Company brought us the deliciously successful Front Street Foods this summer and they are at it again with the Union Station Holiday Market. Though much smaller than the summer version, this artisan market is the perfect stop for grabbing those unique and thoughtful holiday gifts. 

Just realized you forgot to pick up a gift for your great-uncle Joe while you're en route to grandma's house for Christmas? Not to worry because the USHM has you covered! From December 5 - 16, travellers can stop by the market to grab those last minute, one-of-a-kind gifts.

From cheese boards, to Foxy Originals jewelry and G Fox sunglasses to everything in between, there really is a little something for everyone. Be sure to grab a taste of my personal favourite  - Chocome! Made with assorted cocoa beans and toppings from 20 different countries, these handmade chocolates are absolutely delectable. 

Not into chocolate? Grab an adorable ornament full of natural, holiday-themed candies from Papabubble. 

Happy Holidays!

Location: UNION STATION (THE OAK ROOM), 65 FRONT STREET WEST

Dates and Times: December 5 - 16, 2016 - M-F: 730am - 7pm, S-S: 10am - 6pm

My Night at The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo

By: Shelby Morrison

The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo recently celebrated its 22nd year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This event brought together some of the city's top restaurateurs and food vendors displaying a wide variety of novel culinary dishes and products, as well as international and local wines, cocktails, beers and more. With plenty of craft beer, cider and cocktails available, you could try something new and old favourites, too! 

I was thrilled to attend the VIP Media evening and was eager to get sampling. After taking a walk around, I was able to make a game plan and get a better idea of what I wanted to try. It may seem deceiving when you see such small samples or portions, but trust me, you will end up full and satisfied at the end. This also leaves room to try more items!

Poke is a huge trend that has recently hit Toronto, so of course, I opted for a lazy California mini bowl at Lawai’a Poke Bar. The fresh salmon was paired with seaweed, spicy mayonnaise, cucumber, sesame seeds, green onions and crispy onions, all atop a bed of rice. The fresh fish paired well with the other ingredients for a healthy start to the evening. They were also offering a tuna, as well as a beef short rib bowl.

Next up was a sampling of beef short ribs from Entice Culinary Lounge. The sweet sauce paired well with the rich meat and tang from the kimchi.

Although Magic Oven is actually a pizza joint in the city, they do also cook up samosas, and the menu is Indian inspired. This evening, they were offering a veggie samosa on its own, or topped with butter chicken. I decided to go all out and ordered the latter. The filling was substantial, and the butter chicken topping was the perfect addition. I must warn you, although it was delicious, it was quite spicy.

JaBistro is easily one of the best sushi restaurants in the city, so I was excited to grab a bite from them. They are known for their blow-torched items, so of course I had to try one of each of what they were offering. The ebi oshizushi, also known as tiger shrimp, as well as the salmon oshizushi were out of this world. The soft rice topped with buttery fish was then blowtorched and allowed for a crisp outer layer. It was truly a unique experience for my taste buds.

I am a fan of The Chase restaurants, so I sampled a small lobster roll as well as the seared tuna sandwich from Little Fin. The sweet, soft bun encompassed the creamy and crunchy lobster roll quite well. As for the seared tuna sandwich, the chilli ginger marinade really came through, along with a creamy sauce which allowed for a nice balance of flavours.

Every time I see a pierogi, I remember just how much I really like them. They aren’t something I usually think about, but when I find a good pierogi, you can be assured I am one happy girl! Uncle Jack’s, an Oshawa-based company, was offering cheese and potato pierogies which were one of my favourite dishes of the night. The dough was the perfect thickness, with just the right amount of creamy, flavourful filling. This was also quite a large portion, which I am not complaining about!

After all the savoury snacks, it was time for dessert. The Bake Three Fifty truck caught my eye since I can’t say no to sweets. The concept is a dessert food truck serving up ice cream sandwiches either between a cupcake or a cookie, and your choice of toppings. I decided to get a chocolate chunk cookie, filled with Gold Medal Ribbon ice cream and topped with sprinkles, caramel sauce and cookie dough. Luckily I had a partner to share this with, even though I could have probably eaten it all! It was just the dessert I was looking for since it incorporated cookies as well as ice cream.

The French macaron display really looked appealing and I just had to go there for one last little bite. The crème brulee was my choice, which I was definitely pleased with. The sweet, creamy macaron was the perfect ending to my evening.

I did participate in more than just eating at the Food & Wine Expo. I sampled some of the fabulous drinks on offer and tried a few different ones. Two Sisters Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake caught my eye. I tried the Cabernet Franc, which was elegant, full-bodied and silky with aromas of raspberry, red currants, blackberries and blueberries.

Tromba Tequila is a crafted small batch tequila made in Mexico. The Blanco, which was offered was light with a floral, sweet flavor. It was paired with lime and cucumber juice, as well as agave and topped with soda water. The sweetness really came through and the tequila paired well with the lime and cucumber. I could have drunk many of these (but thankfully I didn’t!). 

If you are looking for a smooth beer to enjoy all winter, I suggest you try the Granville Island's Lions Winter Ale. It has notes of vanilla, cocoa and caramel to provide a comforting, creamy winter drink.

Lastly, I sampled the Canadian SoCIAL LITE Vodka. It is a ready-to-drink sparkling cocktail with no sugar, sweetener, or artificial ingredients. The flavour on offer was lime ginger and tasted crisp and refreshing. Each can only has 80 calories and is the perfect low cal cocktail option. 

The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo gives you the opportunity to try new things and experience many different flavours, cultures and restaurants. I can't wait for next year's event, which is sure to be bigger, bolder and  better! 

My Affordable Holiday Gift Ideas!

Earlier this week, I brought you my top picks for big ticket holiday gift ideas. This time, I would like to share some affordable holiday gift ideas with you.

One year for Christmas, my sister-in-law, Charlene gifted me with the holiday collection from David's Tea. Twelve exquisite teas were presented in a beautiful crimson box. I enjoyed all of the flavourful teas and shared them with my work colleagues to warm us up during our winter woes. David's Tea is offering new gift sets, including 'the best of 2016', which features 12 delectable teas, such as apple strudel, coconut cream pie and sweet almond green to name a few. Your friends and family deserve the best, so why not give the 'best of 2016' from David's Tea? This gift box retails for just $26.00.   

I am not a fan of using any synthetic fragrances, as I try not to consume products with many chemicals or strong scents. Saje Natural Wellness offers products that are plant based, vegan, contain no synthetics and are not tested on animals. I adore their Pocket Farmacy, and no, that is not a typo. A collection of five soothing and revitalizing essential roll-on oils come in a compact and convenient carrying case. My favourites include the peppermint halo headache remedy and the stress release tension reducing remedy. I roll the product on my temples, my neck and down to my shoulders and they smell and feel incredible. The Pocket Farmacy retails for $59.95. 

This gorgeous printed scarf from Scotch & Soda is detailed with fringes and dotted with stars. It has a soft finish and is stylish and versatile, as you can wear it to work or even to a trendy restaurant. It's playful, girlish and fun and retails for $65.00.

OGX's extra strength argan oil of Morocco shampoo is made with silk proteins and it provides the ultimate hydration for drab, dry locks. We know that excessive heat styling damages and dries out hair, but this shampoo leaves hair soft, strong and voluminous. Pair it with OGX's extra strength argan oil of Morocco conditioner and you have a one-two punch for luscious, luxurious locks! At $8.00 a bottle, it certainly won't break the bank!