The Beat Magazine 2025

Note: This Review first appeared on the website Entertain This Thought, and it is reprinted with the permission of the reviewer. For more Reviews, visit https://www.entertainthisthought.com/

Life is full of unexpected challenges that often lead to personal growth in ways not envisioned previously. Throw in the expectations of people of different generations or socio-economic backgrounds, and change is inevitable. That’s the premise of Powers and Gloria, which has now opened on the outdoor Harvest Stage at the Blyth Festival

When Gloria, a young woman from the poorer side of town, comes to work for Edward Powers, the town’s largest employer and business owner, she’s impressed with his wealth and beautiful home. Never one to be intimidated, Gloria quickly establishes herself as someone Edward cannot manipulate. Throughout the year, they work together to restore Edward’s mobility after a stroke. In the process, the two build an unexpected friendship rooted in respect and genuine caring. Gloria learns that there’s more to life and what she’s capable of than what she’d envisioned. Edward learns to trust Gloria, appreciate her quick wit, and rely on her ability to help him recover. The quips and banter between the two are downright funny, allowing the relationship between the old man and the young woman to deepen.

Unfortunately, sparks fly and angry words erupt between Edward and his son, James. Father and son are at cross-purposes regarding how James should run his family’s business. Edward’s traditional values and ways of doing business clash with James’s idea of how things should be done. The love between Edward and James is evident, but learning to respect and understand the other is difficult.

Gloria’s blue-collar fiancé, Darryl, is hard-pressed to understand Gloria’s growing respect and caring for her employer, or her growing independence. When he wins the lottery, he’s sure that life will now be easy. He’s excited to get married, buy a house, and start a family. However, Gloria has begun to stretch the limits of what she envisions her life can be if she returns to school and pursues a future beyond a house and family.

Powers and Gloria is a funny, yet introspective look at the relationships between people faced with life-altering decisions and challenges. Each can learn valuable lessons from the other, if they’re willing to listen. I’d highly recommend this excellent portrayal of human frailty, resilience, and acceptance.

Beautifully written by playwright Keith Roulston and directed by Peter Hinton-Davis, with outstanding performances by Richard Comeau as Darryl, Randy Hughson as Edward Powers, Madeline Kennedy as Gloria, and James Dallas Smith as James Powers.

Powers and Gloria runs at the Harvest Stage, Blyth Festival Theatre until August 23rd. Tickets are available at 519-523-9300/1-877-862-5984 or go to www.blythfestival.com.

Photo: Randy Hughson as Edward Powers(left) and Madeline Kennedy as Gloria (right)

Powers and Gloria
By Keith Roulston
Directed by Peter Hinton-Davis
Performed by Richard Comeau, Randy Hughson, Madeline Kennedy, James Dallas Smith
Blyth Festival, Harvest Stage, 377 Gypsy Lane, Blyth, Ontario
July 30th to August 30th, 2025
Reviewed by Debbie McClure

Note: This Review first appeared on the website Entertain This Thought, and it is reprinted with the permission of the reviewer. For more Reviews, visit https://www.entertainthisthought.com/

🛟 TRIVIA NIGHT is back September 27!
Join us for a night of high seas trivia with London theatre’s favourite quiz master David Bogaert. Enjoy a quiz crafted with all the care and wit you have come to expect from Mr. Bogaert. There will be prizes, a cash bar, free snacks and friends!

You can gather a team of up to eight people; or you can come on your own or as a pair and we will match you up into a larger team.

🗓️Saturday September 27
​⏰7:00 PM – 10:15 PM
🎟️Admission: $10

The Manor Park Memorial Hall
11 Briscoe Street West

Visit the AlvegoRoot Theatre website to register.

Going into The Kitchen Witches, at Port Stanley Festival Theatre, I deliberately avoided reading anything about it beforehand. With a title like that, I imagined something whimsical and maybe even a bit mystical – think a stage version of the movie Practical Magic, with bubbling cauldrons and a few well-placed spells. So, when I walked into the theatre and witnessed a bright, compact fully equipped kitchen that looked more like a TV studio than a witch’s lair, I was a little surprised. My initial expectations were quickly dashed – this was a cooking show, not a coven. So much for assumptions!

The audience is immediately placed in the middle of a live taping of a local cable-access cooking program hosted by Dolly Biddle, a fiery, apron-clad chef played with gusto by Christina Gordon. Dolly’s son Stephen (David Rowan) is ostensibly the producer, but his real job seems to be keeping his mother from going completely off-script. This is meant to be Dolly’s farewell episode, but it takes a sharp turn when her long-time nemesis, fellow cooking host Isobel Lomax (Monique Lund), crashes the set. The two women share a long and tangled history, and their rapid-fire insults and perfectly aimed barbs just happen to be captured on live TV and become an overnight sensation. With prompting from the station, a new series is born, staring the arch-rivals and aptly named The Kitchen Witches.

Director Liz Gilroy keeps the action moving at a brisk pace, and the staging makes clever use of the “show within a show” format. Set designer Emma Burnett nails the look of a modest TV studio – complete with a cluttered kitchen, the bright slightly harsh light you’d expect from daytime television and and “Applause” sigh which encourages audience participation. The live camera work handled by Bobbi (E. Webb), adds to the authenticity. One of my favorite scenes in the show was bringing a volunteer onstage to taste-test the rivals’ creations. This added to the evenings playful, immersive quality.

Despite these strong production elements, the show didn’t fully land for me. Much of the humour felt predictable, relying heavily on physical comedy and recycled jabs. The performances, while energetic, sometimes tipped into overacting, making certain exchanges feel forced rather than spontaneous. There were a couple of plot twists that hinted at more complex storytelling but these moments were left underdeveloped, which felt like missed opportunities to deepen the characters and give the comedy more bite.

However, it’s easy to see why The Kitchen Witches, winner of the 2005 Samuel French Best Canadian Play Award, has been a staple for community and regional theatres – it’s light, self-contained, and offers easy opportunities for audience interaction. Which is rare treat in the theatre world. For some, its zany energy and over-the-top characters are part of the fun. But for me, the lack of surprises in the script meant that the humour never quite built to a satisfying peak.

That said, if you enjoy lighthearted farce, kitchen-set chaos, and being pulled directly into action, you may well find The Kitchen Witches a pleasant night out. It’s not the magical romp I was expecting from the title, but it serves up enough sass, splash, and slapstick to keep many theatre-goers entertained – just don’t expect it to bring any new ingredients to the table.

The Kitchen Witches continues at Port Stanley Festival Theatre until August 23^rd.  Tickets are available by calling (519) 782-4353 or visit:  www.pfst.ca

Photo: Monique Lund and Christina Gordon play Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle in The Kitchen Witches, at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre. 

The Kitchen Witches
Written by Caroline Smith
Directed by Liz Gilroy
Set Design by Emma Burnett
Costume Design by Alex Amini
Stage Managed by Jory McLean
Performed by Christina Gordon, David Rowan, Monique Lund, E. Webb
August 6 to 23, 2025
Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Port Stanley
Reviewed by Kim Kaitell

Note: This Review first appeared on the website Entertain This Thought, and it is reprinted with the permission of the reviewer. For more Reviews, visit https://www.entertainthisthought.com/

🎭 Performer Highlight: Alan Fehr

📍Catch them at the Metropolitan United Church – London Fringe 2025

Alan Fehr is a queer theatre artist, writer, and performer based in Canada. Their solo show, The Naked Mennonite, combines storytelling, historical insight, and burlesque to explore the intersections of sexuality, faith, and identity. With a background in both performance and theology, their work invites audiences to laugh, squirm, and confront uncomfortable truths with compassion and curiosity.

📢 More to come soon about show details — stay tuned.

Save Our Stage: A Variety FUNdraiser

Saturday, September 6

Showtime: 7:30 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)

Palace Theatre Arts Commons

Tickets: $35 (all fees included)

Join us for an unforgettable night of music, magic, laughter, and community spirit at Save Our Stage: A Variety FUNdraiser! This one-night-only celebration brings together some of London’s most talented performers — singers, musicians, actors, magicians, and more — all coming together to help raise vital funds for the Palace Theatre Arts Commons.

Proceeds from this high-energy evening will support crucial repairs, ongoing programming, and the beloved productions that keep our historic theatre alive and thriving. In addition to the live entertainment, enjoy a silent auction, door prizes, and surprise moments throughout the night.

Come early to mix and mingle with fellow theatre lovers, bid on great prizes, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere of community and creativity.

Help us Save Our Stage – and have a ton of fun doing it!

Tickets are going fast – get yours now!

palacetheatre.ca

🎬 Three Events. Three Days. One Legendary Weekend 💫
The Forest City Film Festival proudly presents the return of the Lifetime Achievement in Entertainment Award, honouring the international stars of Southwestern Ontario!

This year, we’re celebrating Emmy-winning screenwriter and producer David Shore — the brilliant mind behind House M.D. and The Good Doctor.

From Emmy wins to a Canadian Screen Lifetime Achievement Award, David’s fearless creativity and storytelling have made him one of the most influential voices in modern television.

Join us for a weekend of fan-favourite screenings, unforgettable conversations, and a party to remember! 🌟

🎟️ Schedule of Events
Part of our unforgettable 10-day festival — full program announced September 18!

THU • OCT 30 • 5:30 PM
Lifetime Achievement Award Gala Reception
📍 Goodwill Industries

SAT • NOV 1 • 7:15 PM
🎥 Special Screening: The Good Doctor
📍 Wolf Performance Hall

SUN • NOV 2 • 2:30 PM
🎥 Special Screening: House M.D.
📍 Wolf Performance Hall

🎟️ Explore now at our website, link in bio — don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable celebration!

The Bayfield Agricultural Society and the Bayfield Town Hall are pleased to present Listen to the Music, a Doobie Brothers tribute band, and Diamond Mind, a Blue Rodeo tribute band, on Saturday, August 16^th.

The Doobie Brothers are one of the most iconic Classic Rock bands of all time, having sold millions of albums and topped the charts with great hit songs such as “China Grove,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “What a Fool Believes,” “Black Water,” and, of course, “Listen to the Music.” The highly-skilled musicians in Listen to the Music meticulously reproduce each and every great hit song live to give audiences a true experience of seeing and hearing the Doobie Brothers band perform live!

And if you’re a fan of Blue Rodeo, you won’t want to miss Diamond Mine!  They don’t just perform the songs – they embody the spirit of Blue Rodeo, creating a truly immersive experience for their audience. From “Try” to “Bad Timing” to “Lost Together,” Diamond Mine transports listeners to a different time and place, evoking memories and emotions with every note. Close your eyes and you’ll hear Jim & Greg singing those unmistakable harmonies.

This is a ‘bring your own chair’ event.  Gates open at 6:30 p.m. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Must be of legal drinking age to attend. 

Tickets $40 at http://www.thebayfieldtownhall.com or $45 at the Door.