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Mnemonic Theatre Productions Presents ‘Closer’ A Play by Patrick Marber

Last night I attended Mnemonic Theatre Productions press screening of ‘Closer’ by Patrick Marber. The show is playing February 1st-4th at The Winchester Street Theatre.

Set in London, England in the 1990’s, ‘Closer’ tells the story of Dan the writer, who is in love with Alice, the free-spirit. But Dan is also in love with Anna, the photographer, who is married to Larry, the dermatologist, who cheats on Anna with Alice. Patrick Marber’s mix of heart-wrenching drama and witty humour detail the complicated love lives of these four individuals, who desperately try to get closer in all the wrong ways. Directed by Caleb McMullen and featuring the performances of Gaby Grice, John Fray, Kathleen Black and Dylan George, Mnemonic Theatre Productions wows with its story of love, sex, betrayal and redemption.

Most of you will be familiar with Closer as it was nominated for several awards in 2004 when released on the silver screen with cast: Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Clive Owen and Jude Law. I remember seeing Closer some eight years ago the weekend it was released, so it was rather nostalgic to watch these four actors breath a little fresh air into their charismatic characters. Closer is not the sort of play you want to take your sweetheart to if your relationship sits on shaky ground (or maybe I’m wrong, it could very well be an excellent catalyst for ending things). Patrick Marber’s characters use the word love continuously throughout their dialogue (along with several other four letter words) but none of them really seem to appreciate it’s power, delicateness and purity. Caleb McMullen’s decision to showcase such a tumultuous lovers quarrel just before Valentines Day is a coy move. A perfect time of year for us all to reflect on our relationships, the meaning of love and raise our eyebrows at the sometimes ridiculous situations people find themselves in. Mnemonic Theatre Productions ‘Closer’ is often laugh out loud funny, awkward, genuine, intense and passionate. Loves every descriptor, on stage.

This is the first in a series of three plays to be produced by Mnemonic Theatre Productions this year. Following ‘Closer’ will be a sketch-comedy based production of a new work called ‘Stalled’, which will be shortly followed by the staging of Daniel MacIvor’s ‘Monster’.

Tags: closer by patrick marber, mnemonic theatre productions, theatre, Toronto

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Categories Show Love

Tickle Me Pickles

31 Jan

I was recently inspired to have a pickling party. As many of you know one of my favorite things in the world are cocktail onions. I could eat an entire jar at one sitting. So I wanted to use up a few of the vegetables in my fridge by preserving them into cute little mason jars. I have been preserving jams and fruit coulis for years but have never jumped into the pickling camp. Happy to say that it is an incredibly easy process and one that I will repeat often. I prepared each recipe with apple cider vinegar. So, invite a few friends over after a visit to the farmers market, pull up your sleeves and start tickling your pickles.

Using a classic Joy of Cooking Pickling Recipe I created three varieties:

Picked Radish with Red Onion, Fennel and Red Peppercorns

Picked Cucumber with Shallots, Mustard Seed, Cloves and White Peppercorns

Pickled Mexican Red Onions

Tags: cucumber, mexican red onions, pickles, preserves, radish

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Categories Recipe Love

274. Chez Cora

30 Jan

I recently took my friend Jennifer Anne Dumaran out for brunch at Chez Cora. I had heard a lot about this breakfast chain and thought I should try it out for myself and see what the big deal was. I was welcomed by an incredibly tacky interior…as though the designer had procured decorations from a rummage sale. The signage throughout the restaurant reminded me of a kindergarten classroom.

We ordered:

Cup of Coffee

Mango Banana Smoothie

Raspberry 4 Lucie

crepe filled with raspberry and cream cheese with raspberry coulis, honey and english cream

Eggs Benedict

roasted potatoes and fresh fruit

Cora’s Special

two eggs, bacon, ham, sausage and crepe

Everything we were served was underwhelming and the price tag on our menus did not line up with the food sitting in front of us. My smoothie was garnished with a bruised piece of pineapple (really?) and sat on a plate decorated with a lettuce leaf and slice of cantaloupe (really really?) The raspberry crepe was made of frozen raspberries. The entire dish was cold. My Eggs Benedict featured a luke warm english muffin and a cheap cut of deli ham. The roast potatoes were undercooked, flabby and lacked any sense of crispiness. Jenn’s “Cora’s Special” was anything but special. Her plate featured an underwhelming spread of toast, greasy bacon and cheap sausage and ham. Both of our plates were overrun with fruit.

The Chez Cora experience is not worth your time or money (especially if you find yourself living in downtown Toronto, which of course has plenty of options). There are far better alternatives which use farm fresh ingredients, arrive at the table at an adequate temperature and actually have a charming ambiance.

Chez Cora is slowly killing its target market. Restless parents looking for an accessible family friendly environment. Mothers are blinded by the brick and brack on the wall while children are slowly suffocated with plates towering with too much fruit. Next!