It's got a lot of singing, funky costumes and a dramatic set, all staged by the sure hand of Robert Lepage. No, it's not the Metropolitan Opera production of the Ring Cycle, it's Totem, the latest show of the Cirque du Soleil, in town through December 18th. That Lepage got involved is not surprising, as both he and the Cirque are Quebecois, worked together already on Ka, and Montreal ain't so big that they would never collide again. And if the reviews to Lepage's Ring were lukewarm and his heavy machinery somewhat underwhelmed the audience, Totem is on the other hand quite exhilarating and --outside of a sophisticated piece of equipment which turns into a bridge or a powerboat and some nifty video projections-- quite streamlined. more ›

Third opera in November, third reaction from the audience at curtain rise. After the enthusiastic applause for La Rondine's shiny marble sets after the bleak and silent shock of Macbeth's hole-in-the-wall sets, we got the giggles after catching sight of The Rake's Progress' opening oil field. more ›