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aislingmurph.bsky.social
aisling murphy
@aislingmurph.bsky.social
"ash-ling" | theatre reporter @ the globe and mail | aislingmurphy@globeandmail.com
Borrowed @bradwheelerglobe.bsky.social's beat for the weekend and reviewed the divine Sarah McLachlan at Massey Hall. Those high notes on Fear are something else, man.

In @theglobeandmail.com today:

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/musi...
Sarah McLachlan time-travels back to the ‘90s in intimate Massey Hall concert
After a bout of tour-pausing laryngitis, the Canadian singer is back onstage in luxurious voice
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Really wanted to love THE COMEUPPANCE, but ultimately the direction doesn’t support the writing and performances in the way you’d hope. This was a disappointing one.

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
In its Canadian premiere at Soulpepper, The Comeuppance never quite ignites
Despite a formidable cast and clever writing from American playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Frank Cox-O’Connell’s production is a touch uneven
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by aisling murphy
This version of the Persian dish tahchin incorporates common Thanksgiving ingredients. It is deeply savory and buttery, like stuffing, and some may say even better because it has a whole lot more texture coming from the crispy rice that everyone will be fighting over.
Caramelized Onion, Cranberry and Rosemary Tahchin  Recipe
Tahchin is a Persian rice dish in which the rice is mixed with yogurt, oil, egg yolks and saffron and baked until a golden crust forms at the bottom (Persians refer to this as the tahdig) The rice on the inside becomes buttery and almost cake-like and is often layered with chicken and barberries, a tart dried fruit that has a beautiful crimson color This version incorporates common Thanksgiving ingredients like rosemary, sweet-tart cranberries and buttery onions to make a striking dish that feels more like a main than a side
nyti.ms
November 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
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I'll never forget seeing OUR PLACE in 2022. Kanika Ambrose's understanding of the Canadian immigration system was clever and devastating, and written like a piece of music.

Kanika opens two new plays this month: THE CHRISTMAS MARKET and MOONLIGHT SCHOONER.

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
In two new plays, Kanika Ambrose explores feminism and oversimplified portrayals of Black men
The Christmas Market and Moonlight Schooner, while separated by time, place and narrative thrust, overlap more than you might think
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM
THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON – often beautiful, but ultimately a miss for me. Disappointing, especially given the lingering thud of Lepage's Macbeth a few hours west.

My review for @theglobeandmail.com:

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
The Far Side of the Moon is peak Robert Lepage – but the human drama suffers for it
High-tech production is impressive, but the story at the centre of Lepage’s script doesn’t always justify the stagecraft
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Today the Canadian Theatre Critics Association announced the call for submissions for the 2025 Nathan Cohen Awards. An excellent opportunity for theatre writers based in Canada!

Deadline is Jan. 6. Feel free to drop me a line if you want to learn more!

www.facebook.com/share/p/16Tu...
November 4, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Finally had the chance to catch GOBLIN:OEDIPUS this weekend (what, did something else happen on Saturday?). Loved the show – and especially glad it lived up to the goblins' Mackers.

Here's my profile of Spontaneous Theatre:

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Spontaneous Theatre has had a benchmark year – and not just because of the goblins
Goblin:Oedipus is the most recent in a string of well-received, semi-improvised plays by the theatre company
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Hugely enjoyed CHILD-ish at Tarragon. You’ll win verbatim theatre bingo if you choose to go see it, but you should go anyway — it’s a lovely, sweet little show.

My Critic’s Pick review:

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
CHILD-ish is an imperfect love letter to childhood. But at Tarragon, it’s unmissable
While Sunny Drake’s verbatim play falls into a few dramaturgical traps, its central premise is beautifully executed by director Andrea Donaldson
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:21 PM
I have never cared about sports this much. This week I’ve thought about little else. I think I’m a baseball person now. #WANTITALL
October 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I’ve had this conversation approximately 80 times in the last few weeks, so it seems time to scream this out to the universe: Why, oh why, is no one in Toronto doing Parade right now? Why didn’t Mirvish pick up the tour? Any company that dabbles in musicals should be snatching up those rights.
October 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM
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Still wishing and hoping for a cast recording of Suzy Wilde and Rose Napoli’s musical After The Rain, but for now, “Forever” sung by Annika Tupper is pretty great.

youtu.be/u2mB9JQm0e4a
youtu.be
October 17, 2025 at 2:41 AM
For @theglobeandmail.com, I spoke to eight (or nine, if you count Stratford) of the new artistic directors at theatres across Canada.

Lots of great ideas in these roles. Now comes the hard part: making them happen.

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
These incoming artistic directors have big ideas about the future of Canadian theatre
Eight recently appointed company leaders from coast to coast talk about a new era of national culture
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 11, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I missed BREMEN TOWN when it premiered at Next Stage in 2023 – wow, am I glad to have caught it at Tarragon. Gentle, touching and gut-wrenching all at once.

My review for @theglobeandmail.com:

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
This gorgeous play at Tarragon Theatre explores the finer details of old age
Gregory Prest’s Bremen Town blends a German fairytale aesthetic with startlingly contemporary societal critiques
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:46 AM
BRIGHT STAR – a lovely production of a hopelessly syrupy musical. Tough not to lament the programming choice, but that cast (particularly Kaylee Harwood) is superb.

My review:

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Bright Star is schlocky and sentimental – but Kaylee Harwood is stunning in the lead role
The Mirvish/Garner Theatre co-production is tight and well-conceived, and the music is outstanding
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I wanted The Life of a Showgirl to grow on me. But Taylor Swift's likely use of generative AI to market the album crossed a line I'm not sure I'll ever be able to look past.

My op-ed for @theglobeandmail.com:

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/musi...
Wait, did Taylor Swift use generative AI to market The Life of a Showgirl?
Swift’s Easter eggs are legendary within her massive fandom. But the likelihood she used AI to generate promotional videos makes them tough to enjoy, writes Aisling Murphy
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I spent a surprisingly glorious week in Regina at the beginning of September – maybe Chappell Roan has it right about ditching the big city and moving to Saskatchewan.

Here's my write-up about the renovated Globe Theatre, as well as some (great!) eats.

www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/t...
Regina’s revamped Globe Theatre is just one reason to visit the Prairie city
Canada’s only permanent theatre-in-the-round is ready for its close-up. Aisling Murphy went to investigate and found the city has a lot more going for it than a great theatre
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The Globe and Mail's fall culture preview dropped this weekend! Here's the theatre I'm looking forward to as the months get cooler, in Ontario and beyond.

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Jeremy O. Harris’s Slave Play and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s The Comeuppance make Canadian debuts
Disney’s powerhouse musical Frozen expected to spread some magic
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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@aislingmurph.bsky.social has it spot on with the excellent toronto production of Slave Play, and with the (unfair but undeniable) weirdness of this play in 2025. fascinating stuff.

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Yes, Slave Play is edgy and sharp. But Canadian Stage’s landmark production is more than that
Canadian premiere of Jeremy O. Harris’s opus is devastating and raw
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
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Incredible production. Killer ensemble. The type of top-tier quality theatre that makes you feel lucky to live in Toronto. @crowstheatre.bsky.social
Good lord, Octet (Crow's + Musical Stage + Soulpepper). What an impressive accomplishment – both on its own merit, and for the fact that it couldn't be less similar to Toronto's last romp with Dave Malloy.

My Critic's Pick review is online now:

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Octet is a must-see a cappella musical about the twistiest corners of the internet
The co-production demands to be observed in-person, away from the digital noise that the work critiques
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I've loved SLAVE PLAY for years – even when the chatter around it has overshadowed the brilliance of Jeremy O. Harris's writing. (Has the play aged since its off-Broadway premiere in 2018? A bit. But no matter.)

Run, don't walk, to Canadian Stage.

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/stag...
Yes, Slave Play is edgy and sharp. But Canadian Stage’s landmark production is more than that
Canadian premiere of Jeremy O. Harris’s opus is devastating and raw
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by aisling murphy
Two more things Canada could import from the UK in AD searches: Transparency and oversight. 🧵
I have no problem with Stratford looking to Britain for leadership - but the company should look to the UK for best practices on how to choose leadership too, going forward.
October 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I love writing about Taylor Swift. But today's release was a disappointment – only one track really gives you a look at, you know, the life of a showgirl, and the others are various shades of clunky, tone-deaf and just OK.

My review for @theglobeandmail.com:
Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl is fizzy, earwormy and, well, not great
Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album features a few killer pop tracks, but a muddled concept and weak lyrics prevail
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by aisling murphy
Stunned to learn through @aislingmurph.bsky.social's column today that the Stratford Festival's nine-person AD search committee included no artists - because board chair David J Adams felt they would have a conflict of interest.
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Why Jonathan Church’s hire could be a mixed bag for the Stratford Festival
New artistic director has family ties to Ontario and Mirvish credits, but minimal experience in Canada’s not-for-profit theatre sector
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM