Review: 'Undiscovered Sonnets' and UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL at The Stratford Festival

I didn’t get a chance to see the first Episode of ‘Undiscovered Sonnets’; however, after interviewing its host, Rebecca Northan, this week and thoroughly enjoying our conversation, I did not want to miss this week’s episode.

‘Undiscovered Sonnets’ is billed on the Stratford You Tube page as “a clever twist on a game show in which two people in love share their story and three sonneteers compete to win their hearts with a perfect poem created on the spot.” Each of the participants including Ms. Northan remains socially distant in their respective homes.

Hmmmm… okay, was this going to be a parodied version of the British dating reality show ‘Love Island’ (which I’ve never seen), as I sometimes get tired of these cliched reality shows which show how much the couple remains steadily in love even after overcoming ‘obstacles’ in their path?  Patiently and attentively, I watched this second episode with bated breath.

And you know what?

Thanks to Ms. Northan’s personable, witty, and amiable personality in keeping the pace of the show going, it was a lot of fun to listen to the three sonneteers Kevin Kruchkywich, Bruce Horak and returning Ashley Botting battle it out to compose the most appropriate Shakespearean sonnet (remember those from high school English classes – 3 quatrains and a rhyming couplet) to highlight the love story between this week’s couple Jessie and Zackh. Messrs. Kruchkywich and Horak and Ms. Botting are clever indeed and I am amazed at how quickly each came up with three sonnets to showcase the love story of Jessie and Zackh.

I won’t spoil by telling you which sonneteer wins this episode. Click on the link below to join in the fun.

Tonight, was the opening for ‘Up Close and Musical’ conceived and directed by Richard Ouzounian with music director Franklin Brasz. Tonight’s opening ‘Voice of a Preacher’s Son’ tells the story of artist Marcus Nance who spent nine seasons at The Stratford Festival.

Throughout musical segments, Marcus relays his voice and story about his family with such grace. We learn his father survived racism and poverty in the Southern United States to raising a family where there was always music present in the house. As a storyteller, Marcus drew me in and welcomed me to his tale about what his family life was like growing up in California. His calm demeanor and actively engaging eyes made me pay attention to every single word he shared. At times I could see joy on his face as Marcus lovingly remembered his immediate family, yet at times I was also intrigued by the quick hit of sadness on his face when he remembers the reason why his mother sang in the house.  Again, I won’t spoil it for you as you can watch the link below.

I’m not trained in musical voice, but Mr. Nance soulfully sings each number with a clear understanding of the songs’ messages that still resonates within my very being even as I sit here writing this commentary an hour later. At one point in one of his moments in talking to the camera, Marcus speaks about ‘authenticity’ in delivering a song and how important this is.

And I couldn’t agree with him more about authentic truth necessary in selling the story of the song. I was spellbound by the authentic truth Marcus grasped in each number and I wanted to hear more, but was disappointed that the event had concluded. I don’t want to say which of the musical numbers was my favourite as it’s impossible for me to tell as they were masterfully delivered.

An absolute joy to hear and to listen to an authentic voice tell a story. If this opening night is an indication of what’s to come, I am tuning in to the rest of the series.

Thank you, Marcus, Richard, and Franklin for a wonderful evening.

Photo of Marcus Nance by Ann Baggley.

Click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoY0Pw18nJY&feature=youtu.be