Well, I’ve already missed half the month, haven’t I?  But luckily for me, this is a rather lopsided October for theatre, and besides the killer SPEED-THE-PLOW (currently ongoing at the Gladstone) most of the action takes place in the second half of the month this time around.  Here’s what I’ve come up with:

– DREAMS OF WHALES from New Theatre of Ottawa.  Kicking off their first full season as a resident company at Arts Court, the company that Koensgen built launches with the world premiere of Dean Hawes’ script.  Hearing how effusive John K is with his praise for this work, and seeing what a sweet cast they have lined up, I can’t wait to check it out.  From the 18th-29th at Arts Court Theatre.

– SALT-WATER MOON at the National Arts Centre.  A thoroughly Canadian romantic comedy, kicking off what turns out to be Peter Hinton’s second-last season as Artistic Director.  Good enough for me!  From the 18th-Nov 5th.

– DR.COOK’S GARDEN from Ottawa Little Theatre.  99 years?  Holy Kites!  The OLT just keeps ’em coming, and this production of Ira Levin’s thriller sounds like a particularly fun one.  From the 18th-Nov 5th.

– THE CIRCLE from Linden House Theatre.  A little Somerset Maugham to ease those October blahs sounds like good medicine to me.From the 20th-29th at the Elmwood Theatre.

– WHISPERING PINES from the Great Canadian Theatre Company.  I hear good buzz indeed about this show, playing over at the Irving Greenberg as the 2nd show of the GCTC’s current season.  And about time we got Kris Joseph back on an Ottawa stage!  From the 25th-Nov 13th.

– MACBETH from Sock’n’Buskin.  I love me some student theatre, and this post-apocalyptic vision of the Scottish Play sounds like a blast.  Tess McManus as Lady Macbeth?  Sold!  From the 26th-30th at the Kailash Mital Theatre on Carleton Campus.

– TARAM from Theatre du Trillium.  Oui, I’m heading right back into Franco-Theatre, and this one sounds like a right good time.  Written by and starring  international slam champion Marjolaine Beauchamp.  From the 26th-Nov 5th at La Nouvelle Scene.

– EURYDICE from Unicorn Theatre.  A special free presentation from the Ottawa U gang, directed by Jodi Sprung-Boyd, and it sounds dead cool. You should go.  From the 19th-22nd at Studio Leonard-Beaulne.

– THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA with Seventeen Voyces.  Okay, it’s note strictly theatre, but you’ll be missing out if you skip this special screening of the classic Lon Chaney silent film, with live musical accompaniment.  27th and 28th at St.Matthews Church in the Glebe.

– OUT OF TIME by Colin Dunne.  A little something that sounds pretty cool from the NAC Dance series, and here I am telling you about it.  Anyone wanna go?  I kinda wanna go.  From the 27th-29th at the NAC Studio.

– ZIMMERPROV from GRIMprov.  An Improv show/lab from the mentally disturbed gang known only as GRIMprov, and featuring the music of mister Hans Zimmer.  Not bad for five bucks.  Wednesday the 26th at the The Imperial (329 Bank).

That’s all I got for now…what’d I miss?  And seriously, October, we couldn’t have spread this out a little better?  I’m hardly even gonna see Winston for the next 2 weeks!  Ah well.  As always, I am willing to suffer for your art.  Get on out there and see some shows, hey?   And maybe I’ll see you there.  Peace, love and soul,

The Visitor (and Winston)