Showing posts with label Eric Woolfe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Woolfe. Show all posts

06 March 2024

Michael Kras in Intermission Magazine

From the March 1st article "Invisibility cloaks, cardboard rockets, and flying orbs of light: Here’s how Canadian theatre uses the art of magic" by Michael Kras at Intermission Magazine:

Cursed Child is hardly an isolated case for this hefty use of theatre magic. Plenty of prominent productions utilize magic design in considerable ways, including the current West End hit Stranger Things: The First Shadow (also featuring illusion design by Cursed Child’s Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher), which is already planning to hit more stages internationally, with little doubt that Canada will eventually be in the mix. Hit musical adaptations from the West End and Broadway like Back to the Future (illusions by Chris Fisher) and Beetlejuice (illusions by Michael Weber) are both slated for the forthcoming Mirvish subscription season.

Of course, a common thread here is that these are all imported, big-budget commercial properties. But the beautiful thing about magic is that a relentless spirit of ingenuity and creative problem-solving is far more important than a price tag. The entire job description is about making the impossible possible onstage, and the greatest magic is achieved by earthy, organic means rather than high-tech gadgets.

One such homegrown example is Young People’s Theatre’s Dora-winning The Darkest Dark, adapted by Jim Millan and Ian MacIntyre from Chris Hadfield and Kate Fillion’s book of the same name. Canadian conjuror David Ben – who also staged the effects in the Stratford Festival’s Grand Magic last season — was tasked with crafting magic that had a childlike spirit of play and imagination, with sophisticated, memorable illusions built from humble cardboard boxes. On a smaller-scale indie level, Eric Woolfe’s Eldritch Theatre is also known to regularly feature sleight of hand in their spooky seasons of plays. 

Read more.





26 September 2023

Toronto: Eldritch Theatre 2023/4 season announced

From the September 22nd Facebook post by Keith Brown:

Absolute Magic plays the Red Sandcastle Theatre October 10-15.

Award-winning magic and storytelling.

Family friendly. All ages.

https://bit.ly/SandcastleOct

 

From the Eldritch Theatre:

  • October 25th to November 5th
    Doc Wuthergloom’s Here There Be Monsters
    "Each tale is a fearful warning from the Goblin Universe, wrapped in impossible feats of magic that will warp your very sense of reality! But never fear! Doc Wuthergloom can save you, if only you purchase his Field Guide to Monsters! Step right up and be terrified and amazed! There’s room for one more! Recommended for those with mature and jaded hearts."

  • February 8th to 18th, 2024
    MacBeth: A Tale Told By An Idiot

  • April 11th to 24th, 2024
    The House at Poe Corner

  • Various dates TBA
  • Eldritch Horrors: Plays from the Tombs
  • Dear Boss
  • The Babysitter
  • Zombocalypse!

Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

 

02 September 2023

Toronto: There's magic at Buskerfest 2023 [Sep 1 - 4]

From the Toronto International Buskerfest for Epilepsy website:

The Charming Jay

Circle Act

A character who likes classic magic and eccentric jazz. He is a meek magician with extraordinary ability. But every time he tries to perform a trick, he fails. If he then tries to cover up his mistake, another nonsense happens to him.

 On closer inspection, the audience realizes that this is not a casual magician, but rather a clown who seems to have sprung from the silent film era.

 

Buster Canfield's Circus of Industrious Fleas!

Circle Act  

Prepare to be spellbound by Eldritch Theatre’s astonishing presentation: “A Big Show in Miniature!” Delve into a world of death-defying feats and breathtaking wonder, all brought to life by an extraordinary ensemble of highly skilled fleas. Yes, you read that right – these tiny performers will astound you with their daring displays of dangerous acts!

Eldritch Theatre has crafted a spectacle that defies imagination, where the tiniest stars shine the brightest.

 

Magic Man

Tent Show

Magic Man is an experienced international magician, known for his versatility in the illusion field. He performs interactive, mind-shakingly, brilliant sleight of hand, spiced with pure comedy genius. From the Rolling Stones to U2, Magic Man has entertained the finest! He has represented South Africa at the Edinburgh Festival and has headlined across four continents. 


Spencer Scurr

Tent Show

Spencer Scurr, the Daredevil Magician, has performed in some bizarre places, from the middle of the desert to the ocean floor. His adventures have led him to a realization: magic is more exciting when you mix in a bit of risk!

Ropes are cooler when they’re on fire, and card tricks are more thrilling when the cards are in a rusty animal trap.

Spencer’s daring feats are sure to leave everyone with an unforgettable story to tell.

 

Victor Rubilar

Circle Act

Soccer is a universal language that everybody can share. With the classy style of the 1920s, plenty of dance, magic, humour, and impressive skills Victor creates a party on stage.

Victor Rubilar has toured the world with over 2000 shows in 51 countries. He has gotten nothing less than 25 awards internationally and he has successfully broken 5 Guinness World Records.

Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

19 April 2023

Eric Woolfe interviewed by Janine Marley

From the April 19th post "Stage Door Dialogues – Eric Woolfe of 'Two Weird Tales'" at A View From the Box:

Your company, Eldritch Theatre, has a real affinity for all this spooky! When did your love of the horror genre start?

I’ve always loved horror. Since I was three and saw Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein on the Sir Graves Ghastly Show. And as one of the few theatre companies that focus on it, I think we are filling a dire need. A hundred years ago and more, horror elements could be found in almost everywhere. And as we moved into the 20th century genres became more isolated. But, uncanny, spooky, fantastical stories can resonate universally the way that real world drama can’t.

Read more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 March 2023

Toronto: Buster Canfield Performs Eldritch Evocations with Cards [Mar 23 - 24]

From the February 20th Tweet by Eldritch Theatre:

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND πŸƒ
Buster Canfield Performs Eldritch Evocations with Cards at Red Sandcastle Theatre March 23 + 24th
https://eldritchtheatre.ca/bustercanfield

"It was so hilarious and MYSTIFYING!" - M.Wells, Audience Member

 

 

 

20 January 2023

Toronto: Eric Woolfe in Buster Canfield Performs Eldritch Evocations [Jan 27 - 28]

From the January 17th Instagram post by Eldritch Theatre:

Buster Canfield Performs Eldritch Evocations with Cards January 27 + 28th at @redsandcastletheatre

🎟 eldritchtheatre.ca/bustercanfield (link in bio)

Step right up! A night of wry sorcery, thaumaturgy and old time marvelosity, inspired by the ghoulish wonder of the Eldritch Theatre Tarot Deck.

Miracle Monger, and mystical charlatan, Buster Canfield will astound and amaze you with a night of vintage black magic, performed entirely with playing cards and nefarious spirits drawn from the Goblin Universe for your entertainment and edification. Eleven incontrovertible miracles shall be performed before your astounded and unblinking eyes, while you giggle in gobsmacked wonder!

Bring your change purse, because you too can bring home the wonder of divination with the unique Eldritch Theatre Tarot Deck, on sale before and after the show!

 

 

 

 

 

21 November 2022

Toronto: Eric Woolfe in Requiem for a Gumshoe [Nov 24 - Dec 4]

From the November 14th Tweet by Edritch Theatre:

Meet our cast for Requiem for a Gumshoe: @ericwoolfe
 Eric Woolfe is an actor, playwright, puppeteer and magician, and our Artistic Director. He specializes in creating horror plays using puppetry, live actors, and parlour magic. http://EldritchTheatre.ca/Gumshoe #theaTO





 

 

 

18 October 2022

Toronto: Doctor Pretorius Wuthergloom's Dollhouse of Deadly Sins [Oct 27-30]

From the October 7th Instagram post by Eldritch Theatre:

Dear friends, join us for #Halloween at @redsandcastletheatre Oct 27-30th for dark magic, demented puppetry, and cursed fun… EldritchTheatre.ca/tickets (link in bio) 

 

 

 

 

 

09 April 2022

Toronto: Buster Canfield’s Circus of Industrious Fleas! [Apr 24]

From the April 2nd Tweet by Eldritch Theatre:

Step right up!

And witness the most magnificent manifestations of mite-sized marvellosity ever before seen on any stage!

The World’s Only Multiple Dora Award Nominated Flea Circus!

πŸŽͺBuster Canfield’s Circus of Industrious Fleas! 🐜
Get tickets: https://ticketscene.ca/events/40163/
#theaTO


27 January 2022

Toronto: Scott McClelland's Reliquary [Mar 9-13]

From the January 25th Facebook post by Scott McClelland:

After 10 Years of waiting... I have created a NEW Production called the RELIQUARY. This is a brand new Show that will be premiering in Toronto at the Red Sandcastle Theatre on March 9th and running until the 13th!

This is a completely NEW idea in the world of performance... a Show that blurs the lines of reality and is a tip of the hat to great Horror Movie Classics! Mixing the Supernatural with Horror and Magic... if you are in the Toronto region this is your chance to see this ground breaking production in a beautiful intimate setting.

Ticket are On Sale Now!

https://www.ticketscene.ca/series/924/

DON'T MISS THIS AMAZING SHOW!

 

 

 

04 January 2022

Toronto: Doc Wuthergloom's Dollhouse of Deadly Sins [postponed to Feb 4-6]

From the January 2nd Instagram post by Eldritch Theatre:

Doc Wuthergloom's Dollhouse of Deadly Sins has been postponed to February 4th to 6th. Ticket holders have been notified, but should this come as a jump scare, please check your inbox.

Happy New Fear, and scare you soon πŸ’š Tickets can be found at redsandcastletheatre.com/tickets

 

15 December 2021

Toronto: Doc Wuthergloom's Dollhouse of Deadly Sins

Updated January 3, 2022 to add:  This event has been postponed until Februrary.

 

December 6th show was SOLD OUT! New dates added in January.

From the October 21st Instagram post by Eldritch Theatre:

Our December 6th show sold out in hours... we get the hint. You want more necromancers in a top hat doing magic and condemning evil ghosts to eternal punishment in a haunted dollhouse? We'll give you necromancers in a top hat doing magic condemning evil ghosts to eternal punishment in a haunted dollhouse! See you in January at @redsandcastletheatre

NEW DATES ADDED link in bio to get yours! Or go to eldritchtheatre.ca/tickets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 July 2021

Eric Woolfe: General Manager of Red Sandcastle Theatre and part of the Kingston Fringe

Updated at 8:20am to add this 8:03am Tweet by Eric Woolfe:

 

 

From the July 26th Tweet by Derrick Chua:


From the July 22nd Tweet by Eldritch Theatre:




29 November 2020

Random thoughts about "The Deadly Doom of the Dungeons of Duodenum"

My family and I were invited to spectate "The Deadly Doom of the Dungeons of Duodenum" last night.  Quite frankly, we had no idea what to expect.


It's been a long time since my D&D days so we attended as spectators.


Here are some random thoughts that came to mind while watching "The Deadly Doom of the Dungeons of Duodenum":

  • No experience playing D&D?  No need to worry!  The talented Michael Ripley guided (DM'd) the adventure giving generous guidance to the novice adventurers who rose beautifully to the occasion! 
  • Have D&D experience?  Help lead your adventurer party and be suitably challenged by the DM.
  • It is exactly as advertised by Eric Woolfe:
    • It is a live play with puppets.  
    • The adventurers choose the direction of the adventure.
    • Many of the outcomes are driven by the randomness of the roll of the dice.
  • There are prerecorded video vignettes by such notables as Doctor Pretorious Wuthergloom and Kenneth Welsh!

  • Every show is different.  (Even with the same adventurers, making the same choices, the randomness of the dice will lead to different outcomes.)
  • For long time fans of Eric Woolfe and Eldritch Theatre, there are some well placed Easter eggs.   We caught throwbacks to "The Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy," "Buster Canfield and his Amazing Fleas!" and of course "Doc Wuthergloom's Haunted Medicine Show."  There were likely many, many more.)
  • We witnessed a show with brave and entertaining adventurers!  (You don't need to be an actor to play.)
    Thank you Perdon, Scritch-Scratch, Al, Gormunga, and Sparkletastic!  (You want Sparkletastic on your campaigns.  The dice-gods were clearly in their favour!)
  • Thank you talented DM Michael Ripley, puppeteers Kimwun Perehinec and Eric Woolfe, and the staff of the Eldritch Theatre (Melanie McNeil, Sandi Becker, Adrianna Prosser et al) for hosting an captivating evening's escape from reality.

 

Don't just take our word for it, here's what TV writer Mike McPhaden has to say:





The "The Deadly Doom of the Dungeons of Duodenum" runs until December 5th.  

Details at EldritchTheatre.ca/dungeons



Disclosure:  My family and I were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.

 

 

20 November 2020

Survive the Great Regurgitation with 10% off your Adventurer ticket

Roman numeral 10

Continuing with our 10th anniversary celebrations ...

Lift the curse of Doc Pretorious Wuthergloom and use the spell "CanadasMagic" for 10% off an Adventurer ticket for the upcoming online interactive theatrical fantastical "The Deadly Doom of the Dungeons of Duodenum" happening November 25 to December 5th: eldritchtheatre.ca/dungeons

 

 

 

Thank you Eric Woolfe and Eldritch Theatre for the anniversary wishes and for extending this wonderful offer to our readers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 November 2020

Eldritch Theatre presents The Deadly Doom of the Dungeons of Duodenum

Premiering ONLINE November 25th to December 5th, 2020 at 7:30 PM (EST) 

Tickets $50 for Adventurers
Tickets $10 for Spectators

 

From the Eldritch Theatre:

The Deadly Doom of the Dungeons of Duodenum is the newest ghoulish creation by Eric Woolfe (Space Opera Zero, The Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy) in which ticket buyers can choose to take part in the story using Dungeons and Dragons based role-playing, or merely witness the horrific adventure that will change each night! Adventurers will be given keys to The Forbidden Library, the entire Eldritch Theatre repertoire, as the online experience will take players on a quest through twenty years of Eldritch Theatre creations, meeting sword and sorcery versions of characters from past productions. The monsters and minions they meet will be performed by live actors, puppets, pre-recorded video segments and interactive maps.

Read more and buy tickets.





28 May 2020

World Buskers United: May 30 - 31

World Buskers United are at it again and will be doing another 24 hours online buskerfest!

Canadian participants include:


Learn more at World Buskers United.



23 October 2019

Toronto: Win tickets to see "The Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy"

Great news folks! I have been offered two (2) tickets to give away to my readers, to attend the 20th abominaversary edition of "The Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy" at the Red Sandcastle Theatre November 15, 2019 at 8:00 pm, Toronto, Canada.


The 
Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy

The Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy is a play by Eric Woolfe (House at Poe Corner, Doc Wuthergloom’s Haunted Medicine Show) who uses puppets and close-up magic based on the Faust Legend. An eerie tale of unholy larceny and Klondike gold. Based on the sworn testimony of the miserable souls who survived this terrifying ordeal. Strange things loom in the midday moon, where lost men moil for gold.


The show runs from November 13 - November 24th 3019.  If you don't want to leave your tickets to chance, you can purchase them directly at EldritchTheatre.ca/Tickets


I will be holding a random draw for the pair of tickets.  (There will be one winner.)  The draw results will be posted by Thursday October 31st.


To enter:
  1. Log into the RaffleCopter widget below, using Facebook or a valid email address.
     
  2. Mandatory: Leave a comment in the widget, telling me what you think is the scariest magical effect (either to perform or to watch).
     
  3. If you win, you must be willing to provide your full name and contact information so that we can coordinate your prize with the Eldritch Theatre box office.



The fine print:
  • To participate in the contest, you must be 18 years of age or older.
     
  • One entry per person.
     
  • This giveaway is open to Canadian residents, excluding residents of Quebec. (Je m'excuse!)
     
  • This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.
     
  • If you experience difficulties leaving a comment, you may email it to me for posting.  (I am not responsible if your email is misdirected or gets stuck in my Spam folder.)
     
  • This giveaway may be terminated or withdrawn at any time.
     
  • Entries my be disqualified at any time (reasons for disqualification include but are not limited to the provision of information that is untruthful, inaccurate, incomplete, or suspected fraudulent behaviour).
     
  • You must be able to use the tickets as offered.  (No cash value will be offered if you cannot use the tickets.)
     
  • Transportation to/from Toronto and accommodations will not be provided.
     
  • Photo ID will be required to claim the tickets at the the Eldritch Theatre box office prior to the show on your way into the theatre.
     
  • The odds of winning depend on how many people enter the contest.
     
  • Contest closes on Tuesday October the 29th, 2019 at 11:59pm ET.

With thanks to the Eldritch Theatre for generously making these tickets available to you!


The 
Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy - photo credit Lyon Smith
Photo By: Lyon Smith



a Rafflecopter giveaway




27 April 2019

Toronto: Sword and Sorcery school

From the Edritch Theatre:
Eldritch Theatre’s First Ever
Sword and Sorcery Summer School
a summer camp for nerds and geeks

Monday, July 15th to Friday, July 19th 2019
Ages 9 to 14
The Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen Street East

Read more and register.



From the Edritch Theatre Twitter feed:



11 July 2017

Toronto: The Lamentable Absurdical Chronicle of Punch and Judy

From the Eldritch Theatre Twitter feed:
A note to subscribers: the content of this post is embedded from another website and is not available to preview. To view the content of the post, please visit http://CanadasMagic.blogspot.com. Some of the embedded code may be visible in this notification.