Welcome back to the 226th episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 226th episode we bring you a Duet Review of A Public Display of Affection, written and performed by Jonathan Wilson, directed by Mark McGrinder, co-presented by Studio 180 Theatre and Crow’s Theatre. Join Ryan Borochovitz and special guest Robert Sekulovich, as they get personal, political, and downright vulnerable, discussing the responsibility of queer elders to their community, the craft of autobiographical reminiscences, and the moral arc of history. A Public Display of Affection is playing at Streetcar Crowsnest (345 Carlaw Ave., Toronto, ON) until April 20th, 2025. Tickets can be purchased from the following link: https://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/a-public-display-of-affection CONTENT WARNING: This review discusses themes of homophobia, violence against LGBTQ+ people, the rising tide of global fascism, and particularly the catastrophic loss of queer life during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Viewer discretion is advised. Less importantly, this review contains many SPOILERS for A Public Display of Affection. It will begin with a general non-spoiler review until the [14:28] mark, followed by a more in-depth/anything goes/spoiler-rich discussion. If you intend to see the production, we recommend you stop watching after that point, or at least proceed at your own risk. Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatreIf you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]

Welcome back to the 225th episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 225th episode we bring you a Duet Review revisiting John Logan’s Red, presented by Riot King, directed by Kenzia Dalie, starring Lindsay Merrithew as Rothko and Brendan Kinnon as Ken. Join Mackenzie Horner and Jillian Robinson, as they discuss the importance of authentic character interpretation, enticement of sensory performance, and the timeless resonance of art. Red is playing at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen St W, Toronto, ON) until April 6th, 2025. Tickets can be purchased from the following link: https://theatrecentre.org/event/red/ This review contains many SPOILERS for Red. It will begin with a general non-spoiler review until the [11:50] mark, followed by a more in-depth/anything goes/spoiler-rich discussion. If you intend to see the production, we recommend you stop watching after that point, or at least proceed at your own risk. Follow our panelists: Mackenzie Horner (Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast) – Instagram/Facebook: BeforetheDownbeatApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3aYbBeNSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3sAbjAuJillian Robinson – Instagram: @jillian.robinson96 Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatreIf you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]

Welcome back to the 224th episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 224th episode we have a new artist interview. This particular conversation is between our Co-Artistic Producer Mackenzie Horner and actress and business owner Jadyn Nasato. They discuss her time at York University, the challenges of virtually performing during the pandemic, her growing stage and film career—where she has had the opportunity to work alongside Canadian stage and screen legends Megan Follows and Ma-Anne Dionisio and her new entrepreneurial venture, Headshots Café Studio, which she co-owns and runs with her partner.You can watch her award-winning short film Desync either on AMC+ or through Prime Video. Check out the Headshot Café Studio located at 2186 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ONWebsite: headshotscafestudio.com Instagram: @headshotscafestudioFollow Jadyn….Instagram: @jadyn.nasatoFollow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatre If you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]

Welcome back to the 223rd episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 223rd episode we bring you a Duet Review of There is Violence and there is Righteous Violence and there is Death or, The Born-Again Crow, the Governor General’s Award-winning play by Caleigh Crow, directed by Jessica Carmichael, co-presented by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and Native Earth Performing Arts. Join Ryan Borochovitz and special guest Alicia Plummer, as they discuss carrion birds, oppressive power structures, and using nature’s tools to dismantle the master’s house. There is Violence … The Born-Again Crow is playing at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander Street, Toronto, ON) until March 29th, 2025. Tickets can be purchased from the following link: https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/show/there-is-violence/ This review contains many SPOILERS for There is Violence … The Born-Again Crow. It will begin with a general non-spoiler review until the [9:11] mark, followed by a more in-depth/anything goes/spoiler-rich discussion. If you intend to see the production, we recommend you stop watching after that point, or at least proceed at your own risk. Follow our panelists: Alicia Plummer – Instagram: @itsaliciaplummer // TikTok: hialiciabyealicia // Women At Plays Festival Tickets (March 28-April 6): https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/50824/ Ryan Borochovitz – [Just send all that love to CoH instead; he won’t mind!]; if you enjoy his theatre thoughts, more can be found at https://nextmag.ca/search/borochovitz Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatreIf you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]: 0:00 – Intro: Welcome Back, Alicia 2:25 – Pre-Spoiler 9:00 – SPOILERS from here on out 9:21 – (Easily Distracted) Cast Shoutouts 32:15 – Production Elements 34:36 – Animal Transmogrification 40:35 – Chekhov’s Gun 46:47 – The REAL Canadian Superstore 55:35 – Indigeneity & Resistance 1:01:15 – (Non-)Concluding Thoughts

Welcome back to the 222nd episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 222nd episode we bring you a Duet Review of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Jennifer Walls, and presented by Shifting Ground Collective. Join Mackenzie Horner and Ryan Borochovitz, as they discuss competitive spelling, audience participation, and neurodiverse representation. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is playing at the Aki Studio (585 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON) until March 15th, 2025. Tickets can be purchased from the following link: https://shiftinggroundcollective.com/spelling-bee/ This review contains many SPOILERS for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It will begin with a general non-spoiler review until the [23:01] mark, followed by a more in-depth/anything goes/spoiler-rich discussion. If you intend to see the production, we recommend you stop watching after that point, or at least proceed at your own risk. Support Shifting Ground Collective: https://shiftinggroundcollective.com/support-shifting-ground/ Follow our panelists: Mackenzie Horner (Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast) – Instagram/Facebook: BeforetheDownbeatApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3aYbBeNSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3sAbjAuRyan Borochovitz – [Just send all that love to CoH instead; he won’t mind!]; if you enjoy his theatre thoughts, more can be found at https://nextmag.ca/search/borochovitz Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatreIf you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]:00 – I-N-T-R-O 5:10 – Pre-Spoiler 14:37 – Cast Shoutouts 22:55 – SPOILERS from here on out 23:15 – Neurodiversity 38:04 – Oh Right, It’s a Musical 45:32 – Cotton Candy

Welcome back to the 221st episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 221st episode we bring you a a new instalment of our subseries 'Screened Plays'. This time we are celebrating the life and career of the late Dame Maggie Smith as we discuss the Oscar winning film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), directed by Ronald Neame, and based on the play by Jay Presson Allen (itself adapted from Muriel Spark’s novel of the same name). Together the panellist discuss alternative casting choices, this film's representation of women and female sexuality, and the timely nature of this film's depiction and commentary on the relationships between teachers and their students.Follow our panelists: Mackenzie Horner (Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast) – Instagram/Facebook: BeforetheDownbeatApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3aYbBeNSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3sAbjAuSarah Hime – Instagram: @hime.sarah TikTok: @sarah.himeAlicia Plummer – Insta: @ItIsAliciaPlummer Tiktok: @hialiciabyealiciaHilary Wirachowsky – Insta: @hilarylynneFollow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatre If you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]

Welcome back to the 220th episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 220th episode we bring you a Duet Review of MONKS, created and performed by Veronica Hortigüela and Annie Luján, presented by (and at) The Theatre Centre. Join Jillian Robinson and Ryan Borochovitz, as they discuss everything from donkeys to lentils, clowns to capitalism, and the radical potential of doing nothing. MONKS is playing at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen St W, Toronto, ON) until March 2nd, 2025. Tickets can be purchased from the following link: https://theatrecentre.org/event/monks/ NOTE: The entire run has already sold out (wow!); however, there will an in-person waitlist at the venue one-hour before each performance.This review contains many SPOILERS for MONKS. It will begin with a general non-spoiler review until the [13:07] mark, followed by a more in-depth/anything goes/spoiler-rich discussion. If you intend to see the production, we recommend you stop watching after that point, or at least proceed at your own risk. Check out our original review of MONKS from its premiere at Toronto Fringe 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDKw_MDJLEY&t=3812s Follow our panelists: Jillian Robinson – Instagram: @jillian.robinson96

Ryan Borochovitz – [Just send all that love to CoH instead; he won’t mind!]; if you enjoy his theatre thoughts, more can be found at https://nextmag.ca/search/borochovitz Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatreIf you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]

Welcome back to the 219th episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 219th episode we bring you a Duet Review of The Darkest Dark, based on the book by Chris Hadfield and Kate Fillon, adapted by the stage by Jim Millan and Ian MacIntyre, directed by Jim Millan, and presented by Young People’s Theatre (YPT). Join Jillian Robinson and Ryan Borochovitz, as they discuss facing fears, swinging sixties, and boldly going where no kid has gone before. The Darkest Dark is playing at YPT (165 Front St E, Toronto, ON) until March 16th, 2025. Tickets can be purchased from the following link: https://www.youngpeoplestheatre.org/shows-tickets/the-darkest-dark/ This review contains many SPOILERS for The Darkest Dark. It will begin with a general non-spoiler review until the [10:31] mark, followed by a more in-depth/anything goes/spoiler-rich discussion. If you intend to see the production, we recommend you stop watching after that point, or at least proceed at your own risk. Follow our panelists: Jillian Robinson – Instagram: @jillian.robinson96 Ryan Borochovitz – [Just send all that love to CoH instead; he won’t mind!]; if you enjoy his theatre thoughts, more can be found at: https://nextmag.ca/search/borochovitz Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatreIf you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]: 0:00 – Intro: Preparing for Landing 2:28 – Pre-Spoiler 10:26 – SPOILERS from here on out 10:40 – Fear, Bravery, and Imagination 16:38 – Cast Shoutouts 28:14 – Dream Sequences 33:56 – ’60s Scene Transitions 36:22 – A PSA for YPT 38:57 – Sign Off: Into the Stratosphere

Welcome back to the 218th episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 218th episode we have a new artist interview. This particular conversation was hosted by our Co-Artistic Producer Ryan Borochovitz and features Program Officer of visual and performing arts for The Japan Foundation, Toronto, Toshi Aoyagi. Join these two as they discuss Cinema Kabuki, an annual event in which filmed versions of kabuki plays are presented for Torontonian audiences as well as traditional Japanese artforms, complicated gender dynamics, and bridging cultural divides. Cinema Kabuki will be screened in three instalments at the TIFF Lightbox (350 King St W, Toronto, ON), on February 23rd, 2025. Tickets to the screenings can be purchased from the following link: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/cinema-kabuki-2025-toronto/ Register for the Kabuki Talk Series: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/kabuki-talk-series-2025/ CONTENT WARNING: This interview contains brief allusions to suicide and sexual violence against women, contained entirely within a segment discussing the kabuki play Princess Sakurahime (approximately from 50:40 to 55:30). Viewer discretion is advised. Follow The Japan Foundation – Instagram: @jftoronto // Website: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/ Check out the Yōkai Netsuke Exhibition (extended into March by popular demand) – https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/yokai-netsuke-exhibition/2024-10-17/ Check out Toshi’s recent interview with A View from the Box (which we referenced in this interview) – https://aviewfromthebox.net/2025/02/01/stage-door-dialogues-toshi-aoyagi-of-cinema-kabuki-at-the-japan-foundation/ Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatre If you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected]: 0:00 – Intro: 3-for-1 Interview Questions3:40 – Toshi’s Story 9:49 – How Does “Cinema Kabuki” Work?25:12 – Capturing Theatricality on Film 31:05 – Kabuki for Canadians 38:56 – Onnagata: A Fireball of Gender Issues 1:03:38 – Curation 1:11:03 – Talk Series 1:13:34 – What’s Next?

Welcome back to the 217th episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 217th episode we have a new artist interview. This particular conversation was hosted by our Co-Artistic Producer Ryan Borochovitz and and
Toronto-based independent filmmaker, Rebeccah Love
as they talk all about her first feature film, Fortescue,
currently screening at festivals across Canada. They
dig deep into the weeds of everything from
mumblecore to metatheatre, strong shields to thematic
through lines, and the leaps of faith that go into every
artistic endeavour.

CONTENT WARNING: This interview contains many references to severe mental health issues and psychotic episodes; it may include language around these topics that some may find offensive. There are also brief references to sexual harassment and violence toward women and minors. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.