It all started after one of my favorite bartenders had just finished pouring me a pint.  There I was, in the middle of the senses pleasing bar environment surrounded by enticing sights and smells, including those produced from my freshly poured pint of beer which can only be accurately described by those over the top beer commercials with the choir singers, when my phone beeps – indicating a new text message was received. Read the full story

Last night I went to see the opening night of Bare (sponsored by GayGuideToronto.com). It’s UofT’s latest musical about a Catholic high school mounting a play (layered I know!). Bare is a coming-of-age story about three high school students tangled in a bi-sexual love triangle (who hasn’t been there?)

The last time I was at UofT’s Hart House theatre, I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Going into Bare I was expecting something just as edgy and flesh-soaked as Rocky was. However, Bare was not as salacious as I had hoped. The title has nothing to do with the hot naked torso seen in the advert. I was also expecting a whole lot more nudity. Passing a series of “warning: adult content signs” in the theatre lobby, I was expecting more skin (for the same $25, you get more skin at Remington’s)

But alas, Bare doesn’t show it’s body. It bares its soul.

The title of the play eludes to the raw emotional feelings you experience while watching it. Bare has all the pit falls of teenage life – sex, sexuality, drugs, teen pregnancy and suicide. To sit through Bare you need to conjure your inner sociopath (who doesn’t have one??) Bare will leave you drained…but in a good way.

It’s like watching seven seasons of Degrassi Junior High, back-to-back.

There were definitely some stand out performers. The Head Nun, Sister Chantelle, for one, is a Jennifer Hudson-esque take-me-to-church-please choir singer. Another stand-out is the character Nadia, the awkwardly bruting, angst-filled, Emily Strange-ish sister to the play’s protagonist. The characters Peter (a boy-next-door emo boy) and Jason (a hot jock) are the play’s leads. They are two boys trying to figure out their sexuality while Ivy (the popular girl at school) pines to be with Jason.

(SPOILER ALERT!)

A happy ending? Don’t count on it. However, I recommend you head the advise of the priest character in the show when he advises the protagonist on accepting his homosexuality: “Don’t question it too much and it will all be fine.”

My final thought? High school is tough stuff. Just be glad you made it through alive. The take-home message is, as the cliché goes, what doesn’t kill you will leave you emotionally crippled and scarred for life….but in a good way.

(Go see it!)

Two thumbs up my bum.
- maha.

* Full show details – just click here!

Last night I went to see the opening night of Bare. It’s UofT’s latest musical about a catholic high school mounting a play (layered I know!). Bare is a coming-of-age story about three high school students tangled in a bi-sexual love triangle (who hasn’t been there?)

The last time I was at UofT’s Hart House theatre, I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Going into Bare I was expecting something just as edgy and flesh-soaked as Rocky was. However, Bare was not as salacious as I had hoped. The title has nothing to do with the hot naked torso seen in the advert. I was also expecting a whole lot more nudity. Passing a series of “warning: adult content signs” in the theatre lobby, I was expecting more skin (for the same $25, you get more skin at Remington’s)

But alas, Bare doesn’t show it’s body. It bares its soul.

The title of the play eludes to the raw emotional feelings you experience while watching it. Bare has all the pit falls of teenage life – sex, sexuality, drugs, teen pregnancy and suicide. To sit through Bare you need to conjure your inner sociopath (who doesn’t have one??) Bare will leave you drained…but in a good way.

It’s like watching seven seasons of Degrassi Junior High, back-to-back.

There were definitely some stand out performers. The Head Nun, Sister Chantelle, for one, is a Jennifer Hudson-esque take-me-to-church-please choir singer. Another stand-out is the character Nadia, the awkwardly bruting, angst-filled, Emily Strange-ish sister to the play’s protagonist. The characters Peter (a boy-next-door emo boy) and Jason (a hot jock) are the play’s leads. They are two boys trying to figure out their sexuality while Ivy (the popular girl at school) pines to be with Jason.

(SPOILER ALERT!)

A happy ending? Don’t count on it. However, I recommend you head the advise of the priest character in the show when he advises the protagonist on accepting his homosexuality: “Don’t question it too much and it will all be fine.”

My final thought? High school is tough stuff. Just be glad you made it through alive. The take-home message is, as the cliché goes, what doesn’t kill you will leave you emotionally crippled and scarred for life….but in a good way.

(Go see it!)

Two thumbs up my bum.
- maha.

Last night I went to see the opening night of Bare. It’s UofT’s latest musical about a catholic high school mounting a play (layered I know!). Bare is a coming-of-age story about three high school students tangled in a bi-sexual love triangle (who hasn’t been there?)

The last time I was at UofT’s Hart House theatre, I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Going into Bare I was expecting something just as edgy and flesh-soaked as Rocky was. However, Bare was not as salacious as I had hoped. The title has nothing to do with the hot naked torso seen in the advert. I was also expecting a whole lot more nudity. Passing a series of “warning: adult content signs” in the theatre lobby, I was expecting more skin (for the same $25, you get more skin at Remington’s)

But alas, Bare doesn’t show it’s body. It bares its soul.

The title of the play eludes to the raw emotional feelings you experience while watching it. Bare has all the pit falls of teenage life – sex, sexuality, drugs, teen pregnancy and suicide. To sit through Bare you need to conjure your inner sociopath (who doesn’t have one??) Bare will leave you drained…but in a good way.

It’s like watching seven seasons of Degrassi Junior High, back-to-back.

There were definitely some stand out performers. The Head Nun, Sister Chantelle, for one, is a Jennifer Hudson-esque take-me-to-church-please choir singer. Another stand-out is the character Nadia, the awkwardly bruting, angst-filled, Emily Strange-ish sister to the play’s protagonist. The characters Peter (a boy-next-door emo boy) and Jason (a hot jock) are the play’s leads. They are two boys trying to figure out their sexuality while Ivy (the popular girl at school) pines to be with Jason.

(SPOILER ALERT!)

A happy ending? Don’t count on it. However, I recommend you head the advise of the priest character in the show when he advises the protagonist on accepting his homosexuality: “Don’t question it too much and it will all be fine.”

My final thought? High school is tough stuff. Just be glad you made it through alive. The take-home message is, as the cliché goes, what doesn’t kill you will leave you emotionally crippled and scarred for life….but in a good way.

(Go see it!)

Two thumbs up my bum.
- maha.

Last night I went to see the opening night of Bare. It’s UofT’s latest musical about a catholic high school mounting a play (layered I know!). Bare is a coming-of-age story about three high school students tangled in a bi-sexual love triangle (who hasn’t been there?)

The last time I was at UofT’s Hart House theatre, I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Going into Bare I was expecting something just as edgy and flesh-soaked as Rocky was. However, Bare was not as salacious as I had hoped. The title has nothing to do with the hot naked torso seen in the advert. I was also expecting a whole lot more nudity. Passing a series of “warning: adult content signs” in the theatre lobby, I was expecting more skin (for the same $25, you get more skin at Remington’s)

But alas, Bare doesn’t show it’s body. It bares its soul.

The title of the play eludes to the raw emotional feelings you experience while watching it. Bare has all the pit falls of teenage life – sex, sexuality, drugs, teen pregnancy and suicide. To sit through Bare you need to conjure your inner sociopath (who doesn’t have one??) Bare will leave you drained…but in a good way.

It’s like watching seven seasons of Degrassi Junior High, back-to-back.

There were definitely some stand out performers. The Head Nun, Sister Chantelle, for one, is a Jennifer Hudson-esque take-me-to-church-please choir singer. Another stand-out is the character Nadia, the awkwardly bruting, angst-filled, Emily Strange-ish sister to the play’s protagonist. The characters Peter (a boy-next-door emo boy) and Jason (a hot jock) are the play’s leads. They are two boys trying to figure out their sexuality while Ivy (the popular girl at school) pines to be with Jason.

(SPOILER ALERT!)

A happy ending? Don’t count on it. However, I recommend you head the advise of the priest character in the show when he advises the protagonist on accepting his homosexuality: “Don’t question it too much and it will all be fine.”

My final thought? High school is tough stuff. Just be glad you made it through alive. The take-home message is, as the cliché goes, what doesn’t kill you will leave you emotionally crippled and scarred for life….but in a good way.

(Go see it!)

Two thumbs up my bum.
- maha.

Last night I went to see the opening night of Bare. It’s UofT’s latest musical about a catholic high school mounting a play (layered I know!). Bare is a coming-of-age story about three high school students tangled in a bi-sexual love triangle (who hasn’t been there?)

The last time I was at UofT’s Hart House theatre, I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Going into Bare I was expecting something just as edgy and flesh-soaked as Rocky was. However, Bare was not as salacious as I had hoped. The title has nothing to do with the hot naked torso seen in the advert. I was also expecting a whole lot more nudity. Passing a series of “warning: adult content signs” in the theatre lobby, I was expecting more skin (for the same $25, you get more skin at Remington’s)

But alas, Bare doesn’t show it’s body. It bares its soul.

The title of the play eludes to the raw emotional feelings you experience while watching it. Bare has all the pit falls of teenage life – sex, sexuality, drugs, teen pregnancy and suicide. To sit through Bare you need to conjure your inner sociopath (who doesn’t have one??) Bare will leave you drained…but in a good way.

It’s like watching seven seasons of Degrassi Junior High, back-to-back.

There were definitely some stand out performers. The Head Nun, Sister Chantelle, for one, is a Jennifer Hudson-esque take-me-to-church-please choir singer. Another stand-out is the character Nadia, the awkwardly bruting, angst-filled, Emily Strange-ish sister to the play’s protagonist. The characters Peter (a boy-next-door emo boy) and Jason (a hot jock) are the play’s leads. They are two boys trying to figure out their sexuality while Ivy (the popular girl at school) pines to be with Jason.

(SPOILER ALERT!)

A happy ending? Don’t count on it. However, I recommend you head the advise of the priest character in the show when he advises the protagonist on accepting his homosexuality: “Don’t question it too much and it will all be fine.”

My final thought? High school is tough stuff. Just be glad you made it through alive. The take-home message is, as the cliché goes, what doesn’t kill you will leave you emotionally crippled and scarred for life….but in a good way.

(Go see it!)

Two thumbs up my bum.
- maha.