ARTS EAST

Cozy atmosphere and Christmas carols - so far, Uncomfortable Christmas by Halifax-based Kick at the Dark Theatre Company feels pretty comfortable. The room is filled with comfy sweaters, candy canes and hot chocolate that is given away for free. It feels like you are sitting with your friends near the fireplace and are about to hear some stories.   These stories are not too fancy, instead, they are quite sarcastic and even bitter at times. What’s most important – these stories are authentic , with each of them evoking a strong emotion. They make you laugh about human vices, such as envy and greed, and make you see [or: show] how Christmas sometimes brings the best and the worst in us. The show opens with a song “Christmas is interesting, like a knife in your heart.. Christmas  is interesting, how it tears you apart” – a song that everyone in the audience could relate to, in some way. There is also story about a girl who feels like her Christmas is ruined because sh...

Whenever Cape Breton comedienne Bette MacDonald takes the stage, audiences are in for an evening of big-time belly-laughs! Along with her husband, Maynard Morrison, MacDonald stars in the hilarious and charming ‘Tis the Season , which continues to tour throughout Nova Scotia over the holidays with stops in Pictou, Port Hawkesbury, Halifax, Tatamagouche, and two final shows back home at the Savoy Theatre. What are your own roots? I'm a proud Cape Bretoner. I love the island- it has been a source of inspiration, the place where fun happens and it is, as the song says, the home of my heart. How long have you been involved in theater, and in what capacity? I have been an actor, writer and comedian for as long as I can remember... so, at least three weeks. Seriously, since I was in the single digits, I have been performing. My first audience consisted of neighbourhood mothers who had better things to do but, very kindly, made time to watch our shows. How did you get in...