Yukking It Up (Part 2) With Singing Aliens, Political Parodies, Murder Mysteries & Therapeutic Clowns

When it comes to live entertainment, we're blessed with tremendously exciting and fun shows in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), and I've been practically bursting to share some of them with you. Especially the innovative, interstellar Youtube sensation, the acapella VOCA PEOPLE from Planet Voca, which was my absolute favourite theatrical event so far this year, bar none. 

Over the moon hanging out with the extremely talented and delightfully wacky VOCA stars, backstage at the Flato Markham Theatre

Earlier this month their spaceship crash-landed onto the stage of the lovely Flato Markham Theatre, and the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre, in St. Catherines. 

Once they discovered that Earth music is the magical elixer required to refuel their ship, they entertained audiences of all ages. These adorable aliens interacted with the audience, encouraging us to sing along, even hauling a few hapless audience members onto the stage where hilarity was in abundance.  

With my fellow earthling Robert and our intergalactic pals. As you can see, I even tried to help them 'phone home'. (Yep, an E.T. joke. heh heh)

An enormous amount of musical genres were touched upon from Classical to classics like the Beatles and Michael Jackson, to Country and Western, to hip-hop/beatbox, to goofy dance tunes like the Macarena, to my favourite silly song - What Does The Fox Say? 

 Voca People: Musical Medley

Kudos to Lior Kalfon, Creator, Producer & Artistic Director, and Shai Fishman, Composer, Musical Director & Arranger, for such an inventive production! And a special shout-out to their tour manager Adi Kozlovsky.

Adi and Joycie

Click here for the VOCA PEOPLE, NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE

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For two hilarious nights in September Mark Breslin's Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club showcased Dave Coulier, a/k/a Uncle Joey Gladstone of the ABC sitcom Full House. The show which ran from the late 80s to the early 90s, is best remembered for introducing the world to the future supermogul Olsen twins, Mary-Kate & Ashley. Continuing along those lines, his standup comedy act is family friendly.

Dave Coulier, back row, left, wth his Full House castmates.

Dave today

At Yuk Yuks, my galpal Renee and I had great seats kitty-corner to the stage and when Coulier bounded out from backstage, he startled me by leaning over and giving me a big hug and kiss. I have to admit, it kind of made my night - and he hadn't even hit the stage yet. 

But once he did, he kept the audience in stitches, especially when he treated us to his celebrity impressions and his cartoon voices. He's voiced several cartoons including Bob & Doug, The Muppet Babies, The Real Ghostbusters, and Robot Chicken.

Did you know he's the voice of Scooby Doo?


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Rob Ford the Musical had a popular run recently at The Factory Theatre, during which time our infamous Mayor Ford was unfortunately diagnosed with a rare form of Cancer. The show, a biting satire, was mildly infused with sympathetic moments.

I thought it would be interesting to bring my friend Daniel to the show. While I'm centre-left and he's far-right, we both met in the middle in our enjoyment of the show.

Thanks to writer-producer Brett McCaig for setting up the interview with actor Sheldon Davis who portrayed the Chief of Police, for my November Wisdom of the Ages column in Good News Toronto, and for the invite to the show: 

With Writer-Producer Brett McCaig

Dan with actor Sheldon Davis

Sheldon Davis and me

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My friend Iris and I recently attended the Toronto Symphony Orchestra POPS concert at Roy Thomson Hall, featuring Rajaton's Best of the Beatles. We agreed that the TSO musicians were spectacular. 

As for Rajaton, the Finnish vocal ensemble's overall performance, awkward staging, and cheesy, ill-fitting costumes were reminiscent of an old Lawrence Welk episode, hardly Beatle-worthy in this writer's opinion. The one shining exception was Essie Wuorela, (the brunette, far right in the photo), whose vocal stylings were consistently exquisite.

Finnish vocal ensemble RAJATON

To be fair, I gather that they were a huge hit last year when they toured with their platinum selling album Rajaton Sings ABBA.


After the show, TSO Principal Percussionist John Rudolph kindly gave us a tour of the Roy Thomson Hall stage. During the tour, he told us that the orchestra only had one actual rehearsal with Rajaton - although they'd received the music in advance. I don't know how unusual or how typical this is, but we were blown away by this tidbit, as the orchestra's performance, under the lively baton of conductor Steven Reineke, was flawless.

John Rudolph

John, who received the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, in 2012, for his service to Canada as a member of the faculty of the National Youth Orchestra, will be featured in my December Wisdom of the Ages column.

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I hope you enjoyed this double-barrelled two-part blog. There was so much stuff to share with you, it just couldn't all be contained in one!  Until next time... ciao for now. 

End part 2.