Adults delight in classic tales

By Lindsey Parry

When the lights dim, a woman dressed as a bard steps up to the stage, and begins a long, adventurous tale of courage, love and betrayal.

It’s another night of epic storytelling at Rasputin’s Cafe, part of the Stories from the Ages series running Sunday nights through March. But contrary to images of children gathered around a librarian and picture book, this event seems to be attracting audiences of a somewhat older generation. read more

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Next wave in comedy an unwritten script

By Jennifer McCarthy

Quick! You’ve got a cup of coffee, a blank computer screen and a 12-o’clock deadline. Write a column about the arts scene in Ottawa.

Improv is everywhere. It’s an off-the-cuff, on-the-spot, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of entertainment that started out as a drama exercise to improve acting skills. Since then, it has evolved out of the classroom and into comedy clubs across the country. And with the success of the comedy game show, Whose Line is it Anyway?on ABC, trend-watchers are predicting improvisation will soon replace the stand-up comic as the staple of comic entertainment. read more

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