The Shadow: A Christmas Mysteries Radio Show (December 7-17, 2011)

Directed by Kel Parsons

For the past few years The Gladstone has presented a Christmas-themed show in the style of a 1940s live radio show. Plosive continued the tradition with The Shadow: A Christmas Mysteries Radio Show. The show included two holiday special episodes of The Shadow, voiced by Tim Oberholzer, Allan Pero, Katie Bunting and Michelle LeBlanc, with live sound effects performed by Karen Benoît and festive songs by The Gladstone Sisters. The Arthur Murray Swing Dancers kept the place hopping before the show and during intermission.

Speed-the-Plow (October 5-22, 2011)

By David Mamet
Directed by Teri Loretto-Valentik
Set, Costumes and Sound Design by Ivo Valentik
Lighting Design by David Magladry
Featuring: Kyla Gray, John Muggleton and Chris Ralph
Assistant Director: Nicolas Alain
Stage Manager: Christine Hecker

Speed-the-Plow by Pulitzer Prize winning author David Mamet was Plosive's first show as part of the Autumn 2011 season at The Gladstone. Some feedback from critics and audiences: "It's awesome to watch", "very funny", "in a word, it was great", "Anyone who wants to see three great, well-directed local actors bring a genius script to life on an unbelievable set should see this production." "Director Teri Loretto-Valentik has captured the high powered rhythm of Mamet's intense exchanges", "[The set is] a thing of bizarre beauty — a marvel of rampaging black and white lines", "Ivo Valentik's set design is one of the most beautiful and transformative structures I have seen on a small independent stage in this city for a long time", "Ralph positivley rocks the joint", "John Muggleton's performance as Bob Gould was absolutely impeccable", "Muggleton and Ralph wear their roles as comfortably as old shoes", "As Karen, Kyla Gray has a very good debut", "[Kyla Gray's] work is infinitely preferable to Madonna's"

The Importance of Being Earnest (February 10-26, 2011)

by Oscar Wilde
directed by David Whiteley
Cast: Katie Bunting, Sean Conforti, Teri Rata Loretto, Stewart Matthews, Kel Parsons, Garret Quirk, Chris Ralph, Henna Kaur Sodhi, and Bronwyn Steinberg

We were overwhelmed by the audience support we received for our first show. Produced in association with The Gladstone and Seventhirty Productions, this rollicking new production of Wilde's masterful comedy moved the action to colonial India of the 1920s -- a setting that underscored the frivolous nature of the ruling class of the era and when "mad dogs and Englishmen" went out in the midday sun.

Plosive was thrilled to be able to work with several of Ottawa's best-known actors for our inaugural production, many of whom are no strangers to The Gladstone stage. We were also proud to have Henna Kaur Sodhi, a student at Canterbury Arts High School, make her professional début with us.

Our 2011 Sponsors:

Plosive Productions gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the City of Ottawa.

 We would also like to thank our 2011 season sponsor, Preston Street BIA.