THE PLAY
SEANA MCKENNA IN THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING
You’re a Stratford icon. How will it feel to get out of town for a spell? Well, I was born in Toronto, so it’s like coming home for me. I live out in the country, so it’s also a question of country mouse becoming city mouse for a while — pretending that I’m an urbanite.
The Year of Magical Thinking is a play you’ve done before. It is, but it’s never the same when you go back to a piece. It’s going to change. I don’t know what it will be like this time. It will be the same set and production, but already I am going, “Why did I say the line like that?”
When your impressive stage career is over, who will play you in the biopic of your life? Hmm… Patricia Clarkson? Laura Linney? Oh! Meryl Streep would play me. As for me as a youngster, I really like Emma Stone, but that would be flattering myself.
From Easy A? Do you see yourself in her? Only in the attitude.
Tarragon Theatre, Nov. 2 to Dec. 12
THE COMEDY SHOW
JOHN LEGUIZAMO
Is your upcoming comedy show a family friendly affair? Yeah, if you don’t like your family. Your kids got to be through puberty at least, not virgins. This ain’t the Abraham Lincoln story, you know.
So what can audiences expect? All the stuff I tell my therapist and my agent and I don’t want anyone to know.
You’ve worked with lots of Hollywood types. Who is the biggest diva you’ve ever worked with? Steven Seagal. He wouldn’t come out of his trailer when he had his death scene, he was always late, and he didn’t know his lines.
Berkeley Street Theatre, Nov. 9 to 20
THE READING
MARGARET TRUDEAU LIVE
What gave you the strength to talk so openly about your bipolar disorder? Gratitude. My life was such a roller coaster ride … that once I got my diagnosis and the help I needed then I got the tools to live with [it], so I am able to live a very happy, balanced, full life, in spite of the fact that I live with a mental illness.
How did Pierre handle your sometimes erratic behavior? He was bewildered.… I left the marriage, but he stayed as a very important part of my life [and] recovery.… As we were more informed about bipolar disorder, he was less bewildered.
Toronto Reference Library, Nov. 10
THE CONCERT
ROYAL WOOD
You and Don Draper: who inspired whom? I was inspired by old movies and my father. Both of which knew that class and professionalism were part of being a successful man.
What’s the most unusual thing you saw on your most recent tour? A woman who asked me to rub her polished white stone for luck, and another who asked me to autograph and give her my tie.
Now that you’re back, what’s the first “Toronto thing” you’ll do? Walk in Trinity Bellwoods Park. I need to see the trees.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Nov. 26
THE EXPERIENCE
PSYCHICS, MYSTICS & SEERS EXPO
I understand you can talk to animals. Yes. Basically, I have X-ray vision, so I can see through the body.
You have X-ray vision? Yes. I see if there are any physical imbalances, and if [the animals] have any requests, they’ll tell me.
What do they say? They’re different. I had a horse named Tango who told me he was having bad headaches because they were playing Pavarotti too loud in the stables.
Can people bring their animals to the venue? If they like, but it’s not necessary. [Venue does not allow animals into the building.]
Charlotte Szivak at the International Centre, Nov. 5 to 7