35MM: A Musical Exhibition is such an underrated show, and I’m so glad a close friend of mine shared it with me a couple years back. Ryan Scott Oliver has composed so many interesting and great songs; he’s also worked with some names you might recognize: Alex Brightman, Ben Crawford, Ali Stroker, Lindsay Mendez, and Betsy Wolfe, just to name a few. 35MM is a show that doesn’t come around often and is definitely always best witnessed live because the Spotify album does not do it justice: mixing photography and musical theatre creates a musical journey that plays with all of the senses. 

Elevator Theatre Company keeps the ball rolling with their second show this season, and what a bold choice for a show! Being welcomed with an envelope full of photos that inspired the different songs was a fun touch, as you wanted to figure out which song went with which photograph. Having the show staged at Live! On Elgin in a concert style was also the perfect choice for this show because of how intimate a lot of the storytelling is. What a great use of the space as well, and the usage of LFX enhanced the storytelling. If anything, go see this show just to see how important lighting is and how to use it effectively. That being said, one of the biggest letdowns on opening night was how inconsistent and disjointed the band felt at times. There were just times when the tempo was inconsistent and there were some noticeable missed cues, but only if you know the music well. Overall, it didn’t hamper the show, and it for sure didn’t hamper the vocalists.  

Now, RSO absolutely hates singers because of how crunchy the harmonies can be, as well as how layered they can be too. The songs in this show aren’t easy by any definition, and the grittiness of the pop-rock style can be extremely tricky to capture. Even with that being the case, the cast absolutely nail their parts. Patrice Xavier did something I never thought was possible: she made me fall in love with “The Ballad of Sara Berry” all over again. The raw passion and talent that came from those final lines was overwhelming and earned its spot as the penultimate song of the cycle. Andrea Romero Cartas also delivers a soul-crushing “The Party Goes With You.” Nicole Tishler and Alex Davidson make a cute and funny couple on stage during “Make Me Happy,” but they also make their mark in other sections of the show. Davidson does a great job of painting a story of pain and loss during “Leave Luanne.” Seeing Salem Valentine on a stage, I know I’m always going to be wowed, and this time was no different. “Good Lady” is my least favourite song in the show, but Valentine adds a unique touch to the song. 

ETC has consistently put out some high-quality and high-calibre shows that focus heavily on storytelling. In my opinion, Songs For A New World is their weakest show to date; however, even their weakest shows aren’t awful shows: they still feature amazing voices and beautiful artistic designs that focus on the human connection through storytelling. I cannot wait to see their next shows: August: Osage County and Once.