
Stratford Festival's ‘Forgiveness' is an unforgivably poor adaptation of a Canada Reads-winning memoir
Forgiveness
1.5 stars (out of 4)
By Hiro Kanagawa, adapted from the book by Mark Sakamoto, directed by Stafford Arima. Until Sept. 27 at the Tom Patterson Theatre, 111 Lakeside Dr., Stratford, Ont. stratfordfestival.ca or 1800-567-1600
STRATFORD — 'Forgiveness,' a new stage adaptation of Mark Sakamoto's Canada Reads-winning memoir of the same name, is a work unabashedly forthright with its intentions. Its title is its theme, its morals and its guiding virtue. It's also the feeling that playwright Hiro Kanagawa wants so keenly for his audience to embrace as they walk out of his two-act historical drama.

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Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
Stratford Festival's ‘Forgiveness' is an unforgivably poor adaptation of a Canada Reads-winning memoir
Forgiveness 1.5 stars (out of 4) By Hiro Kanagawa, adapted from the book by Mark Sakamoto, directed by Stafford Arima. Until Sept. 27 at the Tom Patterson Theatre, 111 Lakeside Dr., Stratford, Ont. or 1800-567-1600 STRATFORD — 'Forgiveness,' a new stage adaptation of Mark Sakamoto's Canada Reads-winning memoir of the same name, is a work unabashedly forthright with its intentions. Its title is its theme, its morals and its guiding virtue. It's also the feeling that playwright Hiro Kanagawa wants so keenly for his audience to embrace as they walk out of his two-act historical drama.


Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
Chris Brown pleads not guilty to a charge that he beat and injured a music producer in London
Published Jun 20, 2025 • 2 minute read Chris Brown leaves Southwark Crown Court in London, June 20, 2025, after pleading not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent during an alleged London nightclub brawl in 2023. Photo by CARLOS JASSO / AFP via Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. LONDON — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge related to the serious beating of a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Brown, 36, wearing a blue suit, white shirt and black-rimmed glasses, was arraigned in London's Southwark Crown Court on one count of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Brown's friend and fellow musician Omololu Akinlolu, 39, who performs under the name 'Hoody Baby,' pleaded not guilty to the same charge. Prosecutors previously said Brown and Akinlolu assaulted producer Abe Diaw at a bar in the Tape nightclub in the swanky Mayfair neighborhood in February 2023. Brown allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on Diaw and hit him several times with a bottle and then punched and kicked him. The attack was caught on surveillance camera in front of a club full of people, prosecutors said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Brown was originally charged with a single count of grievous bodily harm after his arrest in May, but prosecutors subsequently brought an indictment adding two counts: assault causing actual bodily harm and having an offensive weapon, a bottle. When a court clerk asked Brown how he pleaded to the grievous bodily harm count, he replied: 'Not guilty ma'am.' Brown did not enter pleas on the additional counts and was ordered to return to court July 11 to face those charges after wrapping up the European leg of his world tour. His trial was scheduled for Oct. 26 2026. The singer of 'Go Crazy,' 'Run It,' and 'Kiss Kiss' was released last month on a 5 million-pound ($6.75 million) bail, which allowed him to start his 'Breezy Bowl XX' tour earlier this month. Following his release after almost a week in jail, Brown posted on Instagram: 'FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!! BREEZYBOWL.' Brown, who quickly rose to stardom as a teen in 2005, won his first Grammy for best R&B album in 2011 for 'F.A.M.E.' and then earned his second in the same category for '11:11 (Deluxe)' earlier this year. He is currently touring the U.K., playing this weekend in London with subsequent shows in Ireland, Scotland, France and Portugal. He returns to North America at the end of July to play Miami, before moving across the U.S. with a two-night stop in Toronto along the way. Toronto & GTA MMA News Sunshine Girls World


Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Chris Brown pleads not guilty to a charge that he beat and injured a music producer in London
LONDON (AP) — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge that he beat and seriously injured a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023. Brown, 36, pleaded not guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in Southwark Crown Court. Brown's friend and fellow musician Omololu Akinlolu, 38, who performs under the name 'Hoody Baby,' pleaded not guilty to the same charge. Prosecutors said Brown and Akinlolu assaulted producer Abe Diaw at a bar in the Tape nightclub in the swanky Mayfair neighborhood in February 2023. Brown allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on Diaw and hit him several times with a bottle and then punched and kicked him. The attack was caught on surveillance camera in front of a club full of people, prosecutors said.