Weekend in Review: Back "Home" Again in Stratford

This weekend, I made my final trip of the year to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario. I brought my mom along for the first time, and we saw three plays: the musical "Cabaret" and Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet." Yes, I know, we could have chosen at least one cheerful show.

All three shows were outstanding, as always, and we had a great time exploring the area, shopping and eating at some of my favorite Stratford restaurants, including Features, Fellini's, Balzac's Coffee, Tango, Bijou, Rundles, Pazzo and the Parlour.

During the next few weeks, the festival's shows will begin to close, but preparations are already underway for the 2009 season. Here's a sampling of what to expect next year:

• Shakespeare: "Macbeth," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Julius Caesar"


• Musicals: "West Side Story" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"


• Other shows I'll be seeing: "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "The Importance of Being Earnest"