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Matt Blanchette

@mattohmss

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He/him, cis, disabled; writes, reviews, interviews: AndersonVision.com. Can-Am; proud. @jewishvoiceforpeace @palestinianyouthmovement donate.unrwa.org

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Tonight is the closing bow for @americanrep's production of Eugene Ionesco's "RHINOCEROS" at the Loeb Theatre in Cambridge, Mass. Ionesco's play is from 1959, but I don't think you can have found a timelier, more absurd and spot-on look at the world outside of current news.

It's comedy, drama, horror, a spoof of manners, an exaggeration of life, a dead-on rendering of conformity and fascism -- and its central conceit, of people turning into rhinoceroses, is funny until it's not. You feel it in your bones as much as you find yourself thinking about it.

I was incredibly fortunate to see this play three times -- fortunate, because I wish more people would've been fortunate enough to be able to see it even once. Diane Paulus breathed new life into this perceptive text, with a staging impressionistic, nightmarish, and full of a beauty that, if you've seen it, won't leave you.

The entire cast depicted in this photo did incredible jobs every time I saw this play, and I can't imagine they did any less the times I didn't witness. (They are not also in this photo, but the third time I saw this play featured David Mason and Scott Stangland in the lead roles, and they were incredible, as well.) I'll give particular notice to the scenic crew who kept everything smoothly running onstage, as well as the incredible staff at the Loeb who were nothing less than accommodating to a disabled reviewer/audience member like myself.

I reviewed the play, covering every aspect of it I could for those who might never get a chance to experience it but who might still want to know what it must have felt like, here -- there are truly aspects of the A.R.T. staging that you'll never find in any other production of "RHINOCEROS" other than this one: https://andersonvision.com/rhinoceros-2026-theater-review (You'll need to copy-and-paste the link into a browser search bar; I wish they were clickable on posts.)

To quote Paulus herself, she was aiming for a "coup de theatre" -- and I think she succeeded beyond anyone's dreams. :-)

Bravo, "RHINOCEROS". Don't ever capitulate. #Rhinoceros #AmericanRepertoryTheater #EugeneIonesco #DianePaulus Eight actors upon a stage, Clay Singer, Alex Ross, Tatiana Maslany, John Turturro, Paul Giamatti, Kristine Nielsen, Peter Francis James, and Harriett D. Foy, in costume for the 2026 American Repertory Theater production of Eugene Ionesco's "RHINOCEROS", directed by Diane Paulus. There are an array of bedframes behind them; in front of them, a group of people applauding, and one in particular signing applause in ASL, in shadow. (The ASL applauder is the author of this post.) by @mattohmss

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9 days ago

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TATIANA MASLANY! ❤️

In celebration of her birthday, here is another clip of @mattohmss' interview with @d.a.n.n.y.d.o.l.a.n, writer, director, choreographer and Tatiana's co-star in NEXT IN LINE, their crowdfunded, queer, dance, horror short film, which premieres at the Catalina Film Festival on September 26!

GET TICKETS HERE:
https://app.entertainmentoxygen.com/festivals/CatalinaFilmFestival2026/feed/next-in-line

Interview edited by @sestrahulk by @mattohmss

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14 days ago

Three years ago, this exact date, I took in the first preview performance of "GREY HOUSE", a first-of-its-kind ASL-friendly horror play on Broadway, written by Levi Holloway, directed by Joe Mantello, and starring Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, Sophia Anne Caruso, Millicent Simmonds, Paul Sparks, and an incredible supporting cast of young actors.

I reviewed it here: Two years ago, on this very night, I took in the first preview performance of "GREY HOUSE", a first-of-its-kind ASL-friendly horror play on Broadway, written by Levi Holloway, directed by Joe Mantello, and starring Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, Sophia Anne Caruso, Millicent Simmonds, Paul Sparks, and an incredible supporting cast of young actors.

I reviewed it here: https://andersonvision.com/grey-house-2023-theatrical-masterpiece-review/

It's still one of the best theatrical experiences I've ever had, and I truly think it a shame it didn't run as long as it ought to have on Broadway. Absolutely a remarkable piece, and everyone who worked so hard to make it possible should be thrilled to have it on their C.V.s for the rest of their careers.

I wish I could do justice to the plot just from trying to describe it, but some things you really quite can't -- you can only experience them. That's what "GREY HOUSE" was -- a wonderful, phantasmagorical dream of an experience. A shared one. And I think that's at least part of why I'll treasure it forever.

Happy anniversary, #GreyHouseBroadway. You've earned it. :-) A promotional still of the cast of the Broadway production of "GREY HOUSE" on the stage set of that show, featuring cast members (from left to right) Sophia Anne Caruso, Laurie Metcalf, Luca Thomas, Tatiana MAslany, Alyssa Emily Marvin, Paul Sparks, and Millicent Simmonds. by @mattohmss

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5 months ago

Osgood Perkins's wonderful, beautiful little horror film @keeper.movie, starring @tatianamaslany and featuring incredible Canadian talent in front of and behind the camera, is now available on digital. It was absolutely AMAZING in theatres in November, courtesy of @neonrated, but even if you missed it then, I'm HIGHLY recommending you still seek it out and see it now.

I wrote an in-depth review of the picture for @andersonvisionig -- for those who want some idea of what to expect before they jump into the full thing, this post features a few choice excerpts from the review, paired by the genius @sestrahulk with some of the remarkable shots you'll see if you watch KEEPER -- but my full review's linked here: https://andersonvision.com/keeper-2025-movie-review/

These quotes are a taster for the whole piece -- if you don't read the full review linked, you're missing out on my thoughts about the film's genesis; its amazing sound design; its complex depiction of social obligation; its relations to "The Night of the Hunter", Hitchcock, "Jules et Jim", Sam Raimi, and Walter Ruttmann; the Brian Yuzna influences it wears directly on its sleeve; the actor Elias Koteas; and how at least one line of dialogue in the film sounds suspiciously like some brilliant improv from Tatiana Maslany.

If you remember how I gushed over Broadway's "GREY HOUSE", especially as a piece of genre and disability rep... you'll have a little inkling of what to expect, here. If not, I think you'll love it, anyway.

As for its digital release, there's a reason one of those songs about the December time of the year mentions "scary ghost stories" -- this is a prime example, a delightful, dark little trip, and its release has been perfectly timed for the season.

Oz Perkins's KEEPER is on digital now; his next film, THE YOUNG PEOPLE, just wrapped filming, and hits theatres next year -- and I can't wait to see what he, Tatiana Maslany, and the entire team at @oddfellowspictures will have cooked up with it, again.

In the meantime, if the quotes intrigue, and if you like the review -- I've tried VERY hard to avoid spoilers -- see KEEPER, now! Still of actress Tatiana Maslany, in woods, in Keeper, with text under saying "It's a dark fairy tale, a Grimm tale of women and men and the lies and lives they play out. It's also a little masterpiece -- not as big or boisterous as The Monkey, nor as much of a slow burn as Longlegs, but a gorgeous tone-poem painted with such care over such a short time that you can't help but marvel." by @mattohmss

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10 months ago

Today is still #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance. No matter what political party is in power, in whatever country you may call home, today is a day for a community to remember those lost, and those moments we must never forget. Ever.

Every 20 November of a different year brings different stories with it. But none of that love, none of that fighting spirit, is lost. Memory is one of the strongest things we've got -- and love is just as strong. The generations to come, who WILL come, will need to know what's been done to bring them into the light, and keep them safe, and how it was done. How it was survived. Because it WILL be survived.

So, we're not going to give up hope. We can't. We're not going to give up strength; there's too many of us, and if one of us is afraid, all of us can be strong together in defense. And there are so many of us. So, we've got to remember.

This day -- all days -- take the time. Remember who you love. Remember whom you've lost. Remember for yourself. Don't ever, ever stop.

Live.

#TransgenderDayofRemembrance #TransRightsAreHumanRights #SupportTransFutures A black banner with, at top, white letters reading "TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE". Below it are illustrated a blue candle, a pink candle, and a blue candle, the colours of the trans flag. by @mattohmss

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a year ago

Two years ago, on this very night, I took in the first preview performance of "GREY HOUSE", a first-of-its-kind ASL-friendly horror play on Broadway, written by Levi Holloway, directed by Joe Mantello, and starring Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, Sophia Anne Caruso, Millicent Simmonds, Paul Sparks, and an incredible supporting cast of young actors.

I reviewed it here: https://andersonvision.com/grey-house-2023-theatrical-masterpiece-review/

It's maybe one of the best theatrical experiences I've ever had, and I still think it's a real shame it didn't run as long as I felt it should have on Broadway. Absolutely a remarkable piece, and everyone who worked so hard to make it possible should be thrilled to have it on their resumes for the rest of their careers.

I wish I could do justice to the plot just from trying to describe it, but some things you really quite can't -- you can only experience them. That's what "GREY HOUSE" was -- a wonderful, phantasmagorical dream of an experience. A shared one. And I think that's at least part of why I'll treasure it forever.

Happy anniversary, #GreyHouseBroadway. You've earned it. :-) A photographic still of the play "GREY HOUSE" in performance, featuring the cast and stage design of the 2023 Broadway production, notably Sophia Anne Caruso, Laurie Metcalf, Eamon Patrick O'Connell, Tatiana Maslany, Erin Rosenfeld, Millicent Simmonds, and Paul Sparks. The play was written by Levi Holloway, and directed by Joe Mantello. by @mattohmss

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a year ago

Today is #InternationalTransDayOfVisibility.

I think it's important, even if you can't be visible, even if you can't make your voice clearly heard, to make where you stand, and who you support, clearly visible. There are certain things people are immovable on. As a disabled person, as someone on the spectrum, and as someone with queer family members and friends whom I dearly love, here's something I'm immovable on, on this Trans Day of Visibility:

Trans rights are human rights. To say otherwise, to think otherwise, is a profound moral wrong. Let trans people live. Let trans kids be. There is no point, save abject cruelty, in trying to make miserable so many incredible people, from all walks of life, all countries, all corners of the world.

I believe in trans rights. I believe in human rights. That's not going to change. #2SLGBTQIA+ #LGBTQIA #TransPride #TransVisibility On a blue background, a pink hand pointing two fingers up for peace, with white letters above and below; the top saying "Trans Rights", the bottom saying "Human Rights". by @mattohmss

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2 years ago

In case anybody still need encouragement to see this twisted, wonderful "trip" from the great Oz Perkins, produced by James Wan, adapted from a story by the legend of legends Stephen King, and starring a cavalcade of geniuses including Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Sarah Levy, Rohan Campbell, and Elijah Wood -- shot in Canada, with a majority Canadian cast and crew -- I 'umbly tip my own review/hat into the ring, from AndersonVision: https://andersonvision.com/the-monkey-2025-movie-review/

Do you admire VERTIGO? Do you enjoy a wonderful Rube Goldberg of death? Do you wish more films taught a good life lesson while also being the most fun you can have on a blood-covered bun? (Oh, and do you like Sam Cooke?)

This film was so *very* much for me, I can only assume there are a lot of people out there who'll enjoy it *just* as much as I did. So, take a gander, take in the wonderful joy of it all, and book your ticket, if you haven't already. That's life.

So, let's go dancin'. (Yes, with our bodies.)

"Let me tell you 'bout a place..." #TheMonkey #NEON #osgoodperkins #jameswan #stephenking #theojames #tatianamaslany #sarahlevy #colinobrien #christianconvery #rohancampbell #elijahwood #niccodelrio #burnaby #vancouver #canadianfilm #dannydolan #cloneclub #shulkie #gingersnapsunleashed #gingersnaps #orphanblack A photographic still from the trailer for the 2025 horror comedy "The Monkey", of the actress Tatiana Maslany in a tight updo and sunglasses, with another image of the same actress in a different scene, blood pouring out of eyes, slightly recoloured and overlaid onto the still. by @mattohmss

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2 years ago

People with disabilities, unhoused people, immigrants, and more, are disproportionately impacted by the climate catastrophe. Please, do what you can, to help, if you can. we are trying to get info out to our disability community who may have difficulty evacuating. If you can share in the LA group and with your networks. Mutual aid is so necessary right now. If you or someone in your community are disabled, impacted by wildfires and need help call/text the Disability & Disaster Hotline at 800-626-4945 or email hotline@disasterstrategies.org. This service is provided by The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, a disability led response/disaster planning organization. by @mattohmss

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2 years ago

Shared, with kind permission, from @tatianamaslany, via @wearthepeace -- a video of the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, breaking down as he quotes a message left by Dr. Mahmoud Abu Nujaila at Al-Awda Hospital shortly before he was killed by the occupation.

I'm posting this to my wall so that this doesn't get lost in the onrush of things, even with everything going on -- there's so little time now even to think, that to remember, and to honour, seems as difficult a thing to do as not sacrificing your own beliefs. But it must be done. Today, of all days. #stopgenocide by @mattohmss

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2 years ago

November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance.

We've got to remember those we've lost. We've got to remember those we keep fighting for. And we've got to think of the generations to come, who WILL come, who will need to know what came before, and how we survived it.

We can't give up hope. We can't give up strength; we can't give in to fear. We've got to remember. This day, and all days, take the time. Remember whom you've lost. Remember whom you've loved. Remember for yourself. And don't ever, ever stop.

#TransgenderDayofRemembrance #TransRightsAreHumanRights #SupportTransFutures Five candles with the colors of the transgender flag (blue, pink, white, pink, blue) and a statement "Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20" This day remembers Rita Hester, who was murdered in Massachusetts in 1999. by @mattohmss

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2 years ago

This #transgenderdayofremembrance, take the time out of your day, today, to remember those we've lost. It's important to do this -- not just on #november20, but every day you can. Remembrance is not merely a one-day-out-of-the-year occurrence. It's a 365-day one.

Still, this day, set aside, reminds us of all those whom we loved, whom we lost, who shone so brightly in our lives and in our hearts that their memory keeps this torch aflame. But it's not just for them that we keep this candle lit; it's for the future. We must always, ALWAYS remember the past, those trans lives not with us here today, but we must also protect the future for trans lives, and keep trans lives safe in the present, as best and with what means we have available to us.

The people we knew, the people we shared lives with, will never leave us, so long as we keep their memory strong within us. So long as we celebrate not just who they WERE -- but who they CONTINUE to be, in our hearts. We cannot afford to let even one person be forgotten, if we are able to -- we simply cannot. Even one trans life lost is a tragedy, far beyond what I can possibly write in these lines, but that does not mean we must act as though they never lived, never loved, at all. That's the IMPORTANT thing.

So, please, take a moment, if you have a moment. Remember. Never, ever forget. Let their memory shine as brightly as a candle in the night -- the warmth, the love, of whom you remember will always illuminate you, if you let it.

Keep them alive in your heart, and in our hearts. We must all do what we can, to make a better, safer world for trans lives, and never, ever forget those whom we've lost.

#transgenderdayofremembrance #transremembranceday #supporttransfutures #protecttranskids #translivesmatter The blue, pink, purple, and white colours of the transgender flag, with a white candle in the middle of it, and text at the bottom saying "November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance". by @mattohmss

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3 years ago