Reviews and Articles
National Post-December 2, 1999
by Joe Fiorito
"Cu'Fu is what's good for you... it resonates."
The Edmonton Journal-April 23, 1999
by Liz Nicholls
"Call him the Sicilian Spalding Gray, perhaps, or the Hamilton Mark
Twain."
The Spectator-October 18, 1996
by Jeff Mahoney
"It is by turns achingly tender and deliriously funny, with the
versatile Chiarelli jumping in and out of several skins..."
Vancouver Sun-November 4, 1999
"...narrative delights... featuring Charly Chiarelli's Sicilian
shenanigans, ..."
East Toronto Community News-June 3, 1999
by Terry Brackett
"Charly Chiarelli elevates the spoken word into a spellbinding
journey."
Vue Weekly-April 29-May 5, 1999
by Paul Matwychuk
"Cu'Fu? a lulu - The family of storyteller Calogero (Charly) Chiarelli may not have had much
money, but they have provided him with a wealth of good theatrical material."
Ottawa X Press-March 1999
by Kirstin Endemann
"It was a delightful peek into a fascinating life and family. Whether or
not Italian is your forte, this play will make you guffaw with laughter and
touch your hearth."
Arts Watch-April 1999
by Anita Euteneier
"...Chiarelli takes the audience on a comedic and poignant journey of
cultural assimilation."
Vue Weekly-April 22-April 28, 1999
by Paul Matwychuk
"...Chiarelli's meaning is always perfectly clear. This is a show that
touches all the bases, ..,"
The Examiner-November 12, 1998
"Charly's harmonica playing ripples trough the scenes of this intensely
personal story of cultural transplantation..."
The Hamilton Spectator-August 27, 1998
by Gina Monaco
"...Chiarelli weaves a heart warming tale that transcends all
ages."
The Recorder and Times-April 13, 1998
"Area residents are in for a treat with a unique performance..."
The Forester-February 11, 1998
by Mel Malton
"...the setting celebrates life and love, peopled with characters that
come to life through Chiarelli's deliciously funny delivery."
Now Magazine-May 15, 1997
by Jon Kaplan
"Chiarelli's charm is a strength of the show, as is his mean blues
harmonica playing."
Kingston Whig Standard-August 9, 1997
by Greg Burliuk
"One-man show is funny, touching and eloquent - Charly Chiarelli is a master
storyteller with boundless energy."
Kingston This Week-May 21, 1997
by Rita McGrattan
"...deserves all its glowing reports. This is a wonderful evening full
of warmth, laughter and sadness..."
Now Magazine-December 12, 1996
by Jon Kaplan
"The personal note that can make storytelling
resonate infuses Cu'Fu?."
Uptown-April 25. 1997
"Cu Fu? is one of those rare experiences
which takes us across a broad spectrum of emotions and which simultaneously
enriches our souls and intensifies our desire to live life to the
fullest..."
Pippin-March 1997
by Dan Yashinsky
"...he paints a bitter sweet portrait of a
childhood that straddled two cultures - a Sicily of lemons, olives and back
breaking poverty, and North America of snow, steel mills, and urban
survival."
Artword Theatre News-November 1996
"The response to our show Cu'Fu? by Calogero (Charly) Chiarelli has been
overwhelming. A warm, wonderful and supportive audience has found the show.
People are coming three and four times, bringing a bigger group each
time,..."
Corriere Canadese-April 27, 1996
"In his touching and bitter sweet one-person show, Calogero (Charly)
Chiarelli bravely exposes a different reality - his own."
Pic Press-November 1995
by Sandra Jass
"With seat-clasping precision, we are steered through hospital room family meetings, to university pot-smoking melees, to childhood encounters with the Welfare Workers."