Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque has just about the best programming strategy I’ve seen for a small company, especially one serving a remote community without a ton of access to live theatre. Managing Artistic Director Brett Christopher smartly programs all the big fun musicals you’d expect, crowd-pleasers that never fail to slap (this season has […]
Two wild and silly musicals form the the extravagant core of an overall scaled back Stratford Festival season. Frustratingly, directorial issues mar the more substantive of the two and flimsy material limits how far the better production can soar. Something Rotten!, a 2015 Renaissance comedy by John O’Farrell and Karey & Wayne Kirkpatrick, represents […]
A light style and dark material sets the contrasting tone for the Capitol’s blockbuster musical of the summer. The Full Monty vibes like silly fun but the story is packed with simmering sadness, overwhelming stress, and dark gender norms. Striking that balance is a tricky proposition but director Julie Tomaino smartly keeps the action […]
Click Here to read all our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2024. Artificially Intelligent (A-) Anesti Danelis is one of the most consistently funny and engaging comedians in Toronto and his latest solo show is yet another reliable hit. His self deprecating charm, musical talent, and clever writing are all showcased well in this meta hour […]
Click Here to read all our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2024. Rooted: A Musical Poem (A) Ambitious, substantive, and memorable, this full-scale musical is one of the most polished pieces at the Fringe and definitely deserves a bigger run in a larger theatre. Jewelle Blackman’s book is a bittersweet and deceptively mature Giving-Tree-esque coming of age […]
Click Here to read all our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2024. Desperate Measures (A) Cameron Kneteman and Hilary Wirachowsky anchor this charming but thoughtful comedy about financial desperation with charisma and chemistry. Rachel Moore & Catherine Teichman’s script is funny but not too goofy and rooted at all turns in believable human behaviour. A fresh […]
Click Here to read all our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2024. Rat Academy (A) Crystal clear dramaturgy, impeccable character work, and impressive technical skill mark this clown duet about endangered Albertan rats as a can’t-miss oddity. Honouring the heart of clown tradition with a classic White/Auguste pairing, Katie Yoner and Dayna Lea Hoffmann’s Fingers […]
The 2024 Toronto Fringe Festival kicked off on July 3, running through July 14. Two of our writers, Kelly and Lisa, were on hand to see as many shows as possible. This year that number was 46. Listen to our Preview Piece to hear the artists pitch their work then check out the links below […]