A disclaimer accompanies Michael Healey’s latest political drama The Master Plan: the following is a work of fiction. A work of fiction about events not very long ago (2017-2020) in a land not very far away (a 10 minute drive from Crow’s Theatre where the play has been extended until October 8). A work of […]
Kelly Bedard
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. Our Little Secret: The 23&Me Musical (A) This solo musical tells the true story of Noam Tomaschoff’s discovery that his parents used a sperm donor and he has 35 secret siblings. It’s an amazing story almost too wild to believe but Tomaschoff’s […]
Mark Kreder
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. Hullaboo And The End of Everything (A) Andrew Wade has written a special show with Hullaboo And The End of Everything. It is a beautiful piece that Wade and fellow cast mate, Bonnie Duff do a great job bringing to life. Their […]
Kelly Bedard
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. In Passing (A-) Pure joy from start to finish, this ensemble tap performance from Rhythm & Sound features strong storytelling without going too far into narrative. The piece plays out in a series of vignettes that vary in tone and tell simple […]
Kelly Bedard
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. Constellation Prize (A-) The premise of this astrological musical sounds a little goofy but Alessandra Ferreri & Steven Suepaul’s incredibly strong book infuses genuine tension and honest emotion into the story of the twelve astrological signs fighting for their status after an application […]
Mark Kreder
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. Morning After (A) *Trigger Warning- Morning After deals with sexual assault. Morning After is a tour de force. It is akin to the moment hot metal touches cold water, spluttering and hissing before settling to a stillness. The ensemble takes hold of […]
Kelly Bedard
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. Fatal Charade (A) The best show I’ve reviewed so far this Fringe, this dark comedy about a criminal sentenced to death by theatre in Ancient Rome balances a compelling dramatic premise with bright humour and well-defined character arcs. Reflected in Leslie Rennie’s […]
Dom Harvey
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. The Family Crow: A Murder Mystery (A) Adam Francis Proulx and The Pucking Fuppet Co. have spread their wings for a pun-drenched whodunnit that stands out as a clever and entertaining highlight of this year’s Fringe. The central figure in this saga […]
Dom Harvey
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. Frankenstein(esque) (A) Many reimaginings of an iconic work coast on the original’s charm while their own contribution droops off the text, just happy to be there. Silent Protagonist Theatre’s Frankenstein(esque) is a worthy homage to Mary Shelley’s classic but also so much […]
Kelly Bedard
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. The Camp Campy Campfire Show (A) Bursting with energy, this interactive camp-themed kids show is a barrel of fun. Each character has their own unique foibles and relatable problems to help kids normalize common struggles that might otherwise make them feel isolated […]
Mark Kreder
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. Aliya Kanani: Where You From From (A-) Trying to describe Aliya Kanani to a perspective audience member is a fun challenge. The first word that springs to mind is chaotic (in the best way). Once she takes over the stage, she […]
Kelly Bedard
Click Here to read the rest of our reviews from Toronto Fringe 2023. Corporate Finch (A) A moody, twisty drama from playwright Taylor Marie Graham that plays beautifully with space, light, and sound, Corporate Finch was the highlight of our first day at Fringe. It’s as moving as it is scary, anchored by two […]
Originally set to premiere in 2020 after a long development process, it feels as though Britta Johnson & Sara Farb’s musical collaboration Kelly vs. Kelly has been in the “hotly anticipated” category forever. It’s easy to understand why with buzzy proven talents writing the book (Farb) and music & lyrics (Johnson) and all The Musical […]
Kelly Bedard
Though indie theatre is still scrambling to exist, Toronto’s mid-tier theatre scene finally feels well and truly alive again. This April was the first time since early 2020 that there were so many openings that critics had to pick and choose and I’m thrilled to report that I haven’t seen a bad thing all season. […]
Kelly Bedard
The success of Hannah Moscovitch’s new play Post Democracy largely comes down to wether or not Jesse LaVercombe manages to make you think he’s generally a somewhat okay guy. The rest of the production is strong in less crucial ways. Teresa Przybylski’s stylish set has a cleverly critical total lack of character and is […]
Commissioned by Peggy Baker Dance Projects, Beautiful Renegades tells the somewhat indulgent story of the company that came before Peggy Baker Dance Projects as they made a mark on Toronto’s limited dance scene in the 1970s. There are long sequences of contemporary dance adapted from actual works staged at the time spliced between scenes written […]
Kelly Bedard
Kim’s Convenience makes me a little bit sad. Don’t get me wrong, the hit CBC show is never even a little bit sad. That’s what makes me sad. Five seasons of lighthearted sitcomery, a controversial ending marred by behind the scenes drama, new CBC shows for two of its supporting actors, and post-Canadian major franchise […]
A restorative 90 minute tour of the heart by way of a gruff Canadian poet, The Shape of Home is an original narrative concert born in isolation with roots in a familiar form. Joined by fellow multi-instrumentalist super-talents Beau Dixon and Raha Javanfar, it’s thrilling see perennial favourites Frank Cox-O’Connell and Hailey Gillis reunite for […]
Kelly Bedard
I love the concept behind Soulpepper’s bold Lear Family Double Bill that pairs a very solid production of Shakespeare’s King Lear with a new play by Erin Shields that imagines what might have happened seven years earlier to inform the behaviour of the characters in King Lear. Shields’ play Queen Goneril focuses not just on […]
Kelly Bedard
The final piece of Outdoors at the Shaw programming I saw this year (I sadly missed A Short History of Niagara), Fairground is a kid-inclusive interactive fair that morphs into a roving concert showcasing members of the musical company (plus Kristopher Bowman). The break dancing from season standout Kevin McLachlan and pet puppets are the […]
Kelly Bedard
Another hit from the Outdoors at the Shaw programming, this original narrative concert written, curated and directed by Jay Turvey is an unblinking and critical but ultimately joyful examination of where we were 100 years ago and how far we have (and haven’t) come. The major events and artistic achievements of 1922 are chronicled […]
Kelly Bedard
The Outdoors at the Shaw programming is what happiness is made of. Created by the cast who performs it, this superb Shavian variety hour tours audiences around the beautiful Festival Theatre grounds, treating us to pleasures ranging from a cooking demonstration to a magic show to snippets of script and song. The show earnestly embraces […]
At the Random House booth on the floor at San Diego Comic-Con, we got to chat with some of the awesome writers creating for kids (and kids at heart). Lucas Turnbloom’s colourful graphic novel about a kid who considers himself a supervillain was released in May and is available wherever books are sold.
Kelly Bedard
CLICK HERE to read all of our SDCC 2022 Coverage. At the Random House booth on the floor at San Diego Comic-Con, we got to chat with some of the great writers creating for kids (and kids at heart), including Jose Pimienta whose cross-border adventure Twin Cities is available now wherever books are sold. […]
Kelly Bedard
The landing page for all of our Shaw & Stratford Festival reviews from the 2022 season. Stay tuned as this page will update throughout the summer.
Kelly Bedard
Click Here for a full list of our 2022 Toronto Fringe reviews. At the Table with Keith Brown (A) I hate to be tricked but I love hyper-specific skills that can only be mastered with good old fashioned decades of practice. So magicians often present a bit of a problem for me. What works […]