Two shows that had smaller stage runs when they first debuted are back in Toronto, with more room to breathe. At Factory Theatre, Bears is back, after a far too brief run (just ten shows) at the Theatre Centre last spring. Created out west by Aboriginal Performing Arts and Punctuate! Theatre (whose Matthew MacKenzie both […]
It’s very easy to understand how Jersey Boys has been such a big hit with audiences around the world. Combining the feel-good hits of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons with the lively story of how it all came together, the show really puts other jukebox musicals to shame. Now in its 13th touring season, […]
Awkward silences are your fault. They’re their fault too. A group – or an entire pair – with expired imaginations aching to pretend to be someones with something to say. If you could all shut up for a moment you might enjoy the thought that you’re in a Pinter piece where silence is not an […]
Toronto has a complicated relationship with the wildlife that we share our urban terrain with in 2019. To many, maybe most, these animals are pests. They break into our attics and build nests. They poop on our balconies, decks, and heads. They rummage through our garbage leaving a mess in their wake. The pigeons, the […]
Call Me Vicky, the debut play from sisters Nicola and Stacey Bland is based on an entirely true story and is an absorbing, well-written and thought-provoking production. Set in the 1980’s, the play tells the story of Martin, played by the talented Matt Greenwood, who is transitioning from male to female, and the struggle of […]
Good Morning, Viet Mom is a wonderfully funny and touching play that has been created and curated so thoughtfully. Journeying from the Fringe Festival to the Next Stage Festival, Good Morning, Viet Mom is now at the Aki Theatre, and will shortly be departing for a Canadian tour. It’s so invigorating to see a play […]
Cirque Éloize captures perfectly the bustle and glamour of a 1920’s art-deco hotel in their most recent show. Performed at the St. Lawrence Centre, Hotel is a great success, pleasing audiences from giggling toddlers to circus regulars and cynical viewers. Cirque Éloize tries an interesting new tactic for the world of contemporary circus in this […]
From success in the UK to sinking on Broadway, The Last Ship has enjoyed a mixed reception around the world. Though not always plain sailing, Sting’s musical has launched successfully at its new home in Toronto. Director/book writer Lorne Campbell’s revamped production is by no means perfect, but boasts a number of strong performances and […]