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Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company’s “In Seven Days”

At times, the darkest situations can yield some of the most true and genuinely funny comedy. Jordi Mand has certainly tapped into that beautiful duality with her latest play In Seven Days. In a co-production with The Grand Theatre, and directed by Philip Akin, In Seven Days will have you laughing and crying in equal measure as we witness the final week of a family patriarch’s life. Tough, but real, conversations give In Seven Days its gravitas, while the impressive performances bring out the joy and light.

In Seven Days is about Rachel, a young successful lawyer who comes home to see her father (Sam) and his girlfriend (Shelley). Upon arrival, she learns that her father’s health has declined significantly, and that he has decided to receive medical assistance in dying. Devastated by his decision, and hoping to change his mind, she stays for the final week of Sam’s life. Things get a little hectic when Rachel’s ex-boyfriend Darren arrives to help, along with their former Rabbi Eli. While the ending feels inevitable, there’s a sense of peace in the despair.

Shaina Silver-Baird and Ron Lea
Photo by Dahlia Katz

I am delighted at how hard I was laughing throughout this show. From the first argument over the bagels, there’s a consistent balance between the light and dark, funny and sad; the balance of every-day life. Stories and traditions, revelations and terrible dresses, there’s such deep meaning in the joyful moments as well. Jordi Mand’s script not only captures the harsh realities of Sam’s situation, but also the difficulties for young people today, as well as the joys of love, family, and friendship.

In a time when much of the world is in turmoil, plays like In Seven Days are vitally important. To experience aspects of the Jewish faith through this show, while also witnessing the audience’s reactions to those references, is an honour, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do so. To come together as a community, to laugh and cry together, is essential and In Seven Days exemplifies this not only through its story, but through its audience as well.

Ralph Small and Ron Lea
Photo by Dahlia Katz

Sean Mulcahy’s set and costume design for this production embodies this upper-middle-class status of the family. Suburbia at its finest, the white furniture, kitchen island, and striped wallpaper immediately signal that these folks are fairly well off. A shining moment would have to be the dresses which Shelley brings home for Rachel to try on; they all have this slightly 80’s vibe to them, although the second dress looks like Cinderella’s dress that she made for the ball! The final result is stunning, and is complimented by the floral arrangements around the room. I enjoyed Siobhán Sleath’s lighting design, particularly the scene transitions; by spotlighting certain characters we’re able to connect with them and stay in the moment while the scene is changing over.

Brendan McMurtry-Howlett and Shaina Silver-Baird
Photo by Dahlia Katz

Bringing this beautiful story to life is a stellar cast of talented actors. Ron Lea stars as Sam. Lea brings a vulnerability, as well as determination, to Sam which cements him as the patriarch while also showing beautiful growth throughout the play. Shaina Silver-Baird plays Rachel, his daughter. Her nuanced and passionate performance gives us one emotionally charged moment after another. Mairi Babb plays Shelley, and I loved how she kept up the sweet suburban housewife facade for so much of the play, making the moments where she tells her truth so powerful and moving. Brendan McMurtry-Howlett’s Darren really is a good guy. McMurtry-Howlett’s sincerity and charm shine through this character, and give us hope for his and Rachel’s future. Rounding out the cast is Ralph Small as Eli. His chemistry with Lea makes their scenes together some of my favourites, and he has a warmth to him which pervades through the darkness of the situation.

In Seven Days is not to be missed theatre; poignant, moving, and amusing all at once, you won’t want to miss this production. In Seven Days runs until May 16 at the Greenwin Theatre at the Meridian Arts Centre. For more information and tickets, visit: http://www.hgjewishtheatre.com/2023-2024-InSevenDays.html

Cover Photo: Mairi Babb and Ron Lea. Photo by Dahlia Katz

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Toronto Fringe Festival – July 16, 2023

And just like that, Fringe is complete for its 35th year! My festival total for this year is 39 shows, which is double what I was able to see last year. It’s been an incredible time and I was so happy to be able to throw myself so wholeheartedly into the Fringe and feel like I experienced things more. I’ll discuss more of this, along with lessons I learned, in a future post so keep your eyes out!

Good Old Days – One Four One Collective

Friendships can be hard in the easiest of times, but at the end of the world they can really be put to the test. Michael Ross Albert’s Good Old Days examines this idea through a one-night caper through the streets of a city where the two friends try to find one another while encountering several interesting characters along the way. Moving, funny, and poignant, Good Old Days makes you want to hug your friends a little tighter.

I think the story that Good Old Days tells is topical and certainly affected me; communication is so important and you can tell how much of the friendship’s collapse has been because they hadn’t really heard one another. You could also keenly feel the pandemic’s influence on this piece; however, I like that it was used as a background event to the horrors they were experiencing in the moment. I’m very glad to be writing on a sunny July day and not one with snow!

Cass Van Wyck and Brianna Wright do an incredible job with their myriad characters they each play throughout this piece. They change from their main characters of the friends Wendy and Alison to the wonderfully strange people they meet in their journey with ease. They’re delightfully entertaining with every new character and create a seemingly magical adventure for the audience.

Good Old Days needs to be picked up by a theatre company ASAP; this is smart, funny, and delightful, everything you need for an incredible theatre experience. Kudos to this amazing team for a fabulous final Fringe show for me! To find out more about these awesome folks, check out: Good Old Days | Toronto Fringe Festival (fringetoronto.com)

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Waiting in the Wings – May, 2024

April is always such a whirlwind of a month, however it looks like May will be just as busy! I’m excited to see plenty of exciting new theatre this May, and to share my thoughts with all of you!

Unwritten: The Improv Show – Young People’s Theatre


For the first time in its 58-year history, Young People’s Theatre (YPT) is stepping into the world of improv for young audiences with Unwritten: The Improv Show. This delightfully unscripted production is directed by YPT Artistic Director Herbie Barnes and features some of Canada’s finest improv artists: Comedian Tim Blair – a founding member of CBC’s award-winning comedy sketch show TallBoyz; multiple Canadian Comedy Award-winner Lisa Merchant; and Second City performer, writer and director Paloma Nuñez.
Together, Blair, Merchant and Nuñez will demonstrate the art of play, the power of “yes”, and how to lose the fear of failure. Their thoughtful approach to the art form will often be inspired by prompts from the audience, resulting in a hilarious and spontaneous exchange of ideas.


Recommended for Ages 11+ | Gr. 6+
May 7 – 16
Ada Slaight Stage at Young People’s Theatre – 165 Front Street E
https://www.youngpeoplestheatre.org/shows-tickets/unwritten-the-improv-show/

In Seven Days – The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company


When Rachel returns to her family home in London, Ontario, her only
concern is whether she bought the right bagels for her step-mother to bring
to Temple. But when her father reveals his decision to end his life by
medically-assisted death in seven days, poppy-seed bagels become the
least of her concerns. Torn between love, her Jewish faith, and conscience,
Rachel must decide: does she try to change the mind of the family patriarch
or does she honour the wishes of her ailing father?
A world premiere co-production with The Grand Theatre, In Seven Days is
a powerful reminder of the preciousness of life and the challenges of saying
goodbye to the people we love most.


May 4 – 16
The Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre – 5040 Yonge Street
https://www.hgjewishtheatre.com/2023-2024-InSevenDays.html

Hedda Gabler – Coal Mine Theatre


Coal Mine co-founder Diana Bentley assumes one of the most complex and heralded characters in the theatre cannon, HEDDA GABLER, in a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s timeless drama by Liisa Repo-Martell. The production is directed by Moya O’Connell who astounded Toronto audiences with her performance in THE SOUND INSIDE at COAL MINE last season, and Bentley is joined on stage by an exceptional acting company that includes Nancy Beatty, Andrew Chown, Shawn Doyle, Qasim Khan, Nancy Palk, and Fiona Reid. METRIC’s luminous lead singer Emily Haines joins the team to compose the original score and Joshua Quinlan designs Set and Costumes, incorporating special pieces on loan from beloved Toronto design house Horses Atelier.


May 5 – June 2
The Coal Mine Theatre – 2076 Danforth Ave
https://www.coalminetheatre.com/hedda-gabler

First Metis Man of Odesa – Soulpepper Theatre Company


Matt and Masha’s love spans continents, but distance can’t tame their passionate connection. After meeting on a theatre research trip in Kyiv, a Métis Playwright and a Ukrainian artist spark up a romance that takes them from the beaches of the Black Sea to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, through the onset of a global pandemic and the eruption of a brutal war, plus many moments of joy through it all including marriage and the birth of their son.


Based on actual events, this captivating real-life love story is set against the backdrop of the COVID pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Award-winning playwright Matthew MacKenzie joins forces with his wife, award-winning Ukrainian actress Mariya Khomutova, to tell the story of their COVID courtship and share an intimate perspective on the personal impacts of the war in Ukraine.


Winner of three Dora Mavor Moore Awards including Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Work, and Outstanding Direction.


May 8 – May 19
Michael Young Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts – 50 Tank House Lane
https://www.soulpepper.ca/performances/firstmetisman

Insert Clown Here – Parlous Theatre with support from Common Boots Theatre


In a comedic collision of Chekhovian drama and Clown Chaos, INSERT CLOWN HERE follows a troupe of actors in a fully rehearsed, 19th-century melodrama that is upended when the lead actor goes missing and is replaced by a completely unrehearsed Clown. While the Clown attempts to improvise lines and blocking from a script they haven’t read, the remaining cast will try to keep the story on track, resulting in a comedy-of-errors newly created every performance. What could go wrong? Only everything.


May 8 – 19
The Theatre Centre Incubator – 1115 Queen St W
https://www.parloustheatre.com/insert-clown-here

A Goat, A Ghost, and A Guinness – The Flare Productions


Set in rural county Kerry, three sisters go about their day running their family pub. But everything changes when an American wanders into town seeking answers to her own family mystery.


May 16 – 19
Al Green Theatre – 750 Spadina Avenue
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6291603

seven methods of killing kylie jenner – Obsidian Theatre in association with Crow’s Theatre


Revolving around close friends Cleo and Kara who are grappling with the pervasive influence of social media and celebrity culture in their lives, this electric and provocative play explores ownership of Black bodies, cultural appropriation, social media, and female friendships. This new production is directed by Jay Northcott and features rising stars Jasmine Chase (Truth/YPT) and Déjah Dixon-Green (King Lear/Stratford).


May 12 – 26
Studio Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest – 345 Carlaw Avenue
https://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/seven-methods

Come Home – The Legend of Daddy Hall – Tarragon Theatre


When John Hall is confronted by his ancestors, he is forced to revisit his entire life.
Worlds collide as he travels back through time rediscovering life as a husband, father, son, war scout and freedom fighter. As he relives his dangerous past, John must decide – continue life as the oldest man, abandon everything and serve those on the earthly plane or exist in the Unknown.


Based on true events, Come Home – The Legend of Daddy Hall is told through poetic text, music and song.


A play about the afterlife, love, legacy and being legendary. Come Home asks where we come from, where we’re headed and what we may be asked to do when we get there.


May 14 – June 9
Tarragon Mainspace – 30 Bridgman Avenue
https://tarragontheatre.com/plays/current-season/come-home-the-legend-of-daddy-hall/

Alice by Heart – Thaumarope Theatre


In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. As they travel through the tale, Alice by Heart explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss, and finding the courage to move forward. This musical encourages us all to celebrate the transformational power of the imagination, even in the harshest of times. (Via Music Theatre International)


May 30 – June 1
Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace – 16 Ryerson Ave
https://www.thaumatropetheatre.com/alice-by-heart

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Beyond the Box – April, 2024

There’s lots of amazing work to see this month! Here’s a list of shows I unfortunately can’t make it to, but if you see them, make sure to let me know what you think!


Unclearing – The Chimera Project Dance Theatre


The program features two contemporary works from Canadian choreographers: the inquisitive exploration of authenticity in Agrimony from Sophie Dow and an athletically-charged contemplation of the futility of modern-day life in Soft from Chimera Artistic Director Malgorzata Nowacka-May.
Agrimony is a multidisciplinary collaboration between Dow and songwriter Laura Reznek, who will perform an original indie pop musical score live on stage. The work is an exploration of the masks we wear in life to shield us from life’s challenges and traumas, and features four dancers in intricately carved masks.
Named after the natural healing properties of the small yellow flower, agrimony, Dow’s choreography speaks to her own deeply personal experiences overcoming life-altering challenges, including a series of traumatic brain injuries in 2016, deeply impacting her sense of self and connection to loved ones.
Nowacka-May’s Soft features eight dancers and explores the dissonance of life’s mundane, daily tasks and the raw, instinctual fear that holds us back from realizing our greatest potential.
Nowacka-May can speak to the many influences of this highly kinetic work: her fascination with the horror genre and its commentary on societal values, her exasperation with the mundanity of online life – filling out forms, changing passwords, neverending email inboxes AND – the intense limits to which she pushes her dancers in preparation for her athletic dance works.


April 5&6
Harbourfront Centre Theatre – 231 Queens Quay W.
https://chimeradt.com/works/


COMIC BOOKS LIVE!!! – THE ASSEMBLY THEATRE


COMIC BOOKS LIVE!!! returns with a comedic reading of DC comic’s 1993 DEATH OF SUPERMAN SAGA, a live reading of Superman #75, The Adventures of Superman #500, Action Comics #500, Superman #22, Superman The Man of Steel #22 and Superman #78 along with an improvised musical score provided by indie musical artist CAT & THE QUEEN (CATQ)!
Each installment of COMIC BOOKS LIVE!!! plucks a comic book from all eras of graphic fiction history, chosen by series host, Assembly alumni and all-around comic fanboy LUIS FERNANDES (Therac 25, The Assembly Theatre; Tough Jews, Dora Award nomination Outstanding Ensemble) and gives it a high-energy dramatic reading by some of Torontoʼs finest live performers! First 20 pre-sold ticket purchases include a poly-bagged original copy of SUPERMAN #500 courtesy of WEST END COMICS!


April 6
The Assembly Theatre, 1479 Queen Street West
https://www.theassemblytheatre.com/comicbookslive


The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark – Côté Danse, Ex Machina, and Show One Productions


A wordless take on the emblematic tale of a man consumed by doubt and perhaps descending into madness, this new HAMLET from Côté and Lepage mines the essential narratives of Shakespeare’s complex examination of the human condition, with a weaving of classic and contemporary choreography. Performed by a company of hand-picked dancers, Côté himself stars as the troubled Dane. Côté and Lepage’s creation pulls the audience deep into a world of deceptiveness, where phantoms and humans mingle on a minimalist set on which light, shadow and transparency play a central role. This metaphorical reinterpretation of the Shakespearian drama draws a fine line connecting movements of the body with what may or may not be lurking within the corners of the mind.
April 3 – 7
Elgin Theatre – 189 Yonge St.
https://showoneproductions.ca/event/the-tragedy-of-hamlet-prince-of-denmark-202404/


Swan Lakes + Minus 16 – Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart


The program opens with Chouinard’s feminist manifesto LE CHANT DU CYGNE : LE LAC, turning Swan Lake’s oppressed swans into assertive rebels, inspired by Un Violador en Tu Camino (A Rapist in Your Path), a viral anthem written by the Chilean feminist collective Las Tesis. Eight dancers costumed in white tutus and feathery wigs dance in fierce movement as a battle cry against their oppressors, backed by Louis Dufort’s electronic soundscape.
What follows is Shechter’s Swan Cake, his rousing, high-spirited interpretation of the iconic work with colourful costumes designed by Shechter and Gudrun Schretzmeier and a Tchaikovsky-inspired electronic score.
Both interpretations premiered as part of Gauthier Dance’s mixed program, Swan Lakes, at the Theaterhaus Stuttgart in June 2021.
Closing the program is Naharin’s lively and playful Minus 16, set to an eclectic score ranging from Dean Martin and mambo to techno and folk music. One of the dancemaker’s most well-known and beloved works, Minus 16 is considered an opus of Naharin’s acclaimed improvisational Gaga movement language for which he is lauded internationally. Featuring a full ensemble of 16 dancers, Minus 16 “explodes with power and energy” (The Irish Times), ultimately breaking down the fourth wall between dancer and audience member in a vibrant celebration of life and the joy of dancing.


April 18-20
Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West (3rd Floor)
https://harbourfrontcentre.com/event/swan-lakes/


MY LITTLE BRONY: THE MUSICAL – Sky Gilbert


MY LITTLE BRONY: THE MUSICAL explores the inner private worlds of two young men struggling with their brony fandom and their feelings for each other. Cecil is an aspiring animator and Maximillian is a computer programmer. They meet online — and then finally in person — at a My Little Pony conference, and share their enthusiasm. Are Cecil and Maximillian falling in love, or are they just two very sensitive young men experiencing the magic of friendship? Will they finally solve all their problems? And perhaps the most pressing question of all — will they finally be able to remove their glasses?


April 9, 10, 16, 17, 21
The Epochal Imp – 123 Danforth Avenue
https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/25c527f8-6030-435c-bb60-d085e53ec3f5


DARK TALES: AN EVENING WITH SHIRLEY JACKSON – RAVEN’S QUILL


DARK TALES: AN EVENING WITH SHIRLEY JACKSON presents four eerie tales by one of America’s best writers. We open with “What a Thought” in which a loving and good wife has several dark desires all of which will lead to her husband’s murder if she acts upon them. This is followed by “All She Said Was Yes” about an ignored but prophetic young girl—does this suggest how Jackson herself felt and different times of her life—ignored? Our third story is “Jack the Ripper”. A caring husband; a wife who, maybe, turns a blind eye. And we end with “The Bus” about an elderly woman caught up in her past and frustrated by the people she encounters.


April 3-6
Extra Space theatre at the TARRAGON THEATRE, 30 Bridgman Avenue
https://www.ravensquillproductions.com/

Keyed Up! – Soundstreams


Keyed Up! #1
VARIATIONS ON GOLDBERG VARIATIONS | THURSDAY, APRIL 18
The festival opens with a dazzling array of newly composed, world premiere variations on J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations by four extraordinary Canadian composers: Taylor Brook, Dorothy Chang, Emily Doolittle and André Ristic, plus the North American premiere of Australian composer/pianist Paul Grabowsky’s jazz-inflected take on Bach’s masterpiece – Improvisations on the Aria from Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
Keyed Up! #2
NOTATIONS | FRIDAY, APRIL 19
RBC BRIDGES Composer Showcase
The first half of this free program showcases new works by emerging composers by participants in this year’s RBC Bridges program, chosen through a juried international competition: Uko Abara, Alexandra Gorlin-Crenshaw, Gustav Knudson, Maria-Eduarda Mendes Martins, Prokhor Protasoff, and Hsiu-Ping Patrick Wu.
The second half showcases short works by celebrated composers: T. REX by Ana Sokolović (North American premiere) performed by John Paul Farahat, Mutations by Alvin Singleton performed by Jackie Leung, Toile de Jouy by Monica Pearce performed by Wesley Shen, and Glass Houses (#5) by Ann Southam performed by Gregory Oh.
Keyed Up! #3
6 PIANOS 12 HANDS | SATURDAY, APRIL 20
For the festival’s finale, Soundstreams presents three spectacular works for six grand pianos: Steve Reich’s iconic Six Pianos, Terry Riley’s A Rainbow in Curved Air, André Ristic’s Vivaldi Variations plus two works for two pianos: Trois Études by Ana Sokolović and My Lips From Speaking by Julia Wolfe.

April 18-20
Jane Mallett Theatre (Toronto Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St E)
https://soundstreams.ca/soundstreams-presents-keyed-up/

SPRING DOUBLE BILL – Toronto Dance Theatre

SPRING DOUBLE BILL sees the resident company and guest dancers share the stage in two new enticing works. For KIOKU NO MA – 記憶の間, long-time company dancer Yuichiro Inoue choreographs his first full piece with members of the ensemble, reflective of his virtuosic career with TDT. Artistic Duo KINAJ (Kin Nguien and AJ Velasco) shares ALIENS, a piece that incorporates their cross-genre practices in street styles and contemporary dance, building upon the ideas and conversations they began during their
2022/23 Pilot Episodes residency at TDT.

APRIL 4 – 6 AND APRIL 11 – 13
Winchester Street Theatre – 80 Winchester Street
https://tdt.org/events/spring-double-bill/

THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE – Promise Productions


Things We Lost in The Fire is a riveting exploration into the aftermath of a tragic fire that engulfed a downtown building leaving behind a trail of destruction and uncovering the hidden truths of its residents’ lives. As investigators delve deeper into the ashes, secrets long buried begin to emerge, shedding light on the tangled webs of deceit, love, and loss.
Set against the backdrop of a community grappling with grief and redemption, this powerful play takes audiences on a journey of discovery, as characters confront their pasts and grapple with the consequences of their actions. With each revelation, the lines between truth and deception blur, challenging perceptions and unraveling the fabric of trust.
Featuring a talented ensemble cast and masterful storytelling, Things We Lost in The Fire is a poignant exploration of human resilience, the bonds that unite us, and the scars that remain long after the flames have been extinguished. Don’t miss your chance to witness this unforgettable theatrical experience.


Apr 13 – Apr 21
Streetcar Crowsnest, 345 Carlaw Avenue
https://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/things-we-lost-in-the-fire

El Terremoto – Tarragon Theatre


Twenty years have passed since the three Jurado sisters lost their parents, and life just seems to continue on in their East Vancouver home.
A birthday party, a failed proposal, and a missed connection fill the days and months until an earthquake nearly destroys the city, and brings forward a shocking turn of events that splits their world wide open.
From Dora-Award winning playwright Christine Quintana El Terremoto is a dramatic comedy about how nothing matters, so everything matters.

March 26 – April 21
Tarragon Mainspace Theatre – 30 Bridgman Avenue
https://tarragontheatre.com/plays/current-season/el-terremoto/

How Fabulous Is That?! – Tom Hearn

Tom Hearn will premiere his new show How Fabulous Is That?! from March 29-30, 2024 for four shows at the Burdock before heading on an international tour with a stop at Edinburgh Fringe this summer. Tom’s FABULOUS extravaganza will include a hit parade of his iconic impressions of Martha Stewart, James Corden, and, of course, Ina Garten. This new hour of comedy will spotlight Tom’s comedic prowess featuring jaw-dropping musical performances, fan favourite impressions, and gag-worthy original characters.

April 26 at 9pm
Comedy Bar Danforth – 2800 Danforth Avenue
https://www.isthattomhearn.com/tour

WOKING PHOENIX – Theatre Passe Muraille and Silk Bath Collective


From the Silk Bath Collective, WOKING PHOENIX is an epic exploration of two decades of a family’s survival. Woking Phoenix tells the story of three siblings, their mother, and their restaurant as they seek to find belonging within small-town Ontario. An intergenerational Chinese love story about creating community and the food that reminds us of home.
Co-created, co-written, and co-directed by Silk Bath Collective members Bessie Cheng, Aaron Jan, and Gloria Mok, WOKING PHOENIX has many inspirations, including the company’s shared family legacies of running multi-gen immigrant family businesses. In fact, Jan’s family owned a Chinese restaurant in small town Ontario called The Blue Tavern. After making two shows with science fiction elements, the artists were interested in focusing on an intergenerational family story and exploring the multifaceted food culture within the Chinese diaspora.


April 12 – 27
Theatre Passe Muraille – 16 Ryerson Ave.
https://www.passemuraille.ca/woking-phoenix/


Murder With No Mystery: A Murder Mystery – Radioactive Ladybird Productions


Set at a remote cottage, Frankie (Seema Lakhani) and Sandy (Laura Salvas) are the only guests who brave a storm to attend a murder mystery party. When the host is actually murdered it becomes very obvious who killed him. Still, the play continues to honour the tropes of a classic murder mystery: an abundance of clues, twists and laughs, and, finally, the reveal of a bigger mystery to be solved.


April 25 – 27
The Theatre Centre – BMO Incubator – 1115 Queen Street West, Toronto
https://theatrecentre.org/event/murder-with-no-mystery/


HUFF – Crow’s Theatre Presents the Cunning Concepts & Creations Production


Cliff Cardinal returns to Crow’s Theatre for a special, one-week presentation of his critically acclaimed, award-winning solo show HUFF.
HUFF is the savagely funny and harrowing tale of Wind and his brothers as they struggle with their mother’s death, a reserve school system that’s failing them, and a solvent-abuse problem. Wind’s fantastic, gas-induced dream world blurs his harsh reality in this powerful, disturbing, and comic tale of family, love, and despair.


April 23 – 28
Streetcar Crowsnest – 345 Carlaw Avenue
https://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/huff

NOMADA – Canadian Stage and Dance Works


NOMADA blends aerial dance, installation art, and contemporary Mexican Indigenous dance. Inspired by personal stories of displacement, dances and stories from the P’urepecha and Otomi nations of Michoacan, and the relationship between our bodies and the earth, NOMADA is a visually stunning and visceral experience


Thursday April 18 – Saturday April 20 ( 8PM)
Berkeley Street Theatre – 26 Berkeley Street
https://www.canadianstage.com/shows-events/season/nomada


Montreal Clown Festival


Founded in 2016 in Canada’s circus capital by two female clowns, Vanessa Rigaux and Kendall Savage, the festival creates opportunities for performers to present original works that fall under the Clown, Bouffon or Physical Theatre spectrums. Our goal is to showcase local, national and international clown artists, creating links to Montreal with clown communities throughout the world. The festival is designed to create opportunities for emerging artists and professional artists to meet, experiment, perform, and exchange clown practices, and to offer audiences at large the opportunity to enjoy and discover the subversive and ancient art of clowning.


Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, April 28, 2024
Le Gésù – Centre de Créativité – 1200 Rue de Bleury, Montreal
https://www.mtlclownfest.com/2024/

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Beyond the Box – March, 2024

There’s a lot of incredible live performance happening here in Toronto and abroad this month! While I wish I was able to see it all, but hopefully you’ll be able to check some of these incredible performances out!

Vástádus eana – The answer is land – Harbourfront Centre
Choreographed by Indigenous Sámi choreographer and filmmaker, Elle Sofe Sara, this powerful new work is inspired by spiritual practices and environmental activism, and serves as an exploration and reclamation of Sámi cultural identity, community, and kinship between people and nature.
Hailed by NRK – Norway’s public broadcaster – as “powerful in a quiet yet magnificent way,” the show features seven Sámi and Norwegian women performers combining ritualized movement with polyphonic yoiks – traditional mountain songs – for a hypnotic experience.
Vástádus eana – The answer is land is choreographed as a theatrical concert, beginning outside in Ontario Square, where the performers will open the evening by guiding the audience through a protest before the cast and audience will travel together into Fleck Dance Theatre for the remainder of the show.


March 6 & 7
Fleck Dance Theatre – 207 Queens Quay West (3rd Floor)
https://harbourfrontcentre.com/event/vastadus-eana-the-answer-is-land/

Replay Story Fest – Replay Storytelling

From live performances to interactive workshops, Replay Story Fest will showcase diverse forms of storytelling, from live performances to music, live journalism to poetry — all rooted in our lived experiences. Storytellers include Nisha Coleman (Montreal), Rico Rodriguez, Ken Hall, Christel Bartelse, Anto Chan, Veronica Antipolo, Briane Nasimok, Sachin Sharma, Panagiota Vogdou, Shreya Parashar, Maddy Blythe, Sarah St-Fleur, Miho Suzuki, Chris Stoner, G.G. Cole, Dima Mironov, Misha Gajewski, Kavya Rajith, Vonne Aguda, and Ronit Rubinstein.
The festival offers an opportunity to revel in the magic of our shared lived experiences, and honour the vibrant community that has shaped Replay Storytelling over the last eight years.


March 6 – 10
Burdock Music Hall – 1184 Bloor St. W
https://replaystorytelling.com/storyfest/

Through My Eyes – Young People’s Theatre


Find out why parents call Through My Eyes “JUST MAGICAL” and “ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL”. A playful world of fun for little ones – on stage this March! Immerse yourself in this topsy-turvy wonderland brought to life through dance, bouncy energy, kaleidoscopic colours and sensory surprises! As astonishing as a sunrise and as contagiously fun as the giggles! This stimulating dance piece from Quebec’s Bouge de là invites audiences to see the world afresh through the eyes of an exploring child. Don’t miss this limited run event for ages 4-7.


March 4 – 17
Young People’s Theatre – 165 Front Street East
https://www.youngpeoplestheatre.org/shows-tickets/through-my-eyes/


This Stage Ain’t Big Enough for the Two of Us – A.C.T Producitons


Join us, A.C.T. Productions, at SoCap Comedy (The Social Capital) Mainstage as we kick off our 2024 season with a two-person long-form improv show! These comedians will be performing an improvised narrative set based on suggestions from you, the audience!


March 12 @8pm
Social Capital Theatre – 154 Danforth Avenue
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/this-stage-aint-big-enough-for-the-two-of-us-tickets-811547890587?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=1


Guilt (A Love Story) – Centaur Theatre
GUILT (a love story) is a deep dive into a complex, uncomfortable, and highly human feeling – a state of being that most of us, especially parents, wrestle with inelegantly. GUILT begins by focusing on Flacks’ odyssey: the perspective of a self-sacrificing Jewish mother instigating family dissolution. Flacks stands in the eye of an explosion in which she is the bomb. Drawing on Western philosophy, pop culture, and Jewish heritage, she brings the audience an erudite, emotionally turbulent, and hilarious journey.
You can check out my review of this production at Tarragon Theatre here: https://aviewfromthebox.net/2024/02/19/tarragon-theatres-guilt-a-love-story/


March 12 – 30
Centaur Theatre – 453 Saint Francois-Xavier, Montreal
https://centaurtheatre.com/shows/guilt-a-love-story/


Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival


The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival is Canada’s premier festival celebrating
scripted, ensemble comedy boasting multiple days of comedy on professional stages,
each year featuring approximately 200 comedians. Since 2005, the Festival has brought
sketch comedy to wider audiences with ticketed and free performances showcasing
hundreds of emerging comedians alongside a slate of top-flight headliner acts such as
Tallboyz, Kate McKinnon, Ramy Youssef and Jonathan Bryalock of Inside Jokes Films,
The Kids in the Hall, Ninja Sex Party, Sasheer Zamata, Michael Ian Black, and Gavin
Crawford. TOsketchfest is a registered charity and supports Canadian comedic
writer-performers through showcases, professional development and direct funding
through the Sketch Comedy Project Fund in partnership with the Pat & Tony Adams
Freedom Fund for The Arts.


March 6 – 17
https://torontosketchfest.com/

Tease – Big Kitties in association with Crow’s Theatre


TEASE challenges society’s patriarchal views and misogynistic expectations while unflinchingly poking fun at its own “woke” packaging. Combining elements of clown, sketch comedy, improv, and dance, the show is as salty as it is sweet in its exploration of sex, politics, and what it means to be a woman in this reimagining of the burlesque comedy genre.
Created and directed by award-winning comedienne Lindsay Mullan (Second City Mainstage Toronto), and featuring Glenys Marshall (Ottawa-based variety show Small Fish) and Mei Miyazawa (Pachinko, Apple TV+), TEASE is a multi-faceted theatrical experience that entertains with humour and sex appeal while drawing audiences in with its underlying heartfelt message.


March 13 – 24
Studio Theatre at Sreetcar Crowsnest – 345 Carlaw Ave
https://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/tease

Blockbuster Week 2024 – Bad Dog Comedy Theatre and Sex T-Rex


A community gathering for some of Toronto’s most talented artists, Blockbuster Week is a beloved festival of brand new improvised comedies celebrating movies and television in a live, unscripted setting.
At Blockbuster Week, Toronto’s best improvisers perform their takes on film and television genres, popular hits, and cult classics. This year’s festival sees the return of such 2023 Blockbuster Week hits as Improvised Bollywood, Chorelord, and Porno: The Musical, alongside hilarious new offerings such as GRINDHOUSE: An Improvised blankSpolitation movie and WAR!!!… In Space.
All six evenings of the festival will also offer community events such as karaoke, movie night, and Clown Car – a late-night segment spotlighting the city’s high-calibre clown talent. Blockbuster Week culminates on March 29th in a celebratory awards night called The Sexies, which sees Sex T-Rex awarding satirical yet heartfelt awards to all the artists in the festival.


March 22 – 29
The Assembly Theatre – 1479 Queen Street W
https://baddogtheatre.com/blockbuster

Fiji – Icarus Theatre


Sam and Nic recently met online and believe they are destined to be together. After telling everyone he’s bought a one-way ticket to Fiji, Sam has joined Nic at his apartment for a romantic weekend getaway of home-cooked meals and get-to-know-you games. If all goes according to plan, this will be their first and last meeting. This true crime romantic comedy has shocked UK and Edmonton audiences over the past four years, and is now making its’ Toronto debut after a sold-out run at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.


March 29 – April 7
Theatre Passe Muraille Bob Nasmith Backspace – 16 Ryerson Ave
https://www.icarustheatre.ca/fiji

WHITE MUSCLE DADDY – A PENCIL KIT PRODUCTIONS + BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRODUCTION


Soon after Jeremy Río clocks in for his first graveyard shift at an exclusive LA gym, he meets Eugene, a fitness influencer who seems to have the life of Jeremy’s dreams—one that’s double stuffed with money, muscles, and parties galore. What begins as an envious crush quickly morphs into an insatiable hunger that threatens to tear Jeremy’s life apart.
A cinematic theatre piece, WHITE MUSCLE DADDY uses projection art, live camera feed and shadow play to spin a chilling yarn about the politics of queer desire.


MARCH 20–31
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre – 12 Alexander Street
https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/show/white-muscle-daddy/

Doctor Faustus – Dandelion Theatre and Apothecary Theatre


This March Dandelion Theatre and Apothecary Theatre invite you to back hell for Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, a play of dualities. God and Lucifer. Faith and Doubt. Loyalty and Betrayal. Good and Evil. Ambition and Regret. The play’s titular necromancer is split down the centre of his soul, between a desire for magical power and terror at what will become of his immortal spirit. Dandelion’ and Apothecary’s production strips Christopher Marlowe’s tragedy down to a personal interplay between Doctor Faustus and Mephistopheles, the demon he conjures to serve him. Once the deal is struck, and Faustus has surrendered heaven for worldly pleasures, the two figures become all things to each other: mutual servants, lovers, enemies and friends, trapped in a dance that will last for all eternity. The show explores themes of codependency, anxiety, art, and ambition as audiences are invited into a tour of one man’s very personal hell, and the demon he shares it with. What the audience knows but Faustus cannot is that he is already damned, and all of this has happened before and will happen again, forever.


You can read my review of this production here: https://aviewfromthebox.net/2023/10/30/dandelion-theatre-and-apothecary-theatres-doctor-faustus/


March 28th-30th
Small World Centre – 180 Shaw St unit 305
https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/6db3eddd-bff2-4a98-bb8b-b687bd06d73f

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Waiting in the Wings – March, 2024

This year is off to a fabulous start! I’ve been very busy with plenty of incredible theatrical productions along with lots of fun interviews to share as well! March is certainly going to be no exception to this! There’s lots of exciting things going on in the GTA, so here’s a list of what you can expect to see me writing about this month!

Three Fingers Back – Tarragon Theatre and 54ology


54ology contains multitudes – this epic series of 54 works from Donna-Michelle St. Bernard offers a piece looking at each country in Africa – and from it comes this double bill of two plays, Give It Up and The Smell of Horses. These two pieces come together in 3 Fingers Back to offer different vantage points of the same world, diving into the dark side of war as experienced from the perspectives of interrogator and interrogated.

In this politically charged but deeply human performance, Toronto audiences are brought into a story they perhaps haven’t seen before; a story about life during war and the human rights atrocities that have become a reality for many – and yet are easily ignored by others. Two stories, from two different sides of a prison cell door, fuse together to show a story about the darkness of humanity, what people will abide and withstand in the name of solidarity, and human strength and resilience.


February 27 – March 24
Tarragon Theatre Extraspace – 30 Bridgman Ave
3 Fingers Back – Tarragon Theatre

Dead Elephants – Good Old Neon

With three performers playing a dozen characters across four timelines, Dead Elephants is a virtuosic, harrowing, and poignant meditation on mourning, animals, and technology. In 1870, during a food shortage brought about by the siege of Paris, a pair of French soldiers plot to kill and eat the elephants in the city zoo. In 1885, P.T. Barnum’s famous elephant Jumbo is struck by a train in St. Thomas, Ontario. In 1903, a circus elephant in Coney Island is publicly electrocuted in what becomes the earliest recorded footage of the passage of a creature from life into death. In Dead Elephants, these three stories are braided around the contemporary struggle of a young couple in the midst of grieving the loss of their infant child. At turns larger-than-life and deeply intimate, Dead Elephants is both political and moving, heartfelt and bitterly funny.


March 7 – 17
Aki Studio Theatre – 585 Dundas St E #250
Dead Elephants – Native Earth Performing Arts

Women at Play(s) 6 – Women at Play(s)

WOMEN AT PLAY(S) is a festival of short one act plays written, directed, and acted by
women playwrights, directors, and actors. This sixth edition has 6 one act plays, 10 to
20 minutes in length, ranging from ageism, domestic violence, femicide, sisterhood,
women empowerment, and physical theatre. Women At Play(s) is meant to inspire
artistic achievements in theatrical production for people who identify as women of all
diversities: LGBTQIA2S+ and disability inclusive, from Gen Z to Silver Foxes for an
audience who want to experience a variety of great theatre.

March 1 – 3, 7 – 10
Red Sandcastle Theatre – 922 Queen St East
http://www.ticketscene.ca/series/1169/

Dana H. – Crow’s Theatre
The critically acclaimed and celebrated play DANA H. arrives at Crow’s Theatre following a triumphant Broadway run and subsequent tour. This riveting, cutting-edge drama follows the harrowing true story of Dana Higginbotham, a chaplain in a psychiatric ward, who was abducted by one of the patients and held captive in a series of Florida motel rooms for five months.
Her son, acclaimed playwright Lucas Hnath (A Doll’s House, Part 2), has created a powerful drama for the stage with his mother’s own voice and courageous words. The show’s dialogue is audio culled from days of recorded interviews. Performed with precision by Jordan Baker, she lip-syncs every word, both channelling and paying tribute to Dana Higginbotham.
Winner of the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show, two Tony Awards (Best Performance, Best Sound Design), and The New York Times Critic’s Pick, DANA H. shatters conventions and delivers a chilling and unforgettable exploration of survival and storytelling.

March 12 – April 7
Factory Theatre – 125 Bathurst Street

https://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/danahhttps://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/danah

NO ONE’S SPECIAL AT THE HOT DOG CART – Theatre Passe Muraille

From award winning playwright, author, and spoken word performer Charlie Petch (they/he), NO ONE’S SPECIAL AT THE HOT DOG CART shares their personal accounts of working at hot dog stands around downtown Toronto in the early 90’s, where they began to learn de-escalation techniques which they now teach. Through spoken word, musical storytelling and by sharing the de-escalation techniques they have honed over the years, Petch regales audiences with tales of survival and kindness, as a witness to life on the street.

March 14 – 23
Theatre Passe Muraille – 16 Ryerson Avenue
https://www.passemuraille.ca/hotdog/

The Inheritance Part I & II – Canadian Stage

The sweeping story unfolds over two parts, immersing audiences in the intersecting lives of a group of young men navigating love, friendship, and loss as they try to make it in present-day New York City. Playwright Matthew López draws inspiration from E.M. Forster’s novel Howard’s End masterfully interweaving past and present, creating an unforgettable exploration of generational loss, resilience, and legacy against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic and its aftermath. This new production features a distinguished cast of some of Canada’s most beloved actors, including Qasim Khan, Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, Antoine Yared, and Daniel MacIvor with Salvatore Antonio, Aldrin Bundoc, Hollywood Jade, Breton Lalama, Jim Mezon, Landon Nesbitt, Ben Page, Louise Pitre, and Gregory Prest.

Part 1 – March 22 – April 13
Part 2 – March 24 – April 14
Bluma Appel Theatre – 27 Front Street East
https://www.canadianstage.com/shows-events/the-inheritance

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Waiting in the Wings – February, 2024

We’ve made it through the first month of the year and it was packed full of theatre goodness! February will be no different with plenty of great performances to see! I’ve got everything from concerts to dance performances, as well as theatre from companies big and small coming up this month. As always, I’m really looking forward to sharing it all with you!

Truth – Young People’s Theatre

This February, Young People’s Theatre (YPT) is proud to present the world premiere of Truth – a powerful adaptation of the Governor General’s Award-winning novel, “The Gospel Truth” by Caroline Pignat. Written by celebrated playwright and librettist Kanika Ambrose and directed by award-winning actor and director Sabryn Rock, Truth transports audiences back in time to an 1850’s Virginian plantation where the life of a young Black girl is changed forever with the arrival of a stranger from the north. From the American South to St. Catharines, Ontario, Truth chronicles the fierce strength and resilience of a community as it struggles to find freedom. It is a powerful story about finding and creating hope in even the darkest of times.

January 29 – February 23

Ada Slaight Stage – 165 Front Street East

TRUTH | Young People’s Theatre (youngpeoplestheatre.org)

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Soundstreams

The world-renowned EPCC, together with maestro Tõnu Kaljuste, embarks this February on a

long-awaited concert tour to the United States and Canada after a five-year hiatus. Their

appearance for Soundstreams will be the only Canadian stop on the itinerary.

Masterworks on the program by Pärt, who was once again chosen in 2023 as the most

performed living composer in the world, include Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis, Dopo la Vittoria, and Kanon Pokajanen. Three selections from Palestrina’s great Offertorium will also be performed.

The world premiere of Antarktos Monodies by Estonian/Canadian composer Omar Daniel is

based on the sonnet “Antarktos” by H. P. Lovecraft. Tõnu Kaljuste and the EPCC have an

exemplary history of premiering Canadian works on their Toronto concert dates, this being the

second by Omar Daniel.

February 3

St Paul’s Basilica – 83 Power Street

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Soundstreams

Uncle Vanya – Mirvish Productions

In the waning days of Czarist Russia, Ivan “Vanya” Voinitsky, and his niece, Sonya, toil ceaselessly to run their family estate. After retiring, Sonya’s father, a celebrated professor, returns to the estate with his young, glamorous wife. When he announces his plans to sell the land and evict them all, passions explode and lives come undone.

A dazzling cast breathes new life into Chekhov’s masterpiece in a new adaptation by Liisa Repo-Martell. Brimming with emotional intensity, comedic genius, and tragic weight, this Crow’s Theatre commission and world-premiere adaptation provides an up-close encounter with a classic of world drama that every theatre lover must see.

February 2 – 25

CAA Theatre – 651 Yonge Street

Mirvish.com: Uncle Vanya

Deciphers – Harbourfront Centre and DanceWorks

Harbourfront Centre and DanceWorks present the Ontario premiere of the thought-provoking dance/theatre hybrid Deciphers, performed and choreographed by independent dancemakers Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu, on stage February 8–10, 2024 at 7:30pm at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, as part of its 2023/24 international contemporary dance series, Torque. This contemporary duet is an intensely physical cultural exchange between dancers, investigating post-colonial histories, the migrant experience and the transcendent nature of human identity.

Pairing elements of traditional Chinese and Brazilian dance styles with spoken word, Deciphers explores the complexities of communication across cultural divides, drawing from Wang and Abreu’s unique and lived immigrant experiences. Wang grew up in China and trained in martial arts and Chinese classical and folk dances before emigrating to Toronto in 2004 to study dance at the Dance Arts Institute (formerly School of Toronto Dance Theatre). Abreu was raised in Brazil before moving to London, UK in 1996 to study at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance. Together, the pair explore their dual cultural experiences and vocal traditions in the folk music of their birth countries.

February 8 – 10

Harbourfront Centre – 231 Queens Quay West

Deciphers – Torque – Harbourfront Centre

DION: A ROCK OPERA – Coal Mine Theatre

In this contemporary yet timeless re-imagining of the story, Pentheus, the conservative right-wing leader of a city-state “somewhere in time” on this earth, arrives home from a trip to learn that all the disenfranchised people in his kingdom have taken to the hills, following the non-binary, self-proclaimed Demi-God Dion. Rumour has it the runaways from society are drinking a strange brew and are often seen running through the hills naked in states of ecstasy. The runaways include almost all of society’s women, including Pentheus’ mother Agave and his Uncle Cadmus.

Pentheus has heard of this Dion. They are his cousin. They claim Zeus as a father and Pentheus’ Aunt Semele as a mother. Pentheus has made it clear the story is a lie that Semele made up to excuse her wantonness. Dion wants revenge for this slandering of his mother. That is why they are back and why they allow themselves to be captured and brought to Pentheus in chains.

Pentheus is then seduced into dressing up as a woman and heading to the hills to see what goes on for himself, where he meets his end…

February 4 – March 3

Coal Mine Theatre – 2076 Danforth Avenue

DION: A ROCK OPERA — CMT (coalminetheatre.com)

Macbeth: A Tale Told by an Idiot – Eldritch Theatre

A Classic Comics MacBeth! Shakespeare’s blood-soaked king, with weird witches, viscera-sopped murders, nightmares of madness, and terrifying occult prophecies crash head on with our ghoulishly giddy bag of timorous trickery! Performed by a solo actor using a diverse range of multi-sized puppets, masks, and parlour magic, cosmic horror, and lowbrow pop, this Mad Mackers is a production like no other!

February 8 – 18

Red Sandcastle Theatre – 922 Queen St E

Macbeth ‣ Eldritch Theatre

Earworm – Crow’s Theatre and Nowadays Theatre

Performed in English with select performances in Persian (Farsi), EARWORM, a Nowadays Theatre production in association with Crow’s Theatre, is written and directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi. Homa, a long-time immigrant from Iran who fled persecution from the Islamic regime, must negotiate the reality that her son is in love with a conservative Muslim woman. When Homa’s past catches up to her in present-day Toronto, their future happiness is threatened.

Inspired by real events, EARWORM is a stunning depiction of the far-reaching impact of the Iranian revolutions of 1979 and 2022 through themes of love, power, parenting, and political asylum.

February 6 – 25

Studio Theatre – 345 Carlaw Avenue

Earworm – Crow’s Theatre (crowstheatre.com)

De Profundis: Oscar Wilde in Jail – Soulpepper Theatre Company

De Profundis: Oscar Wilde in Jail is a musical fantasy based on the letter Oscar Wilde wrote while incarcerated for two years at Reading Gaol, to his love Lord Alfred Douglas. The letter was written a page a day over a period of three months, collected at the end of each day, and handed over to Wilde on his release from prison. 

February 1 – 18

Michael Young Theatre – 50 Tank House Lane

Soulpepper Theatre – Plays, Concerts & Musicals‎

Guilt (A Love Story) – Tarragon Theatre

An all-new play about pathos; the “unshakable monster that is guilt,” and the things we’re not supposed to talk about.

GUILT (A Love Story) is a deep dive into a complex, uncomfortable, and highly human feeling. A state of being that most of us, especially parents, wrestle with inelegantly. Focusing on Flacks’ personal odyssey, Guilt brings the perspective of a self-sacrificing Jewish mother who becomes the instigator of a family’s dissolution. Societal effects, causes and casualties and the feeling that we have when we’ve profoundly hurt others. This exploration may not pull punches, but don’t worry, it’s accompanied by laughs – because how else do we get through anything?

Diane Flacks returns to Tarragon Theatre with GUILT (A Love Story) her 5th one-woman show.

February 6 – March 3

Tarragon Theatre – 30 Bridgman Avenue

Guilt (A Love Story) – Tarragon Theatre

Universal Child Care – Canadian Stage and Quote Unquote Theatre

A virtuosic new work from the internationally acclaimed creators of MOUTHPIECE, Quote Unquote Collective, UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE is a devised creation with book by Quote Unquote co-founders Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava, inviting audiences to witness the sheer power and force of the unaccompanied human voice. A concert-theatre hybrid (and self-consciously neither of those things), the performance ensemble of UNIVERSAL child care screams about the lack of affordable child care and growing inequalities while comparing different approaches to child care around the globe. 

February 13 – 25

Berkeley Street Theatre – 26 Berkeley St.

Universal Child Care (canadianstage.com)

The Other Side of the Sea – Aluna Theatre

The Canadian Premiere of theaward-winning play from Salvadoran playwright Jorgelina Cerritos, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEA is directed by frequent Aluna collaborator Soheil Parsa, with scenography by Trevor Schwellnus, and features Beatriz Pizano and Carlos Gonzalez-Vio.

Winner of the prestigious 2010 Casa de las Américas Prize for drama based in Havana, Cuba, in On the Other Side of the Sea, Cerritos examines identity, not as a cultural construct, but rather as an existential angst. In the play – both humorous and lyrical – two strangers meet on an abandoned beach, not knowing that their futures depend on this encounter.  A testament to the power of human connection, this powerful, minimalist drama celebrates courage, conviction, and life itself.

February 7 – 25

The Theatre Centre – 1115 Queen St W

Aluna Theatre

As I Must Live It – Theatre Passe Muraille

A funny, endearing, and thought-provoking new work, AS I MUST LIVE IT comes from award-winning spoken word artist Luke Reece. Through poetic storytelling touching on everything from antagonistic squirrels to Chris Pratt’s abs, Reece shares his experiences growing up with a mentally ill father in a mixed-race family. Featuring Reece’s signature deft wordplay, with the direction of internationally acclaimed audience-specific practitioner Daniele Bartolini and stunning projections from one of the UK’s leading immersive production design companies, Limbic Cinema, AS I MUST LIVE IT brings the page to the stage for an intimate and pun-filled event.

February 11 – March 2

Theatre Passe Muraille – 16 Ryerson Avenue

As I Must Live It – Theatre Passe Muraille

Merrily We Roll Along – Shifting Ground Collective

Franklin Shepard, a gifted composer turned shallow movie producer, is at the peak of his success and the depth of his misery. His second marriage is on the rocks, he hasn’t seen his son in years, and his longest and most cherished friendships have entirely disintegrated.

As the memories of Frank’s past revisit him, he is challenged not just to take stock of his life but to take responsibility for the actions that lead him to where he is… and see if he can find where it all went wrong. 

In a story spanning twenty years and told in reverse, Merrily We Roll Along escorts Frank through his life with his closest friends and collaborators Charley Kringas and Mary Flynn, confronting him with all the moments in which they grew apart and grew away from their dreams.

With one of the most exciting and inventive scores in musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical reminds us of the dreams we start with and how, by facing the choices we make, we can always find our way back to them.

February 22 – March 2

The Annex Theatre – 730 Bathurst St

Merrily We Roll Along – Shifting Ground Collective

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Shakespeare BASH’D’s “The Two Noble Kinsmen”

Shakespeare BASH’D continues its annual tradition of warming our dark winter evenings with the words of the Bard of Avon. This year, they are performing the lesser-known The Two Noble Kinsmen. Directed by Co-Artistic Director James Wallis and starring Michael Man and Emilio Vieira, The Two Noble Kinsmen is a delight from start to finish!

Sitting here at my desk writing this, I’m surrounded by my Shakespeare knick-knacks I’ve acquired over the years. I’ve been actively searching out and watching Shakespeare’s works on stage for over two decades, and in that time have not read, studied, or seen The Two Noble Kinsmen. Not for any want of trying, mind you, it’s just that infrequently performed, and isn’t often on school reading lists. It’s also a well-known collaboration between John Fletcher and William Shakespeare, which felt like an interesting puzzle to try and solve while I listened to the play; who wrote which parts? Whatever the answer is, it comes together into an enchanting story. All this to say that going into a Shakespearean play knowing absolutely nothing about it is a total rarity for me, and thus was a true delight. To be able to go on the emotional journey with the characters was thrilling, and I enjoyed every minute of this play. I have no clue why this isn’t done more often, it’s an intriguing story with plenty going on and a semi-satisfying outcome.

Emilio Vieira and Michael Man
Photo by Kyle Purcell

For those of you who likewise are unfamiliar with The Two Noble Kinsmen, let me try to sum this up as best as I can. There are two cousins, Arcite and Palamon, and they care for each other very much. Even when they are imprisoned after turning against Theseus in battle, they can make jail a paradise with each other’s company. Until they spy Emilia, Hyppolyta’s Amazonian sister. They both instantly fall in love and begin to battle one another for her affection: first with words, and later with swords. Arcite gets banished, but instead competes in athletic games to win service under Emilia. Meanwhile, the Jailer’s Daughter, who is in love with Palamon, helps him escape. The cousins find each other in the woods and begin their fighting afresh. When Theseus, Hippolyta, and Emilia come upon their combat in the woods, Theseus declares that either Emilia must choose one of the men and the other dies, or they can fight for her hand. They choose to fight one another and the combat ensues a few days later. As I mentioned, the ending is really only semi-satisfying, but it’s also so emotionally beautiful that you truly hope the characters will be happy. Of course there are a few subplots and vignettes to provide comic relief amongst the courtly matters and enhance the main plot line.

Kate Martin, Emilio Vieira, and Michael Man
Photo by Kyle Purcell

The minimalist design for the show is perfect; while we’re easily able to differentiate the characters based on the costuming, we‘re also able to wholly focus on the characters and the story they’re telling. Watching them put on their costumes, and then participate in a pre-show jig, add beautiful layers of meta-theatricality as well as keeping true to practices of the day. The creative team, helmed by James Wallis, have once again given us an expertly told story, and their passion for telling these stories is evident in every aspect of the production. Also, I want to give a special acknowledgement to James Wallis, who took over stage-management duties for opening night. These types of scenarios are the stuff of pre-show stress-dreams and yet Wallis handled it with grace and professionalism. Bravo, good sir!

Madeline Hodges, Michael Man, Emilio Vieira, and Kate Martin
Photo by Kyle Purcell

The Two Noble Kinsmen boasts a strong cast of wildly talented actors. Emilio Vieira and Michael Man star as the titular cousins Palamon and Arcite. Vieira’s command of the stage and language make his performance unforgettable. Man’s bright expressions and earnestness as Arcite make him immediately endearing. Kate Martin plays Emilia, their love; her elegance and poise are a joy to watch. On the comedic end of the spectrum, there’s Steven Hao, as the wooer of the jailer’s daughter as well as Pirithous. His performance radiates joy from start to finish, even when his shoe falls off part way through his lines. Daniel Briere also gives hilarious performances as the Jailer and Schoolmaster, both have brilliant comedic moments and Briere certainly capitalizes on them! Bridging the gap between the two is Julia Nish-Lapidus as the Jailer’s Daughter; oscillating between tragic and funny, sweet and sad, this character is one of the better written in the play. Nish-Lapidus delivers these monologues masterfully, making for another memorable performance. The entire company truly makes magic with this production; each performance is nuanced, complex, and refreshing.

The Two Noble Kinsmen has certainly cemented itself amongst my favourites in the cannon thanks to this production. Charming, exciting, and moving, The Two Noble Kinsmen is certainly not a production to be missed! Tickets are selling out fast, so make sure you get yours ASAP. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.shakespearebashd.com/the-two-noble-kinsmen.html

Cover Photo: Kate Martin, Emilio Vieira, and Michael Man. Photo by Kyle Purcell

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Angelica and Paul, Anonymous

Would you like to become a Patron? Check out my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox

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2023: A Year in Review

With a new year on the horizon, I wanted to take a moment to both reflect on the year gone by, as well as talk about what you can look forward to in the coming year. 2023 has brought some monumental changes in my life, particularly in regards to A View from the Box, and I’m very thankful for the support I have from all of you which makes me able to do so.

Growth

A View from the Box has undergone substantial growth this year, particularly stemming from my ability to solely focus on my writing as of July 1st. Becoming a full time theatre reviewer has allowed me to attend more shows, provide you more interviews, and keep up with social media! It seems like everything has doubled this year, which simply astonishes me!

• Including the productions I took in at both the Fringe Festival and Next Stage Festival, I have been invited to and wrote about (or gave feedback on) 154 performances in 2023 (compared to 75 in 2022).

• A few of those were commissions for Intermission Magazine as well! Five shows at Fringe and two other main stage shows. I was so happy to get to be asked to write for another publication, and I’m hoping there are more to come next year!

• Speaking of the Fringe Festival, I was able to double (and then some) the number of productions I took in from 15 in 2022 to 39 in 2023.

• In terms of views, I’ve gone from eight thousand views in 2022 to sixteen thousand in 2023!

• I started a Patreon and Buy Me A Coffee this year! I’m so thankful for my subscribers! You can become one too! Just follow the link: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox

I am overjoyed to be able to see this amount of growth in such a short period of time. It’s thanks to all of you and your love of live performance that keeps me going! I’m so happy that so many more of you have discovered me, and my work, and keep on coming back! I hope that you’ll continue to rely on A View from the Box for reviews, interviews, and more.

Other Highlights

Aside from pure statistics, there’s been lots of exciting things happening this year for A View from the Box:

• As previously mentioned, I was asked to write for Intermission Magazine this year, which was an honour. I met some absolutely wonderful people while doing so and I’m so glad I was able to have those opportunities.

• I’ve started spreading my zone of coverage a tad as well, as I was invited to shows in Port Hope this year. It’s such a charming little town and I now excitedly look forward to my visits there.

• This year was my first time attending the Next Stage festival, which is part of the Fringe Festival. It was wonderful to see these works in their new phase of development, and I’m looking forward to attending in future now that I’m very active during Fringe as well.

• I have been able to connect with many of my readers thanks to social media! I started my TikTok just over a year ago, and with putting out videos there and on Instagram/Facebook, folks are able to recognize me even with my mask on!

• Late this year, I also started receiving invitations to Mirvish Productions, and that has certainly been a huge step forward for me. I look forward to continuing to work with them next year and beyond.

Memorable Mentions

I thought it might be fun to take a look at some of the shows that have really stuck with me over the past year. I chose to look at them month by month, with the memorable mentions being in no particular order.

January – While January tends to be a quiet month, there were still plenty of things to see! The stand out for me was certainly Fifteen Dogs at Crow’s Theatre. While this came at an interesting time for me on a personal level, the staging and performances made it a moving and impressive performance.

February – Prodigal from Crow’s Theatre and The Howland Company was certainly a highlight of February. The intensity of this production was incredible, and I definitely can’t wait to hear it on this season of CBC’s PlayMe podcast.

Another memorable production was Between a Wok and a Hot Pot from Cahoots Theatre. Not only was it educational about the deliciousness that is hot pot, but it was a very honest and revealing production about the struggles which are still faced by minorities in our society.

March – Looking back, March was a stellar month for theatre this past year. Behind the Moon (Tarragon Theatre), Rubble (Theatre Passe Muraille), and The First Métis Man of Odesa (Punctuate Theatre) all brought the world to our doorstep in their own unique ways. These stories have actually become more relevant as the year has worn on; their touching stories about the tenacity of humanity in the face of war and injustice have had me thinking about them quite a bit lately.

Another mention goes to the hauntingly beautiful Dressed as People (Perry Riposte Productions), which captivated me more with each new story and showed the true breadth of talent from the incredible performer. And to the incredibly moving Of the Sea (Obsidian Theatre and Tapestry Opera) which felt new and ancient all at the same time.

April – April was busy this past year with 14 shows this month alone! Highlights include the moving The Hooves Belong to the Deer (Tarragon Theatre). The haunting The Seagull (Soulpepper Theatre Company). The honest and funny Love You Wrong Time (Nightwood Theatre and Bad Muse Collective). The stunning and twisty Body So Fluorescent (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), and the auditory sensation of Trace (Theatre Passe Muraille). Each one had a unique and fresh perspective which I enjoyed the opportunity to learn from and witness.

May – Some of the most reality-challenging plays I have ever seen I saw back to back in May. True Crime (Crow’s Theatre) literally left me questioning everything that was said from the first moment to the last. The Sound Inside (Coal Mine Theatre) similarly left me totally unsure as to the line between reality and fiction within the world of the story. The Rage of Narcissus (Expandidto Theatre Group) had me wondering how much I could even trust my own reflection.

Special mentions also need to go to The Elephant Man (Wren Theatre) and The Chinese Lady (Crow’s Theatre and fuGen Theatre) for some of the best physicality I’ve ever seen on stage. As well as Boom X (Crow’s Theatre) for being super fun while also very grounding. Tunnel at the End of the Light (The Roland Gossage Foundation) was moving, brilliant and unique in all of the best ways.

June – Summer brought on its fair share of excitement! Sizewe Banzi is Dead (Soulpepper Theatre Company) was a breath-taking two harder which had me in its grasp from the first moment to the last. Perceptual Archaeology (Crow’s Theatre) has changed how I see the world and think about travel. I still keep the stone from that production on my bedside table. Armadillos (A Love Story) (Factory Theatre) was an incredible take on mythology as well as a fascinating look at the traditional relationships between med and women. No Save Points (Outside the March) is hands down one of the most inventive and ingenious productions I have EVER seen!

A Lysistrata (Alumnae Theatre) and Access Me (Boys in Chairs Collective) proved that sex and sexuality is an essential part of human nature, no matter the person’s age or physicality.

July – This moth was essentially totally consumed with the Fringe Festival! What a wild two weeks, and I loved every minute. Some favourites include: The Exorcist: An Operetta, Our Little Secret: The 23 and Me Musical, Frankenstein(esque), The Bad Mitzvah, Blake and Clay’s Gay Agenda, Hymns and Hearse, Corporate Finch, and The Man with the Golden Heart. I’m already looking forward to next July for more Fringey goodness!

Also in July was King Gilgamesh & the Man of the Wild (Soulpepper Theatre Company) which introduced me to Arabic Jazz and took us on a most magical journey.

August – Summertime is always full of outdoor theatre! Otîhêw (Shakespeare in Action), and Living with Shakespeare (Driftwood Theatre Group) were delightful outdoor offerings which were each delightfully inspiring in their own ways. Suddenly Last Summer (Riot King) took us to the sunny south in the comfort of a beautiful plant-filled art studio.

September – The Fall presented haw-dropping offerings with the starts of the new season. The Master Plan (Crow’s Theatre) lived up to every bit of hype, with incredible performances and a perfect atmosphere. Canoe (Unsettled Score) was another world-premiere opera that absolutely blew me away. Speaking of Sneaking (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre) brought both magic and reality to beautiful life. While Appropriate (Coal Mine Theatre) left me shaking and awed by their soundscape and jarring storyline.

October – Wildwoman (Soulpepper Theatre Company) had me on my feet in moments; the stunning plot and marvellous acting making it a stand out for sure! Next Stage Festival was fantastic! All 6 shows were absolutely fantastic and I had such a great time attending this festival for the first time! A Poem for Rabia (Tarragon Theatre) was a generational delight and was so beautiful. And then came the spooky season shows, with Doctor Faustus (Dandelion Theatre & Apothecary Theatre) and Doc Wuthergloom: Here There Be Monsters (Eldritch Theatre) to get our spines tingling and hair standing on end!

November – I had one last outdoor excursion with Walk With Me While I Remember You (Mammalian Diving Reflex); a moving experience about grief and loss. The Drowning Girls (Wren Theatre) was a callback to spooky season with a stellar cast bringing this script to (un)life. Rocky Mountain Special (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre) was a unique and magical look at the trans experience which I really enjoyed. Withrow Park (Tarragon Theatre) was a witty and wonderful look at death. Letters from Max, a ritual (Necessary Angel Theatre) was a similarly beautiful and uplifting production. Taking us into the holiday season was Jack: A Beanstalk Panto (Capitol Theatre) which was a delightful and naughty way to start the holidays. The MacIvor double bill of Here Lies Henry and Monster at Factory Theatre was a wild and wonderful way to end the month.

December – SWEETER (Cahoots Theatre) started off the month in the most sweet way; such a stellar cast! Chris, Mrs. (Boldly Production) was a Hallmark Movie come to life with wonderful new songs! Keeping with the Holiday Theme, there is the annual It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Young People’s Theatre) which was amazing to watch. And I got to see my first two Mirvish shows: Ain’t Too Proud and 42nd Street!

What comes next?

2024 has exciting things in store, and I can’t wait to share even more great productions with you all!

• In 2024 and 2025, I’ll be the Vice President of the Canadian Theatre Critic’s Association! I’m really looking forward to devoting time to this organization and helping to reach out to even more theatre critics around the country. We’re looking to organize some events and whatnot and I’m so excited to be a more active part of this organization!

• I’ll be keeping up my social media presence for sure, and I think I’m going to stick to the weekly round ups for my TikTok and Instagram reels! I’m thinking about getting Threads in the New Year as well! So keep an eye on the social links at the bottom of my Linktree for any new updates:

Once again, I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support in my career; I couldn’t do this without you! I’m looking forward to another year of exciting theatre, interviews, and thoughtful posts. Have a safe and happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2024!

Thank you to my Patrons:

B. Kinnon, D. Moyes, D. Nelson

And to my supporters who’ve bought me a coffee:

Angelica and Paul

Would you like to become a Patron? Check out my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox

Posted on by thetheatregirl131

Mirvish Productions’ “42nd Street”

Take a trip to “little old New York” and delve into the drama and excitement of putting on a Broadway show with Mirvish Productions’ 42nd Street. Initially produced in the UK, directed by Jonathan Church and choreography by Bill Deamer, it features some absolutely incredible talent both on and off stage. 42nd Street is full of glitz and glamour, and toe-tapping songs you’ll be humming days later. A high-stepping delight, 42nd Street will certainly get your “dancing feet” moving!

The Company of 42nd Street, Original Cast, 2023. Photo Credit: Johan Persson.

42nd Street tells the story of a Broadway company in the process of rehearsing and putting on a new musical. Peggy Sawyer, a young lady fresh off the train from Allentown, Pennsylvania, is looking to make her Broadway debut amongst the company, but hits a snag or two with the lead actress Dorothy Brock. Hiccup after hilarious hiccup occurs, but finally their show “Pretty Lady” gets it’s grand opening night on Broadway! I absolutely love shows about show-biz; the jokes are so true you can’t stop laughing, and the situations they get into feel all too familiar for those of us who have self-produced in the past. Yet there is a true delight in the overall triumph of the story because we all know how hard it is, and how great it feels when all of the hard work and dedication finally pays off.

Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer and Company in 42nd Street, Original Cast, 2023. Photo Credit: Johan Persson.

The story is punctuated by some of the most impressive dance numbers you’ll see on stage in Toronto right now. There’s something about a huge chorus all doing a tap number that sends goosebumps all up and down my arms! 42nd Street has absolutely thrilling choreography paired with some of the most recognizable songs in the Broadway Cannon.

The Company of 42nd Street, Original Cast, 2023. Photo Credit: Johan Persson.

The design of 42nd Street is, in a word, opulent. From start to finish, the sets and costumes are larger-than-life and exquisite in every way. I would give anything to know where set and costume designer Robert Jones found that much sparkly fabric; I now need my entire wardrobe of dresses to be that dazzling. I also really enjoyed how the “Pretty Lady” scrim was used to let us see the backstage shenanigans which were occurring as they were preparing for the next scene during their play-within-the-play. It gives you that feeling of being let in on a secret, and it was very well done. The design embodied the vibrancy of the time and delights us with its splendour.

Adam Garcia as Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, Original Cast, 2023. Photo Credit: Johan Persson.

The cast for this production is full of incredibly talented individuals, who are all the very definition of triple threats! Nicole-Lily Baisden gives a stand-out performance as Peggy Sawyer; she gives Sawyer a sweet countenance combined with incredible talent which makes her a joy to watch. Josefina Gabrielle and Michael Matus play Maggie and Bert, the writers/producers of the show and they are a total hoot! Their exuberant characterization light up the stage and I love that their characters wrote themselves into the show (why not, right?). Ruthie Henshall gives a fantastic performance as Dorothy Brock. She plays the diva oh so well and I loved how she plays into all of the stereotypes her character embodies. It’s easy to see why Mirvish wanted this production to come here to Toronto; the display of talent on that stage is as sensational as the story itself.

42nd Street is the kind of feel-good musical we all need right now! You’ll definitely want to see this production before it closes on January 21st! For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.mirvish.com/shows/42nd-street

Cover Photo: The Company of 42nd Street, Original Cast, 2023. Photo Credit: Johan Persson.

Thank you to my Patrons:

B. Kinnon, D. Moyes, D. Nelson

And to my supporters who’ve bought me a coffee:

Angelica and Paul

Would you like to become a Patron? Check out my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox