It seems perfectly fitting that the first play Shakespeare BASH’d is producing after the COVID-19 lockdowns is one also written during a plague in London. The Tragedy of King Lear has been several years in the making, and it was most definitely worth the wait. Directed by James Wallis and starring Stratford Festival favourite Scott…
Since their season announcement, I’ve been looking forward to seeing Red Velvet at Crow’s Theatre and it certainly did not disappoint. Written by Lolita Chakrabarti and directed by Cherissa Richards, Red Velvet looks at the astounding career of Ira Aldridge, the first Black man to play Othello in London. Featuring an absolutely stellar cast, Red…
Real Canaan Theatre’s inaugural production The Merchant of Venice is a fascinating take on the Shakespearean classic. Directed by Christopher Lucas, who is also the Artistic Director of the company, The Merchant of Venice uses a small but mighty cast to bring Shakespeare’s work to life. With plenty of fresh ideas to chew on, The…
Soulpepper theatre is offering a unique experience for audiences at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in the heart of the historic Distillery District. They’re currently producing Erin Shields’ Queen Goneril (directed by Soulpepper’s Artistic Director Weyni Mengesha), a prequel to Shakespeare’s classic King Lear (directed by Kim Collier). While both plays could easily…
In the latest workshop of his adaptation of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, Sky Gilbert gives us a sexy tale of revenge entitled Who’s Afraid of Titus? Performed at the Red Sandcastle Theatre, Who’s Afraid of Titus is certainly for adult audiences only, but you’ll have a killer time! I have to applaud Gilbert not just…
The Bard of Stratford-Upon-Avon is taking over Toronto! With several productions of Shakespeare’s works currently on stage or coming up next month (for more details see my Waiting in the Wings post for September), I thought it was a prime time to talk about my favourite playwright, William Shakespeare. I absolutely understand the apprehension around…
It truly was a Dream in High Park for the opening of Canadian Stage’s As You Like It. Directed by Anand Rajaram, this visually stunning production is infused with all of the whimsy and magic befitting Shakespeare’s famed forest. This is certainly a production the whole family will love and you simply must experience it…
One of the hardest parts about this global pandemic, for me at least, is the lack of live performance. Performances are being postponed or cancelled, festivals have had to lay off their employees, some have had to cancel their whole season altogether! It’s a very trying time for everyone, and while the value of the…
Groundling Theatre Company has outdone itself with its latest production. Lear, directed by company founder Graham Abbey, is a breathtaking, beautiful exploration of what Shakespeare's King Lear has to offer. At the helm of this exploration is the adoption of a female Lear. Seana McKenna portrays a powerful, maternal, and pitiable Queen Lear.Watching her exchanges with her…
The story of Romeo and Juliet is so well known and oft told that it surprises me when someone says they haven't seen it on stage. I'm lucky to say that the 2017 production at the Stratford Festival was my third, and I have to admit, I think it is my favourite production to date. Director…
A View from the Box 