Shakespeare in the Ruff’s “Pastoral”

Pastoral, noun: a literary work (such as a poem or play) dealing with shepherds or rural life in a usually artificial manner and typically drawing a contrast between the innocence and serenity of the simple life and the misery and corruption of city and especially court life. As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s…

Toronto Fringe Festival – July 4, 2026

Phew! Thankfully the rain finally broke the nasty heat wave we’ve been experiencing! And in time for the first weekend of Fringe! This weekend also marks the halfway point in the festival for those of us who are reviewing, so now it’s time for the final sprint! I’m always excited for the weekends during the…

Soulpepper Theatre’s “Tiger Bride”

“My father lost me to the Beast at cards.” Hailey Gillis’ opening line of Tiger Bride lets us know that this is not your average fairy tale. Based on Angela Carter’s “The Tiger’s Bride”, a gothic retelling of the classic “Beauty and the Beast” story, Tiger Bride is a dark, music-filled fantasy that’ll leave you…

Icarus Theatre’s “Julie”

What does it mean to have power in today’s society? Is it money? Status? Friends? Or are all three of those interconnected into a web of fantasy? Polly Stenham’s Julie, an adaptation of Strindberg’s Miss Julie, is a captivating look at the life of a party-girl heiress and a night which will change her life…

Stella Kulagowski’s “The Masque of the Red Death”

At the end of the world there’s a cabaret being performed, and you have been invited. Safely tucked away from the plague ravaging the nation, the Prospero Compound is happy to have you and this performance is sure to raise everyone’s spirits! Written and directed by Stella Kulagowski, this uniquely modern and impactful adaptation of…