In the lobby outside of the Franco Boni Theatre there’s a quote projected onto the wall: “What you are about to see is not wholly inaccurate. But close.” Rose Napoli, author and star of Mad Madge, sets up our expectations for her play perfectly in two brief sentences. Mad Madge explores the extraordinary life of…
Imagine having ideas and plans so big that you simply knew you couldn’t fit them into a single lifetime. What’s a billionaire like Walt Disney to do but freeze his own head in hopes of one day being revived in time to help save the world. Lucas Hnath’s A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay…
Who is Shaniqua Jenkins? The casting directors certainly think they know, but under the “sassy” and “bold” exterior they want, lies a whole other woman ready to show them what’s what. Writer and performer bahia watson brings her unique sense of humour and point of view with her play shaniqua in abstraction. In its World…
Rose Napoli is once again delving into the realm of historical fiction with her new play Mad Madge. Like her stunning performance in WILDWOMAN, Napoli is bringing to life author, poet, and would-be empress Margaret Cavendish to life. I asked Rose about what it’s like to write and star in a play, how Cavendish’s writing…
Writer, actor, creator: bahia watson truly does it all. From her recent work on some of Toronto’s biggest stages to her work on several familiar television shows, you’ve definitely seen her infectious smile and brilliant talent somewhere before. Now, watson is embarking on a new adventure: a solo show which they’ve written and are starring…
Looks like April is going to be another busy month this year! You won't be hearing much from me the first week as I'll be away on vacation, but after that I'm hitting the ground running to bring you reviews of the most exciting productions in the GTA! All is Love - Opera Atelier ALL…
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…
There are few things as glorious as the smells and tastes of a hot dog cart in a big city. As long as you’re the tourist or passer-by getting to enjoy the aroma; for the person working the cart, every day is an opportunity to be robbed or kicked off of your (technically illegal) corner,…
Women at Play(s) returned with a sixth instalment of works all written, directed, and performed by women. Featuring six short form plays covering a range of subjects and genres, Women at Play(s)6 was an impressive showcase of talent. Tackling the realities of being a woman in today’s society head on, Women at Play(s)6 was a…
Without human intervention, how do elephants die? Good Old Neon’s new play Dead Elephants ponders this and much more while exploring themes of death and grief. Written and directed by Co-Artistic Directors Alexander Offord and Nicole Wilson, Dead Elephants delves into these difficult themes through the lens of these magnificent creatures who mourn and grieve…
A View from the Box 