There are two rules to theatre: “The show must go on” and “Shit happens.” Playing Shylock, written by Mark Leiren-Young and directed by Martin Kinch, exemplifies these rules with its own unique twists and turns. Starring legend of stage and screen Saul Rubinek, Playing Shylock is an intensely personal look at Rubinek’s life and his…
Day 8 of Fringe brought me back to Theatre Passe Muraille for 3 shows, and then down to the Al Green Theatre for my last review for Intermission. It was my last super busy day of the festival, and it was very rainy, but I was happy for a nice dinner break in between my…
Today was my last day of shows at the Tarragon theatre. I’m so glad that I was able to organize my Fringe primarily by venue this year; it’s made it far less stressful and it’s great to explore the surrounding neighbourhoods of the theatres. I saw a total of four shows, two for Intermission and…
Day 2 of Fringe brought me another three fascinating shows to take in! I spent the day at Theatre Passe Muraille and was excited to once again see many familiar faces both in the audience and the Fringe Staff and volunteers. It truly is a community event! Pretty Beast – Karate Chop Teriyaki Production Kazu…
Raoul Bhaneja has been touring his production of Hamlet (solo) since 2006, and now it's back again at Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre Company for a weekend of incredible performances. I asked Raoul about his relationship with the show after performing it for so many years, what it's like to edit down a text like Hamlet, and…
Local playwright and actor Norm Reynolds is taking the New Zealand Fringe Festival by storm with his solo show Making it Up (One Playwright to Another). Detailing Reynolds’ journey in the theatre, leading up to him meeting his idol Edward Albee, Making it Up is a fascinating look at Reynolds’ life. Directed by Lesley Ballantyne…
Luke Reece LOVES dinosaurs and the ROM but does NOT like how everyone quotes Star Wars to him when they meet him. We find out these quirky facts and so much more in Reece’s solo show As I Must Live It. Set on the school playground where he had some of his most deep discussions…
Diane Flacks is once again on the Tarragon Theatre stage with her fifth solo show. Delving into everything from religion to relationships, drinking and drama, Guilt (A Love Story) takes it all on. Directed by Alisa Palmer, this incredibly compassionate look at the human condition, as told through Flacks’ experiences, is instantly recognizable and relatable,…
In 2019, Rachel Cairns found herself unexpectedly expecting, just before she was to fly home for the holidays. She shares her journey through this experience, what led to it and happened since, in her world premiere production of Hypothetical Baby. Written by and starring Cairns, and beautifully directed by Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, this moving solo…
A dark stage. A blinding white light. A man in a suit. What follows is eighty minutes of stream of consciousness perfection. One of two plays by Daniel MacIvor on stage now at Factory Theatre, Here Lies Henry is a riveting, witty, solo show about lying, love, and life. Beautifully directed by Tawiah M’Carthy and…
A View from the Box 