Bachelor Man – Renaissance Canadian Theatre On July 1st, 1929, Toronto Chinatown teahouse owner, John, greets an extraordinary day. John left his wife in China. So did Grandad. Six men and the two women who enter their lives, grapple with the 6th anniversary of the Exclusion Act, the immigration act that prevented the wives and…
Imagine walking down Dundas Street and only ever seeing the faces of other men; there’s not a woman in sight, and what few might be living there stay dutifully hidden away. This was the reality of Toronto’s Chinatown, and the country at large, for over twenty years while The Exclusion Act was in effect. Winston…
If you were active on the internet in 2017, then you likely hear about the failed event The Fyre Festival; supposed to be a luxury music festival in the Bahamas, it quickly turned into an episode of “Survivor.” This failed festival, along with the creators and attendees, are the subject of Theatre Ya Knowww’s latest…
Power. Prejudice. Vengance. When a professor takes things too far with a struggling student, how will she retaliate? Will the professor be punished? Who can possibly win in this situation? David Mamet’s Oleanna, directed by Icarus Theatre’s artistic director Anthony Goncharov, is a scathing exploration of the abuse of power within academia. Featuring intriguing design…
Hear ye, hear ye! Withrow Park is coming alive yet again this year with a new work from Shakespeare in the Ruff. Behold the comedically tragic story of Tiff’ny of Athens: witness this wealthy influencer’s fall from grace right before your eyes. Expertly adapted by Nathaniel Hanula-James and Christine Horne, and deftly directed by Patricia…
What happens when a visit from an old friend turns into more than just reminiscing and sharing a meal? Harold Pinter’s Old Times, directed by Peter Pasyk, takes its cues from absurdist theatre while dialing the (sexual) tension to eleven. Beautiful design and a haunting text make Old Times an intriguing production. Old Times is…
Imagine waking up for the first time. You haven't been asleep, but you haven't been awake either. No one around you notices. What is different? What has changed? Will this society cast you out as defective? Can you return? And even if you do return, will it be what you remembered? Devon Healey’s Rainbow on…
The harsh reality of caring for a pet is the knowledge that unless it’s a parrot or a tortoise, you are going to outlive that beautiful being who has brought so much love and joy into your life. But if you loose that beloved pet before its time, the loss can be unimaginable. Ethan Persyko…
“The story you are about to see has been told before. A lot. And now we are going to tell it again. But different.” The opening lines to Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil’s film “Gnomeo and Juliet” effectively sums up what it is do to Shakespeare’s works today, particularly his most popular romantic tragedy Romeo…
It’s hard to believe, but this was my last day of reviewing the Toronto Fringe for this year! I saw a total of 29 shows over 9 days and what a whirlwind it was (as usual)! Here are my last three reviews, and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend of Fringing ahead! Eleanor…
A View from the Box 