Author Archive
Review: Spent (Theatre Smith-Gilmour)
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been affected by the financial crisis in the last couple of years. Heck, even with no assets to my name to lose I find myself scrounging for change in the couch for subway fare. Of course, any world crisis is always ripe for parody and countless plays and tv shows pop up to give their own commentary on the disaster. Spent, which opened last night at the Factory Theatre, is one of those many shows. It’s one of the only shows, though, that does it right. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Hard Times- Puppetmongers
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
Do you like puppets? Do you like Charles Dickens and his commentary on social class structure? Then Puppetmongers‘ Hard Times, currently playing at Theatre Passe Muraille, is right up your alley. And if you’re one of the many who are thinking that a puppet show would be meant for children, this is the show that will teach you otherwise. Read the rest of this entry »
Review- Ali & Ali: The Deportation Hearings (Neworld Theatre)
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
Ali & Ali: The Deportation Hearings, which opened this week at the Factory Theatre, is the sort of play that relies entirely on its actors to pull off the heavy political messages it’s giving. For the most part they do, providing many laughs throughout the night. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: This Is The Thing (Charcoal Sketch Productions)
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
This Is The Thing, which opened this week at Theatre Passe Muraille, is about one man’s journey to make sense of the world around him. I’m usually wary of these types of one-person shows but this one proved to be a moving night of theatre. Read the rest of this entry »
Junction Arts Festival: Day 1
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
Many Torontonians are lining up to get their TIFF tickets this weekend, but tucked away in High Park and Dundas Street West is another festival. It’s the Junction Arts Festival which kicked off last night to an enthusiastic crowd and although it may be smaller than TIFF, it still certainly has a lot to offer. Read the rest of this entry »
Toronto Theatre Review: How Now Mrs. Brown Cow (Mrs. Brown's Boys Ltd)
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
From the opening musical number of How Now, Mrs Brown Cow, which opened this week at the Canon Theatre, I could tell this was going to be a different kind of comedy than I had been used to seeing on the stage recently. Where many comedic plays now are often a bit darker, How Now, Mrs. Brown Cow is pretty much like watching a sit-com on stage. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Stephen Harper the Musical (The Shehori Brothers)
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
New musical shows just how entertaining our PM is on the Toronto stage
Oh, Stephen Harper. He’s been the butt of so many jokes, and yet has managed to get elected successfully without any real problem. How on earth does he do it? More importantly, after many poorly executed decisions, how does he hope to get popular again? Daniel and Steven Shehori explore this in their new show, Stephen Harper the Musical currently playing at Second City. Read the rest of this entry »
1/4 Life Crisis (8 Monkeys Productions)- 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
As a girl in her mid-twenties, I can relate to many of the stories told in 1/4 Life Crisis, currently playing at the Fringe. Most people in my age group seem to have gone through it, myself included. The recent phenomena has inspired musicals, movies, novels and now, a one person show. Read the rest of this entry »
Morro and Jasp GONE WILD (U.N.I.T. Productions)- 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
I was supposed to go to the opening performance of Morro and Jasp GONE WILD last week, but since the show was almost sold out there could be no ticket guaranteed. Determined to get it covered, I went to the 11pm show tonight. And after watching it, I have to admit, I feel pretty useless. With amazing buzz and sold out shows, these two clowns are hardly in need of my paltry words. But for those few who haven’t yet decided whether to go or haven’t yet even heard of the show, let this be your confirmation that this is a show that cannot be missed. Read the rest of this entry »
Act Now! (Proper Entertainment)- 2010 Toronto Fringe Review
By Lucy
by Lucy Allen
There’s a limited time offer for this Toronto Fringe musical, don’t miss it!
When I told my friend I was going to see Act Now!, a musical about infomercials, his response was “How much material can you get out of an infomericial?” Enough for a Fringe show it seems, and definately enough for what amounted to be a very solid and entertaining musical. Read the rest of this entry »