Author Archive
Review: The Last Five Years (Clearwater Theatre Company)
You know what they say: “There’s two sides to every story”. The Last Five Years, presented by Clearwater Theatre Company in Tarragon’s Extra Space, is an exploration of this very notion.
The Last Five Years is a musical inspired by Jason Robert Brown’s failed marriage. It’s a two-hander where Cathy’s story is told in reverse-chronological order and Jamie’s is told chronologically. It explores the complexities and heartbreaks involved in the declination of a relationship. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Lower Ossington Theatre)
Remember when Donny Osmond did the film version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat? I remember when his performance made my 11-year-old heart flutter when I watched the VHS every day for two months. Embarrassing. Regardless, Joseph (sans Donny) is currently playing at the Lower Ossington Theatre.
Joseph is a story from Genesis, the first book of the Bible. It tells the tale of Joseph, one of Jacob’s 12 sons. Joseph was his father’s favourite son and, as such, was hated by all of his brothers who opted to sell him to be a slave. Through a bizarre series of events, Joseph becomes to right-hand man to the Egyptian Pharaoh. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Rocky Horror Show (Lower Ossington Theatre)
I’m going to start by saying this: do not expect to see toast thrown. There is a strict no-toast-throwing rule. I know. I was disappointed as well.
Rocky Horror Show is currently playing at the Lower Ossington Theatre. And while you’ve probably seen different versions of this show a million times, this company has managed to breathe new life, new energy, and a new look into the Transylvanian classic. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: The Queens (Glasswater Theatre)
It seems to be my lot in life – at least my Mooney on Theatre life – to review all things pertaining to Richard III. And they are many, very many, as of late. So many in fact, that I probably don’t need to reiterate the plot of Shakespeare’s history play.
I went into Glasswater Theatre’s opening night of The Queens at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse thinking that I was going to see an in-depth look at the women of Shakespeare’s Richard III. This may have been a mistake on my part. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Rent (Fallen Rock Productions)
I wasn’t sure if I was going to dig the venue at first, but the Bathurst Street Theatre has been transformed into the perfect stage for Fallen Rock Productions production of Rent.
The cast is young. Many of the fresh faces are recent University graduates and, for most of the cast members, this is their debut performance with Fallen Rock Productions. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Crookback: An Adaptation of Richard III (Beacon Theatre Company)
by Michelle Barker
I need to start by saying that Tim Welham, creator and performer of Crookback: An Adaptation of Richard III, is a genius. Good. That’s out of my system. More on this later.
Crookback is a look at the well-known story of murderous King Richard of Gloucester. Richard, notorious for murdering all those who were blocking his path to the throne of England, is one of Shakespeare’s most vilified characters. In Welham’s adaptation, we see the action of the play through Richard’s point of view. And there is no point of view that’s scarier or more disturbing. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Buzz Festival (Theatre Passe Muraille)
by Michelle Barker
I’m going to start off by saying that this review won’t be a review so much as a piece about my experience with the Buzz Festival at Theatre Passe Muraille. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Buzz Festival, it is a festival that showcases excerpts of new works from Toronto artists. I was fortunate enough to stage manage a show during the Buzz Festival last fall and I’ve been as earnest advocate of Buzz ever since.
Review: Morro and Jasp GONE WILD (U.N.I.T Productions)
By Michelle Barker
While walking into the backspace of Theatre Passe Muraille tonight, I realized that Morro and Jasp GONE WILD is the third Clown piece that I have reviewed for Mooney on Theatre. It is also the next in a series created by co-creaters of Morro and Jasp, Amy Lee and Heather Marie Annis. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Are You Okay (Necessary Angel Theatre Company)
by Michelle Barker
Now, when I was looking at the playlistings for the coming week, I immediately asked to review this piece. Not because I read the synopsis or the concept for Are You Okay. Rather because of the two theatrical gems that created the piece and the exquisite creative team that supported them throughout the process. My show partner, Val, had the exact same response when I asked her if she wanted to accompany me to the show. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: A Chorus Line (Toronto Youth Theatre)
By Michelle Barker
It’s a show about what happens before the show can happen. 17 dancers stand on a white line downstage and wait anxiously to be told whether or not they’ve made the cut.
I’m going to be honest, I went into the Lower Ossington Theatre tonight without ever having seen A Chorus Line and expecting to hate it. I don’t love musical theatre. I’ve noted it before and I’ll probably note it again… it’s not my thing. And the way my roommate, Rodney (a dancer himself), described the show, I thought I would be forced to hide eye rolls for the duration of its two-hour running time. Read the rest of this entry »