Here’s what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. Get out there and see a show during the week of August 1, 2011:
** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish he could exist in multiple parallel universes so he could check them all out.
Already Covered by MoT
**BEST OF FRINGE UPTOWN (Fringe Toronto). Encore performances of Hypnogogic Logic By Uncalled For; ELLAmentary; Living With Henry;Kim’s Convenience; Love, Virtually; Mickey & Judy; Pitch Blond;Remember, Maggy?; The Soaps; The Travelling Salesman & His Magical Suitcase Of Desires; and Tiki Bikini Beach Paradise Party A-Go-Go. Opens Jul 20 and runs to Aug 5, shows performed in rep, nightly at 7 and 9 pm, mats Jul 29-30 at 4 pm. See website for details. $15. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. tocentre.com.
**BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR by Eric Peterson and John Gray (Soulpepper Theatre Company). Soulpepper remounts its hit production about the famous WWI fighter pilot. Previews Jun 1. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Aug 4, see website for schedule. $45-$65, stu $28, rush $22 (stu $5). Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
**BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL by Lee Hall and Elton John (Mirvish). A boy leaves boxing for ballet while his family struggles with economic troubles in small-town England. Previews Feb 1-28. Opens Mar 1 and runs to Sep 3, Tue 7 pm, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $36-$130. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
LYSISTRATA – THE SEX STRIKE adapted by Germaine Greer (Hart House Theatre/Canopy Theatre). Aristophanes’s Greek comedy about women who withhold sex until the men end the wars gets an outdoor staging. Opens Jul 20 and runs to Aug 6, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $10, stu/srs $8, Wed pwyc. Philosopher’s Walk, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-8849, canopytheatre.ca.
**THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams (Soulpepper). A broken family struggles to fulfill their dreams in this memory play. Previews Jul 1-5. Opens Jul 6 and runs to Sep 10, see website for schedule. $45-$65, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
**THE KREUTZER SONATA adapted by Ted Dykstra (Soulpepper). Dykstra performs his adaptation of Tolstoy’s novella inspired by Beethoven’s sonata. Previews Jul 12-14. Opens Jul 15 and runs to Aug 11, see website for schedule. $25-$35, rush $5-$22. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE PEDALER’S WAGER (Clay & Paper Theatre). The theatre and CYCLOPS troupes present a production featuring puppets and bicycles. Opens Jul 20 and runs to Aug 14, Wed-Sun 7 pm, mat Fri 2 pm (weekend mobile matinees at 2 pm; see website for details). Pwyc ($10 suggested). Dufferin Grove Park, Dufferin S of Bloor. clayandpapertheatre.org/cyclops.
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN by Edith Nesbit (Mirvish). Three siblings struggle to survive after their father is imprisoned in Edwardian England. Opens May 3 and runs to Aug 14, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $25-$99. Roundhouse Theatre, 255 Bremner Blvd. mirvish.com.
**THE WINTER’S TALE by William Shakespeare (Canadian Stage Dream in High Park). A jealous king puts his wife on trial in this outdoor production. Opens Jun 28 and runs to Sep 4, Tue-Sun 8 pm. Pwyc ($20 sugg); under 14 free. High Park Amphitheatre, Bloor W and Parkside. canadianstage.com/dream.
WISHFUL DRINKING by Carrie Fisher (Mirvish). Fisher recalls the true tale of her life in Hollywood in this solo show. Opens Jul 12 and runs to Aug 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $35-$99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
And the rest…
BITCH SALAD: BIG BUSINESS Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents Andrew Johnston and Sara Hennessey in a co-feature edition. Aug 6 8:30 pm. $10. 12 Alexander. femaledogsalad@gmail.com.
DUSK DANCES 2011 presents the outdoor dance festival featuring Karen Kaeja, Lua Shayenne & Roshanak Jaberi, the Contingency Plan, Throwdown Collective and Michael Caldwell. Opens Aug 2 and runs to Aug 7, Tue-Sun 7 pm. Pwyc. Withrow Park, 725 Logan. duskdances.ca.
GOODBYE MR BOND: A RETIREMENT PARTY FOR 007 (Mysteriously Yours… Dinner Theatre). Friends, enemies and past lovers celebrate the secret agent’s retirement. Aug 5 at 8 pm (dinner from 6:30 pm). $40-$51 (show only; dinner package $72-$83). 2026 Yonge. 416-486-7469, mysteriouslyyours.com.
ISLAND SOUL (Harbourfront Centre). This Caribbean cultural festival features an Ole Mas carnival parade, dance, music and more. Jul 29-Aug 1, see website for schedule. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS by William Shakespeare (Humber River Shakespeare Co). Mistaken identities lead to trouble in this comedy presented outdoors. Opens Jul 24 at 2 pm. Jul 30-Aug 1, Sat 7 pm, Sun-Mon 2 pm. Pwyc. Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas W. 416-209-2026, humberrivershakespeare.ca.
READINGS IN THE ROUGH (Fairly Lucid Productions). The audience provides feedback to help develop the play in this reading of Fading Franky Knight With Wooden Eyes Watching/Handicraft by Maxine Mellor. Aug 1 at 7 pm. $5. Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor W. comedybar.ca.
SOLT 2011 OPERA WORKSHOP SERIES (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre). This series features workshop productions of Mozart’s Idomeneo, Verdi’s La Traviata and Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land. Opens Jul 29 and runs to Aug 7, see website for schedule. $26, stu/srs $22. Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College. 416-978-7986, solt.ca.
UNSPOKEN (Nina Kaye). Vignettes show various characters connected through themes in the poetry of WB Yeats in this play reading. Aug 7 at 2 pm. Free (donations welcome). Ralph Thornton Centre, 3rd floor, 765 Queen E. 416-392-6810. ralphthorton.org
WHAT’S CLASSICAL? Harbourfront Centre presents a music festival with tango demonstrations by Rhythm & Motion and a performance by Tango Soul. Aug 5-7, see website for schedule. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.