Eye-Catching Toronto Theatre for the Week of April 2, 2012

Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of April 2, 2012: ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Sonia, one of our Editors, wish she could quit her evening job so she could check them all out.

Already covered by MoT

BOEING-BOEING by Marc Camoletti (Rogue Theatre). A man juggles three fiancées in this comedy. Previews Mar 27. Opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 8. $25, stu $15. Common Good, Underground Space, 837 Dundas W. secureaseat.com.

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham (Angelwalk Theatre). An uptight man meets a flighty woman in this musical modern twist on Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. Previews Mar 28-29. Opens Mar 30 and runs to Apr 15. $35-$45, previews $30.Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, 5040 Yonge. 416-872-1111, angelwalk.ca.

**LIVE WRONG AND PROSPER Second City presents its latest revue of sketches, songs and improvisations. Wed-Sat 8 pm, plus Sat 10:30 pm, Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

**MY GRANNY THE GOLDFISH by Anosh Irani (Factory Theatre). A neurotic man’s Indian grandmother comes to Canada to help him recover from illness. Previews Mar 17-21. Opens Mar 22 and runs to Apr 15. $30-$40, mat pwyc, previews $20. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

POTTED POTTER by Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner (Starvox Entertainment/Potted Productions). Clarkson and Turner use costumes, props and music to perform all seven Harry Potter books in 70 minutes. Previews Feb 11-12. Opens Feb 14 and runs to Apr 8. $29.95-$99.95. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 1-800-461-3333, mirvish.com

THE NUN’S VACATION by Tom Walmsley (Doghouse Riley Productions). This play about a nun, an ex-priest turned psychologist and one of his patients looks at the nature of love, god and tolerance. Opens Mar 23 and runs to Apr 8. $20. Toronto Free Gallery, 1277 Bloor W. dhrproductions.com.

THE SMALL ROOM AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS by Carole Fréchette (Tarragon Theatre). A woman debates entering her husband’s secret room. Previews Feb 29-Mar 6. Opens Mar 7 and runs to Apr 8. $21-$51. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

WAR HORSE based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford (National Theatre of Great Britain/Mirvish). An English boy sets out to find his horse after it’s sold to the cavalry and shipped off to France during WWI. Previews Feb 10-27. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Sep 30. $35-$130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

And the rest…

60TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT The National Ballet of Canada presents a celebration with performances of works by Alexander Borodin, Joby Talbot and more. Apr 3 at 8 pm. $30-$55. Royal Conservatory of Music, Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor W. 416-408-0208, rcmusic.ca.

AJAX & LITTLE ILIAD by Evan Webber and Frank Cox-O’Connell (Harbourfront World Stage). These interrelated multimedia works look at an attempted adaptation of a Sophoclean war story. Opens Apr 4 and runs to Apr 8. $15-$35. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

**BLISS by Olivier Choinière (Candles Are for Burning). Céline Dion speaks through an oracle to Walmart cashiers in this surrealist play about our appetite for celebrity. Previews Mar 27-28. Opens Mar 29 and runs to Apr 8. $23-$33, stu $19-$27, mat pwyc at the door. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

CLYBOURNE PARK by Bruce Norris (Studio 180 Theatre/Canadian Stage). A battle over race and real estate rages over two generations in a suburban Chicago neighbourhood. Previews Apr 2-4. Opens Apr 5 and runs to Apr 28. $22-$49, limited Mon pwyc. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, studio180theatre.com.

DREAMDANCE presents improvised music and dance with Lesley Greco, plus musicians. Apr 4 at 8 pm. $8. Somewhere There Studio, 227 Sterling, unit 112. coexisdance.wordpress.com.

EASTERWEEN (John Southworth and Andrew Downing). A musical cabaret tells a magic-realist tale about a mythical egg hunt during an eternal winter. Apr 4-5. $15. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. easterween.ca.

FUNKYLAND (Famous People Players). The blacklight theatre company presents a twist on Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland. Opens Jan 24 and runs to Apr 28. $62, srs $56, child $40 (includes meal). 343 Evans. 416-532-1137, fpp.org.

GBD SPRING SHOWCASE 2012 George Brown Dance presents a performance by graduating students. Apr 4-5. $25. Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

HEART STRINGS, THE MUSICAL (Reynold Nathaniel). In 1908, an Italian apprentice goes to Ireland to deliver an anniversary gift from Germany. Opens Mar 23 and runs to Apr 28. $20-$25.The Annex Live, 296 Brunswick. 416-929-3999.

**JACK AND THE GIANT BEANSTALK by Linda A Carson (Young People’s Theatre). This version of the classic children’s folk tale features audience participation. Opens Apr 2 and runs to Apr 21. $10-$20. 165 Front E. 416-862-2222, youngpeoplestheatre.ca. 

LES ADIEUX II (Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre). Jacqueline Woodley, a graduating artists of the COC Ensemble Studio, performs her favourite arias and ensembles. Apr 4 at noon. Free. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. coc.ca.

PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann and John Gregor (Vital Theatre). A girl turns pink after eating too many cupcakes in this family show. Opens Aug 21 and runs to Dec 18. Jan 15-May 27. $29.50-$39.50. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-642-8973, vitaltheatre.ca.

SIA by Matthew MacKenzie (Cahoots Theatre Company). A Canadian student volunteering in West Africa is taken hostage by a former child soldier. Previews Mar 24-25. Opens Mar 27 and runs to Apr 15. $30, stu/srs $25, mats pwyc-$18.75. Factory Theatre, Studio, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, cahoots.ca.

SIX DEGREES SALSA COMPETITION Six Degrees presents the finals for the international professional competition. Apr 3 doors 9 pm. $15-$20. 2335 Yonge. sixdegreesvenue.com.

THE CARNEGIE HALL SHOW The National Theatre of the World presents a monthly improv show w/ Matt Baram, Naomi Sniekus, Ron Pederson, Chris Gibbs and guests. Mar 2 Doors 10:30 pm, Apr 6 Doors 10:30 pm. $12, stu $6. Second City, 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, thenationaltheatreoftheworld.com.

THE DUCK VARIATIONS by David Mamet (Glance Productions). Two friends watch ducks in a park while obliquely talking about life, aging and death. Opens Apr 3 and runs to Apr 14. $18, stu/srs $15. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. 416-845-9411, glanceproductions.ca.

THE GREEN DOOR CABARET SERIES (Lower Ossington Theatre). This series features cabaret performances by Joel Hartt, Randy Vancourt, Kelly Holiff and others. Opens Mar 2 and runs to Apr 7. $20-$30. 100A Ossington. lowerossingtontheatre.com/cabaret.

THE HALLWAY by Leah-Simone Bowen (Obsidian Development Series). Black tenants of a rooming house struggle with daily life in this workshop production set in 1936. Apr 7 at 2 pm. $10. The Cannery, 55 Mill, Bldg 58, Studio 315. 416-463-8444, obsidian-theatre.com.

THE UNCONVENTIONAL DEATH OF JOSIE WELLS  by Adam Revesz (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto). Revesz’s screenplay gets a reading, followed by discussion. Apr 4 at 7:30 pm. $5. Xpace, 58 Ossington. lift.on.ca/mt/liftoutloud.html.

THE WOLF by Edmund Stay (Michelle Nir). An outbreak of strange murders lead paranoid townsfolk to turn on each other in this folktale musical play. Apr 7-8 at 8 pm. $15. 918 Bathurst Centre, 918 Bathurst. jenniferjunemurphy@gmail.com. 918bathurst.com

TORONTO PASSION PLAY (Queensway Cathedral). This theatrical musical tells the Easter story. Apr 6-8. $5. 1536 the Queensway. torontopassionplay.com.

**WAS SPRING by Daniel MacIvor (Tarragon Theatre). Three women from different generations confront each other about an incident in their shared past. Previews Mar 27-Apr 3. Opens Apr 4 and runs to May 6. $24-$51. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*