Review: Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata (Factory Theatre and Acting Up Stage Company)

There are 90 minutes of wonderful in this musical Craigslist-inspired production at Toronto’s Factory Theatre

Factory Theatre torontoI have to admit that both my companion J and I went to seeĀ  Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata at Factory Theatre tonight prepared to love it. And we did. But we would have even if we hadn’t been prepared to. It’s another great production from Acting Up Stage Company.

Written by Bill Richardson and Veda Hille, Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata is a collection of Craigslist ads set to music. These aren’t the ‘leather couch in good condition’ ads, these are the ‘child’s guillotine’ ads. And the ‘missed connection’ ads.

The show is 90 minutes of wonderful. Very funny.

Also quite touching. There’s a real yearning for connections, a strong sense of loneliness, that comes through some of the ads. Do people ever get together as a result of missed connection ads? I don’t know. The show doesn’t try to answer questions, there’s no plot, it isn’t that kind of musical.

It did make me wonder though about what happens afterwards. And about who responds to the ads. Personally I would wear an owl costume and be a night watcher for forty bucks an hour but I wouldn’t sit in a tub of pasta for a dollar.

The cast is great. Veda Hille plays the piano and sings, Barry Mirochnick is on drums. The ad singers are Bree Grieg, Selina Martin, Dmitry Chepovetsky and Daren A. Herbert. I loved Bree Grieg’s rendition of “Bus Boyfriend”, she looked so sweet and innocent. Daren Herbert has the best wink ever, not to mention a terrific voice and great moves.

Definitely go and see Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata. Get your tickets soon, it played to sold out audiences in Vancouver and I’m sure it will sell out here too.

And now I’m going to check some Craigslist ads.

Details:

  • Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata is playing at Factory Studio Theatre (125 Bathurst Street) until March 3rd.
  • Performances times are – Tuesday through Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 7 pm. Saturday matinee at 2 pm, Sunday matinee at 2.30 pm
  • Ticket prices range from $30.00 to $47.00. The Sunday matinee is PWC, tickets at the door one hour before the performance
  • Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at 416-504-9971, or online

Photo of (L to R) Selina Martin, Bree Greig, Dmitry Chepovetsky & Daren A. Herbert by Joanna Akyol