Candid love letters explore the distance in correspondence in Cher Menteur/Dear Liar at Toronto’s Berkeley Theatre

In Cher Menteur/Dear Liar, the Théâtre français explores the–often very convoluted–romance between the famous George Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell, a leading actress at the turn of the 20th Century. Their relationship was turbulent, swinging from infatuation to revulsion and back again. Historians believe that, while it may have been the greatest romance in both of their lives, the ties between them remained unconsummated. Both married other people, and although the two exchanged ideas and took inspiration from one another, in smaller or greater ways, throughout their lives, their only notable joint project was Shaw’s Pygmalion.

Cher Menteur/Dear Liar (presented in French, with English surtitles) explores this relationship through their correspondence, itself a point of considerable tension between the pair. Fortunately, both Shaw and Campbell were witty fiends, and the playfulness inherent in these letters–even when things are on the rocks–shines through, more than a century later.

Continue reading Review: Cher Menteur/Dear Liar (Théâtre français de Toronto) →

The music and theatrics of Bollywood enlivens Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille in Same Same But Different

Same Same But Different, now onstage at Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille, is two plays in one. Both acts are capable of standing alone as completed works, and have done so to acclaim in the past. With timeless themes forming a shared backbone, this fine night of theatre shows us both sides of the same rupee.

Same Same But Different is the brainchild of uber-talented Anita Majumdar. Majumdar wrote, choreographed and stars in the play. She’s onstage for the vast majority of the two acts, and the total running time is about 2 hours and 40 minutes. That might sound like a recipe for “we’re going to grow tired of this woman”, but trust me, you won’t.
Continue reading Review: Same Same But Different (Theatre Passe Muraille and ATP in assoc. with Nightswimming) →

Poetry meets theatre in Forgiveness playing in Toronto at the Great Hall’s Black Box Theatre

Forgiveness: a theatrical poem is playing at the Black Box Theatre and the show opens with a microphone on a cord being lowered to a tape player resting on a chair. Recorded voices talk about forgiveness and their take on it. The first scene erupts in violence, chaos and movement before we land again in the presence of a couple at odds with each other. Forgiveness is  a series of scenes dealing with the titular theme and that theme is explored in romantic and familial relationships, between strangers, in empty political apologies, in war crimes, and with the self.

Continue reading Review: Forgiveness: a theatrical poem (Modern Times Stage Company) →

An in-depth look at the struggles of teen girls, Emotional Creature is playing at Toronto’s Young People’s Theatre Feb 22-23

It has often been said that a single voice can’t change the world. But it is only the brave and unrelenting who dare to try that will have their voices heard.

Written by award-winning playwright Eve Ensler, Emotional Creature  (presented by  V-Day Toronto in conjunction with Nightwood Theatre and Young People’s Theatre) chronicles the coming-of-age experiences of 13 girls – all in order to raise awareness surrounding the injustices that many young women must endure.

“Emotional Creature is about girls around the world and asks all young people and particularly girls to contemplate the circumstances of others, connect to those circumstances, and be a voice for those whose circumstances keep their voices silent,” wrote Tanisha Taitt, the show’s director, in an email to Mooney on Theatre.

Touted as a success by various press outlets like The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly, Emotional Creature makes its Canadian debut this Saturday at the Young People’s Theatre.

Continue reading Preview: Emotional Creature (V-Day Toronto) →

Choral vocals and ensemble movement blend for a unique night of  Toronto theatre in The Caucasian Chalk Circle

This is not my first trek down the rabbit hole and into the crazy epic theatre world of Bertolt Brecht. Being both impressed and dazzled by my previous sojourn, the idea that Humber Theatre (Humber College being my own alma mater) was taking on Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle immediately piqued my curiosity. Accompanying me for the evening would be my friend Grace, my previous Brecht date.

The Caucasian Chalk Circle is fashioned loosely as a play within a play featuring a community of villagers exhausted from the aftereffects of war. Within this play, a servant girl takes on the care and raising of an abandoned baby, the Governess’ child, and endures two years of hardships and struggles in order to raise it. The final question remains: who is the true mother?

There’s something uncanny and fantastical about Brecht’s work, and how that translates is simply this — expect the unexpected.

Continue reading Review: Caucasian Chalk Circle (Humber Theatre) →