Shows That Caught Our Eye This Week
This week is an embarrassment of riches for theatre in Toronto. There’s so much to see so get out to the theatre! The shows I’ve indicated with two asterisks and red text are the ones I’d love to see this week. See if you agree or go check out anything else that speaks to you.
Already Covered By MoT…
Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Starvox Entertainment presents an homage to the John Cleese TV series featuring the audience as guests at the wacky inn in a partially improvised show. Opens Feb 27 and runs to Apr 19, Tue-Thu 7 pm, Fri-Sat 6 and 8 pm, Sun 6 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 pm. $60-$100. In the O’Keefe Lounge. http://sonycentre.ca/
How to Kill a Comedian Second City presents its Spring 2015 Mainstage revue. In previews, opens Mar 9, Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm, plus Sat 10 pm. $25-$45, stu $16-$18. http://secondcity.com/
Infinity by Hannah Moscovitch (Tarragon Theatre/Volcano Theatre). A young mathematician explores the seeming impossibility of love. Previews from Mar 25, opens Apr 1 and runs to May 3, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm (and some Sat). $29-$55, previews $23-$27. In the Extraspace. http://tarragontheatre.com/
**Once by Enda Walsh, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (Mirvish). An Irish musician and a Czech immigrant are drawn together by their shared love of music. Previews Feb 10-21, opens Feb 22 and runs to May 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $29-$130. Ed Mirvish Theatre 244 Victoria. http://mirvish.com/
And the rest…
Agua Como Vida Harbourfront NextSteps and Ballet Creole present dance that explores the universal connectivity of Earth’s most valuable resource, water. Apr 17-18, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20-$45. http://harbourfrontcentre.com/
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (George Brown Theatre). Adaption of the epic novel of vengeance, infidelity and retribution. To Apr 18, see website for times. $8-$20. http://tickets.youngcentre.ca/
The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini (Canadian Opera Company). A barber helps a nobleman woo his true love in this Italian comic opera. Sung in Italian with English subtitles. Opens Apr 17 and runs to May 22, see website for schedule. $12-$424. http://coc.ca/
Boston Marriage by David Mamet (Campbell House/Headstrong Collective). Two women hatch schemes around money and relationships in Victorian England. Previews Apr 7-8, opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $20. http://bostonmarriageto.bpt.me/
Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley (Sterling Theatre Company). A kitchen in the deep South and a 30th birthday for the eldest is the setting for this Chekhovian play about three sisters. Opens Apr 18 and runs to May 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $15-$20. http://sterlingstudiotheatre.com/
Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye – The Farewell Tour (Mirvish). Dame Edna Everage dispels tabloid rumours and talks about her rise to stardom. Opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $29-$99. http://mirvish.com/
Dance Matters, Series 3 – From the Fryin’ Pan Dance Matters presents new works by Louis Laberge-Côté & Michael Caldwell, Sébastien Provencher & Stephanie Fromentin and Anastasia Shivrina & Jessie Garon. Apr 18-19, Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm. $14-$18, limited pwyc. http://dancematters.ca/tix
Emily’s Piano by Mark Cassidy (Young People’s Theatre). A search for a family’s piano reveals the healing power of hope in this adaptation of Charlotte Gingras’s novel. Opens Apr 13 and runs to May 2, see website for schedule. $15-$30. http://youngpeoplestheatre.ca/
The End of Civilization by George F. Walker (Triple Bypass Productions). A suburban family’s safety net cracks under the pressure of one too many first-world problems. Opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 19, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20. http://theendofcivilization.bpt.me/
Glengarry Glen Ross – Female Version by David Mamet (Jet Girls Productions). The drama about cutthroat real estate salesmen pushing plots of land on reluctant buyers is staged with an all-female cast. Previews Apr 15, opens Apr 16 and runs to Apr 26, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, preview $15. http://redsandcastletheatre.com/
Hold Mommy’s Cigarette (Shelley Marshall). Marshall performs her solo dark comedy about life, mental illness and survival. Apr 16-19, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25. http://holdmommyscigarette.com/
Hooked by Carolyn Smart (TPM). Smart brings the stories of female poets to life onstage. Previews Apr 16-19, opens Apr 21 and runs to May 10, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $17-$33, mat pwyc at the door. http://artsboxoffice.ca/
I Am Marguerite by Shirley Barrie (Alumnae Theatre). A woman is banished to an island off Newfoundland for choosing love over duty in 16th-century Canada. Opens Apr 10 and runs to Apr 25, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. http://alumnaetheatre.com/
Kingstonia: Up From Under by Ann Holloway (Mummy Productions). Comedy about our women ancestors, who summoned the courage to speak out by deploying laughter as rebellion against misogyny. Opens Apr 17 and runs to Apr 26, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm. $10, Sun pwyc. http://buddiesinbadtimes.com/
** Little Death by Daniel Karasik (Little Death Collective/The Riser Project). Confronted with his mortality, a man searches for sex and connection in hotel bars – with his wife’s conflicted blessing. Previews Apr 17, opens Apr 18 and runs to May 3, Tue-Sat 9 pm, see website for other times. $19-$25, preview $15. http://theatrecentre.org/
Me So You So Me Harbourfront World Stage presents Out Innerspace Dance Theatre mixing martial arts, mime, kathak and ballet to present a manga-inspired slapstick dance story. Apr 15-18, Wed-Thu 8 pm. $25-$35. http://harbourfrontcentre.com/
Mouthpiece by Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava (Quote Unquote Collective/The Riser Project). Two performers express the inner conflict that exists within a modern woman’s head using voice, text and movement. Previews Apr 17, opens Apr 18 and runs to May 3, Wed-Sun 7 pm. $20, stu/srs $18, limited Sun pwyc at the door. http://theatrecentre.org/
** Odysseo (Cavalia). Theatre artists and horses create a spectacle combining equestrian arts, stage arts and special effects. Opens Apr 8 and runs to May 10, see website for schedule. $34.50-$264.50. http://cavalia.net/
** Orpheus and Eurydice Opera Atelier presents Berlioz’s version of Gluck’s timeless love story based on the Greek myth. Opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 18: Apr 9, 11, 14 and 17 at 7:30 pm; Apr 12 at 3 pm; Apr 18 at 4:30 pm. $38-$181. http://operaatelier.com/
Out at Sea by Slawomir Mrozek (Leroy Street Theatre). Three women are stranded at sea must decide which of them is to become dinner for the other two in this satirical, absurdist play. Opens Apr 14 and runs to Apr 19 Tue-Sun 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20. http://leroystreettheatre.com/
Pearle Harbour’s Rebel Without A Clue (Sweet Tooth Theatre). This bouffonesque drag extravaganza plays with our online culture of outrage, call-outs, spoilers and public humiliation. Apr 16-18 at 8 pm. $15. http://facebook.com/events/780425098721205
Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen (George Brown Theatre). A man tries to restore his family’s riches but gets lost in boasting and daydreams. To Apr 18, see website for times. $8-$20. http://tickets.youngcentre.ca/
Shakesbeer The Classical Theatre Project presents a performance of The Complete Works Of Shakespeare (Abridged) in a pop-up theatre tavern setting. Apr 18 at 6:30 and 9 pm. $49-$79. http://shakesbeer.ca/
** Spotlight South Africa Theatre, music and dance performances celebrate the artistic output of South Africa. Apr 8-26, see website for schedule and prices/packages. Performances also at Bluma Appel Theatre (27 Front E). http://canadianstage.com/
Stories by Alice Munro: The Office & Dolly Word for Word and Z Space present a theatrical rendition of two short stories by the legendary author featuring two spirited female protagonists. Apr 16-19, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 & 7 pm. $39-$54. http://storiesbyalicemunro.com/
Therefore Choose Life by Kathy Kacer and Jake Epstien (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). A Holocaust survivor who made a new life in Canada receives a letter from his first true love. Previews Apr 18-22, opens Apr 23 and runs to May 10, Tue-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, mat Wed 1 pm, Sun 2 pm. $tba. In the Greenwin Theatre. http://hgjewishtheatre.com/
Tom At The Farm by Michel Marc Bouchard (BIBT). A man goes to the country for his lover’s funeral and discovers the lies he told his family. Previews Apr 11-15, opens Apr 16 and runs to May 10, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm (all previews at 8 pm). $20-$37, rush $20, Sun pwyc at the door. http://buddiesinbadtimes.com/
The Tragedie of Othello, The Moore of Venice (Ale House Theatre) Shakespeare’s classic Othello. Opens Apr 17 and runs to May 2, Thu-Sun 8 pm, mat Apr 19 and May 2 at 2 pm. $20-$35. http://othellotoronto.brownpapertickets.com/
Listings based on NOW! Stage listings.