Toronto Play Listings for the Week of April 27, 2015

Shows That Caught Our Eye This Week

Hitchens infamously declared that women aren’t as funny as men, so let him roll over in his grave and go see the hilarious chicks at SheDot Festival! If you’ve got nostalgia for classics, new takes on old tales abound. There are also plenty of new productions. I’ve highlighted the shows we’d love to see this week with two asterisks ** and in red text. I hope they will strike your fancy, too.

Already Reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

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/

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/

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/

Locus Plot. Peggy Baker Dance Projects presents a full-length ensemble work in which dancers disrupt the underpinnings of the schematic mathematical formulae describing movement. Opens Apr 24 and runs to May 3, Wed-Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 4 pm. $28, stu/srs $22, Apr 29 pwyc. http://peggybakerdance.com/

The Love List. by Norm Foster (Encore Entertainment). A man questions what he wants after meeting his perfect match. Opens Apr 23 and runs to May 3, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $28-$29.50. Event Info

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/

** 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. http://mirvish.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/

 

And the Rest….

American Idiot. by Billie Joe Armstrong and Green Day (LOT). Three lifelong friends must choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia in this musical based on the Green Day album. Opens May 1 and runs to May 24, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, Sun 4 pm. $50-$60.  http://lowerossingtontheatre.com/

Aromas by Andrew Faiz (The Junes Company). This solo play explores faith and identity through a candid look at professional sex work. Opens Apr 28 and runs to May 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. Studio Theatre. http://aromastheplay.com/

CanAsian International Dance Festival. Harbourfront NextSteps and CanAsian Dance present pan-Asian dance ranging from traditional to contemporary. Apr 30-May 2, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $25-$30. http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/nextsteps/canasian-dance-festival/

Commencement by Clay McLeod Chapman (Convection Productions). One actor plays three women drawn together in the aftermath of a high school shooting. Opens May 1 and runs to May 10, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (and May 9) at 4 pm. $15-$20. http://bpt.me/1374075

Creditors by August Strindberg (The Coal Mine). A vengeful manipulator turns a man against his wife in this dark comedy. Previews Apr 26, opens Apr 28 and runs to May 17, Tue-Sun 7:30 pm. $15-$30. http://brownpapertickets.com/event/1364339

Earnest, The Importance of Being. by Victor Davies and Eugene Benson (Toronto Operetta Theatre). The company performs the contemporary Canadian musical based on Oscar Wilde’s play. Opens Apr 29 and runs to May 3, Wed & Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $72-$95.  http://torontooperetta.com/shows.html

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/

Fürerbunker. by Andrew Ager (Centre for Opera Studies in Italy). This one-act chamber opera looks at Hitler’s final 10 days in the bunker under the Berlin Reichs Chancellory. May 1-2 at 7:30 pm. $40, stu/srs $20. http://www.co-si.com/

George F. Walker Double Bill: After Class (Crazy Lady). Two plays – Parent’s Night and The Bigger Issue – are presented as part of a new play cycle by Walker. Previews Apr 21-22, opens Apr 23 and runs to May 17, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $17.50-$42.50, Sun pwyc at the door.  http://crazylady.info/

God and the Indian. by Drew Hayden Taylor (Native Earth Performing Arts/Firehall Arts Centre). A Cree woman panhandling outside a coffee shop recognizes a face from her childhood, in a residential school, and seeks to confront her abuser. Previews from May 2, opens May 6 and runs to May 17, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $15-$25. In the Aki Studio.  http://www.nativeearth.ca/godandtheindian2015/

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/

The Land of Promise by Somerset Maugham (Theatre Double Take/Snowdrop Productions). An English woman moves to Canada and struggles with class, culture and harsher labour in the early 1900s. Opens May 1 and runs to May 9, May 1-2 & 6-8 at 8 pm, May 3 & 9 at 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $15. http://snowdropproductions.com/

** Liver by Kat Sandler (The Slab Collective/Theatre Brouhaha Labs/Red One Theatre Collective). A man wakes up on a gurney missing his liver in this dark meditation on life, death, questions of youth and aging and how far we will go to live forever. Opens Apr 30 and runs to May 10, Wed-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $20-$25. http://secureaseat.com/

Locus Plot. Peggy Baker Dance Projects presents a full-length ensemble work in which dancers disrupt the underpinnings of the schematic mathematical formulae describing movement. Opens Apr 24 and runs to May 3, Wed-Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 4 pm. $28, stu/srs $22, Apr 29 pwyc.  http://peggybakerdance.com/upcoming/locus-plot

The Love List by Norm Foster (Encore Entertainment). A man questions what he wants after meeting his perfect match. Opens Apr 23 and runs to May 3, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $28-$29.50. http://encoreshow.com/

Madwoman of Chaillot. by Jean Giraudoux (Amicus Productions). An eccentric Parisian woman struggles against the straitlaced authority figures in her life. Opens Apr 30 and runs to May 9, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat May 3 and 9 at 2 pm. $22, stu/srs $20.

Momentum 2015. The School of Toronto Dance Theatre presents student dancers performing works by Julia Sasso, Sasha Ivanochko, Ofilio Sinbadinho, Christopher House and others. Opens Apr 30 and runs to May 9, Thu-Sat 8 pm, May 6 show/fundraiser 7:30 pm. $20, stu/srs $15, fundraiser $60  http://schooloftdt.org/momentum-2015/

** Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (Tarragon). This Bollywood-inspired adaptation of the classic comedy is set in modern-day Brampton. Previews from Apr 22, opens Apr 29 and runs to May 31, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun (and some Sat) 2:30 pm. $27-$55, rush $15.  http://tarragontheatre.com

** Needles and Opium. by Robert Lepage (Canadian Stage/Ex Machina). A series of vignettes explore the relationship between displacement, drug addiction and creativity. Opens May 1 and runs to May 10, Tue-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Sun and Wed 1 pm. $tba.  https://www.canadianstage.com

** She Dot Festival. Toronto’s festival of funny women presents stand-up, sketch, improv, workshops and more. May 3 event at The Danforth Music Hall. More details to be announced. http://shedotfestival.com/

Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler (Alexander Showcase Theatre). The wrath of a wrongfully convicted barber has brutal consequences in this musical. Opens Apr 30 and runs to May 10, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $32, stu/srs $27  http://www.alexandershowcasetheatre.com/new-shows/sweeney-todd/

Tagged by Dave Deveau (Green Thumb Theatre). A party photo goes viral in this play for ages 13 and up about accountability in the social media world. Previews Apr 21, opens Apr 22 and runs to May 8, see website for schedule. $19-$24.  http://youngpeoplestheatre.ca/

Therefore Choose Life by Kathy Kacer and Jake Epstein (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/

This is a Costume Drama. (Harbourfront World Stage/the Dietrich Group). This dance-theatre work directed and choreographed by DA Hoskins looks at what is revealed and what is concealed when we dress up. Apr 29-May 2, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $30-$35. http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage/thisisacostumedrama/

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.