Playlistings in Toronto for the Week of May 2nd

Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of May 2nd

Another month, another rush of shows! This week, we’ve got everything from historical dramas to fairy tales to murder mysteries. It’s editor Samantha’s turn at bat this week to highlight her particular picks in red, so check them out under the cut!

The Summoned by Fabrizio Filippo (Tarragon Theatre). The friends and family of a billionaire tech visionary gather for the reading of his will. Previews from Apr 20, opens Apr 27 and runs to May 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm (see website for Wed & Sat mats). $28-$60, srs $45-$49, stu $29, rush $15. MainSpace. Show Info.

** Refuge by Mary Vingoe (Nightwood Theatre). An Eritrean army deserter seeks refugee status to join his mother in Nova Scotia in this play about seeking sanctuary in today’s suspicious world. Previews Apr 19-20, opens Apr 21 and runs to May 8, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm, Apr 27 & May 4 at 1:30 pm. $45, preview $30. ExtraSpace. Show Info.

Iceland by Nicholas Billon (Why Not Theatre). Set against the backdrop of the banking crisis, a confrontation between a real estate agent and a tenant takes an unexpected turn. Opens Apr 25 and runs to May 14, see website for schedule. $20-$30. Show Info.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg (YPT). A tornado takes Dorothy and her dog on a fantastical journey in this classic family musical. Opens Apr 4 and runs to May 15, see website for details. $10-$45. Show Info.

** Ultrasound by Adam Pottle (Cahoots Theatre/TPM). A couple with varying degrees of hearing impairment struggle over the identity of their child in this play about perspectives on deaf culture. Previews from Apr 28, opens May 3 and runs to May 15, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats May 7, 8 & 15 at 2 pm. $17-$38.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas by Carol Hall, Larry L King and Peter Masterson (Curtain Call Players). A sheriff lets a brothel operate until a nosy TV reporter comes to town in this musical. Opens Apr 29 and runs to May 7, Apr 29-30 and May 4-6 at 8 pm, May 1 and 7 at 2 pm. $28. Show Info.

 

Rock.Paper.Sistahz Festival. b current celebrates 25 years with 14th biennial festival. Multidisciplinary works by emerging and established artists of colour from all Diasporas across Canada. Theatre and dance works by Fiona Clarke, Frances Concan, Ouroboros Collective, Jiv Parasram, Sherry Hsu and others. Opens May 3 and runs to May 7, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $15-$20, festival pass $75. Show Info.

The Other by Matthew MacKenzie (Company Blonde/Pyretic Productions/The RISER Project). This collaboration of dance, theatre and music looks at longing and not belonging. Opens May 3 and runs to May 14, see website for times. $20, youth under 25 $10. The RISER Project is a collaborative producing model presented by Why Not Theatre. Show Info.

The Confidential Shakespeare Project. A mystery Shakespeare play will be performed by a cast that has read the scripts but has not rehearsed together.May 3 at 7:30 pm. $15. Show Info.

Cross’d by the Stars. Talisker Players present music and narration about the classic stories of star-crossed lovers with actor/reader Stewart Arnott and vocal soloists Krisztina Szabó & Aaron Durand. May 3-4 at 8 pm. $10-$40. Show Info.

Postsecret (Mirvish). Alongside projected images and video, three actors guide the audience through a crowd-sourced narrative of stories posted on the PostSecret.com blog. Opens May 3 and runs to May 8, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $30-$65. Show Info.

** The Pitchfork Disney by Philip Ridley (Precisely Peter Productions). Two agoraphobic twins face questions about their parents’ death in this dark comedy about loneliness, repressed sexuality and the human fascination with horror and violence. Previews from May 3, opens May 5 and runs to May 22, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm. $20-$25, preview $15. Show Info.

She Mami Wata & The Pussy Witchhunt. The Watah Theatre present d’bi.young anitafrika’s second instalment in her Orisha Trilogy. Three friends growing up in present-day Jamaica are challenged to re-negotiate their relationship under revised “anti-buggery” laws. Opens May 4 and runs to May 22, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25, stu $20. In the TPM BackSpace. Show Info.

The Forest: An Exhibition of Cautionary Tales. (Red One Theatre Collective). More than a dozen 19th-century cautionary tales for children are re-imagined for the stage. Opens Apr 22 and runs to May 8, Wed-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $25. Show Info.

Opening Night by Norm Foster (Nags Players). A couple spend their 25th anniversary at the theatre, though the husband would rather be home watching baseball, in this comedy. Opens Apr 28 and runs to May 7, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm. $12-$20. Show Info.

** The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie (LOT). A police detective seeks a murderer among seven strangers stranded in a guest house. Opens May 5 and runs to Jun 12, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 3:30 pm. $50-$60. Show Info.

Shakespeare in Hollywood by Ken Ludwig (Amicus Productions). Oberon and Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) find themselves on a 1930s Hollywood film set in this comedy. Opens Apr 28 and runs to May 7, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat May 1 and 7 at 2 pm. $22, stu/srs $20. Show Info.

** The Testament of Mary by Colm Tóibín (Soulpepper Theatre). This solo play re-imagines the last days of Jesus as only a mother can. Opens May 6 and runs to Jun 18, see website for schedule. $25-$60. Show Info.

A Reason to Talk by Sachli Gholamalizad (Why Not Theatre). A young Belgian actress of Iranian descent, questions her troubled relationship with her mother in this multimedia solo show. Opens May 6 and runs to May 14, see website for schedule. $20. Show Info.

Fox on the Fairway by Ken Ludwig (Village Players). A golf tournament and romantic entanglements stress out a country club president in this classic farce. Apr 22 to May 14, Thu-Sat 8 pm (and Apr 27), Sun 2 pm. $18-$22. Show Info.

Votes For Women (And Other Lies) (Empty Box Theatre Company). Six women search for the women’s right to vote in Canada in this work-in-progress staging of a collectively created devised comedy. Opens May 7 and runs to May 14. Fri-Sun 8 pm, mat May 14 at 2 pm. $11-$15, mat pwyc. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings

2 thoughts on “Playlistings in Toronto for the Week of May 2nd”

  1. A suggestion. When a selection is highlighted, could a link be provided to the review so we can understand why someone has chosen a production as especially recommended. The highlighted choices have two stars beside them so I’m guessing? that means its a two star review, although I’m not sure what that means here. Of course everyone has their own “opinion” but I’m often at a loss as to why certain things are chosen, and others that have received rave reviews elsewhere are not.

  2. Hi Susan, thanks for your comment. The highlighted selections marked off in red with two asterisks are of particular interest to the editor mentioned above. For this particular week, that was me. I didn’t see all the shows that I highlighted, but based on what the premise was and what other writers have said about the shows, they seemed intriguing enough that if I could attend all of these shows, I would. The listings near the top are ones we’ve already reviewed and you can find the links to the related reviews in the title. Otherwise, you can click Show Info to find out more information. Hope that was helpful.

    Samantha Wu
    Editor
    Mooney on Theatre

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