Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel arrives on the Toronto stage at the Papermill Theatre

Villette, presented by Amicus Productions, is a tribute to the 200-year anniversary of Charlotte Brontë’s birth, written specifically for Amicus Productions by frequent collaborator Chris Coculuzzi. I applaud the company’s investment in the piece and the community environment it creates. The show in itself, however, was not as enjoyable as the clear enthusiasm and dedication inspiring it. Continue reading Review: Villette (Amicus Productions) →

Improvised musical comedy charms on stage in Toronto

Songbuster: An Improvised Musical , currently onstage at Bad Dog Theatre, features a multi-talented troupe of people singing while improvising, and improvising while singing, based on suggestions solicited at the top of the show. I generally expect musical improv to be sketch-oriented, but these folks set themselves the challenging task of creating a full narrative inspired by their interrogation of an audience member. Continue reading Review: Songbuster: An Improvised Musical (Bad Dog Theatre) →

“Absolutely fabulous” Cold Blood tackles death, on stage in Toronto

I had high hopes for Cold Blood, which opened Wednesday at the Bluma Appel Theatre. I saw Kiss and Cry in 2014 and absolutely loved it. I wasn’t disappointed; Cold Blood is a wonderful marriage of dance and film.

Created by Belgian choreographer Michèle Anne De Mey, Belgian filmmaker Jaco Van Dormael, and the Collectif Kiss and Cry, with a script by Thomas Gunzig, De Mey, and Van Dormael, Cold Blood feels almost like a dream. It’s surreal, sometimes bizarre, funny, and sensual. Continue reading Review: Cold Blood (Canadian Stage) →

“Dynamic” spelling bee musical impresses in Toronto at the Scarborough Village Theatre

Can you spell “capybara” or “boanthropy”? You’ll have them down pat after watching The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Scarborough Village Theatre. And no need to bring a dictionary–you’ll get lots of definitions of obscure words throughout this charming performance.

Continue reading Review: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Scarborough Music Theatre) →