Radiant Vermin is a surprising, dark tale of real estate dreams, on stage in Toronto
I was a bit surprised when I arrived at what appeared to be a storefront in Kensington Market to see Precisely Peter Productions’ performance of Radiant Vermin by British playwright Philip Ridley. It transpired that the theatre space, Dirty Talk, is in the store’s basement, where we were welcomed warmly by director John Shooter offering cupcakes and fancy, fruity drinks.
Tartuffe is a funny 17th century comedy, on stage at Scarborough Village Theatre
Showing at the Scarborough Village Theatre, Tartuffe is a playful 17th century story from Moliere that is colourfully staged and wonderfully performed. My guest, who knew the play as a student growing up in France, thought the English translation effectively captured the essence of the comedy. We were amused by the charade played by Tartuffe, the seemingly religious man who is far from pious. Attention, appearances can be deceiving!
Hard Core Logo is “a great night of music and theatre” on the Toronto stage
Hard Core Logo has always held a special place in my cultural history; not only was the film by Bruce McDonald my introduction to Canadian film, it was also my introduction to the world of Punk. The names Joe Dick and Billy Tallent are icons in my cultural pantheon and songs like “Who the Hell Do You Think You Are” and “Something’s Gonna Die Tonight” fed my teenaged rebellion, something my previous musical interests (namely Celtic Folk and George Thorogood) didn’t exactly support.
It wasn’t the easiest revelation for me when I realized Hard Core Logo was a fictional band, specifically because it meant I would never get to see them live and scream those songs right back at the band while slam dancing. Thankfully BFL Theatre, working within their mandate to produce socially aware theatre, have brought a close approximation of my childhood dream to reality with their staging of Hard Core Logo: Live to the Dance Cave.
BFL Theatre has brought Hard Core Logo to life with a staging of Hard Core Logo Live, a blending of stage performance and live music that showcases both the trials and tribulations of a fictional punk band’s reunion tour and their music. Running at the Dance Cave until March 26th, the show aims to blend the original 1993 book and Bruce McDonald’s 1996 mockumentary film into a cohesive, definitive production.
Live theatre shows in Toronto with ticket prices of $25 or less, playing the week of March 14th, 2017. Perfect for the budget-conscious theatre-goer. This week’s themes include: comedy, boredom, and existential dread–with a side of Samuel Beckett. Check them out below the cut!
Radiant Vermin is a surprising, dark tale of real estate dreams, on stage in Toronto
Hard Core Logo is “a great night of music and theatre” on the Toronto stage