The Gut Girls, on stage in Toronto, is “funny, philosophical and savage”

It was with a heavy heart on Inauguration Day that I sat down to watch Alumnae Theatre’s production of The Gut Girls, Sarah Daniels’ feminist play about British women who live at the top of the 20^th century and the bottom of society. They hang on to a precarious livelihood and some shred of autonomy by taking jobs in the “gut sheds,” where they work in pools of blood, butchering animal carcasses and removing entrails.

The Gut Girls were the original Nasty Women: coarse, rude, fierce, and above all self-sufficient, they attempted to be the masters of their own fates, only to be cut down by a society that adheres to strict social and gender roles. The play was written in 1988 to combat Britain’s trauma from Margaret Thatcher’s election, and as the 45^th American President is sworn in to the sound of mass, worldwide protests, it only appears more timely. It’s a vital work that demands to be seen today, to acknowledge the past and try to change the future.

Continue reading Review: The Gut Girls (Alumnae Theatre) →

Mortar & Pestle Productions presents Closer on the Toronto stage

Mortar & Pestle Productions is currently presenting Patrick Marber’s play Closer at the Gerrard Art Space. With only four characters and very intimate action, the exceptionally small venue feels appropriate; it puts you into a suitably discomfiting proximity to the actors.

Set in London, the story follows two men and two women as they fall in and out of… love? Lust? Despite some very sexy and tender moments, their situation is quite muddy, bewildering and—occasionally—ugly. Continue reading Review: Closer (Mortar & Pestle Productions) →

“Theatrically powerful” Unholy plays on stage in Toronto

In Unholy, produced by Nightwood Theatre and playing at Buddies In Bad Times, a Youtube broadcasted debate pits four women with differing relationships to Abrahamic religions against each other to discuss the controversial matter of misogyny in religion. Though their backgrounds are diverse, all are passionate, displaying intellectual prowess contextualised by flashbacks to experiences of loss and grief.  Continue reading Review: Unholy (Nightwood Theatre) →

The Wedding Party is “big, sprawling, funny,” now playing on stage at Crowsnest Streetcar.

Thursday evening saw two theatre firsts in Toronto: the world premiere of Kirsten Thomson’s The Wedding Party, a Crow’s Theatre and Talk is Free Theatre production, and the official opening of Crowsnest Streetcar, the new permanent home of Crow’s Theatre. Both are lovely. Continue reading Review: The Wedding Party (Crow’s Theatre and Talk is Free Theatre) →

Mirvish presents a play about Queen Elizabeth II by the creator of Netflix’s The Crown, in Toronto

Writer Peter Morgan has built a career writing biographical scripts about Queen Elizabeth II, including the 2006 film The Queen and the current Netflix series The Crown. Morgan wrote his play The Audience between these two projects.

The title is a reference to the weekly private meeting or “audience” given by the Queen to the sitting British Prime Minister. The Audience  details the Queen’s weekly audience with the PM from her ascension to the throne in 1952 through to 2016. Continue reading Review: The Audience (Mirvish) →