Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of April 9th, 2018
Toronto live theatre for the week of April 9th, 2018. On Toronto’s stages this week are some big ticket hits, some PWYC wonders, and even a feminist festival. Our Managing Editor Wayne is on hand with a few of his top picks in red. Check them out below the cut:
Already reviewed by Mooney on theatre:
Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Mirvish). Newfoundlanders open their homes to stranded passengers following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Previews from Feb 13, opens Feb 18 and runs to Sep 2, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $69 and up. At The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Show Info.
The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring. Adapted from Nikolai Gogol’s short story by Morris Panych and James Rolfe (Canadian Stage/Tapestry Opera). An office worker’s life is turned upside-down when he’s robbed of his new coat. Previews from Mar 27, opens Mar 29 and runs to Apr 14, Tue-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Sun 1 pm. $39-$99. At Bluma Appel Theatre. Show Info.
An American in Paris. Mirvish presents the musical by George and Ira Gershwin, book by Craig Lucas. An American soldier and a mysterious French woman find each other in at the end of WWII in this musical based on the film. Opens Mar 27 and runs to Apr 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $59-$175. At The Princess of Wales Theatre. Show Info.
Bloom. Modern Times Stage Company presents a play by Guillermo Verdecchia, inspired by TS Eliot’s The Wasteland. A war orphan and a war veteran live on the fringes of a ruined world – one is trying to remember, while the other is trying to forget. Previews Mar 23-25, opens Mar 27 and runs to Apr 8, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $18-$30, preview $15, Sun pwyc at the door. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.
And everything else:
Therac 25 by Adam Pettle. Set in and around the Princess Margaret Hospital, the story of Alan and Moira exposes the harsh realities of the solitude and fears that accompany cancer treatment with brutal honesty and wry humour. Opens April 6 and runs to April 21, Tue-Sat, 8pm. $20-$25. At The Assembly Theatre. Show Info.
Speakeasy at Revival – Viva Italia! (High Society Cabaret). Join us at Revival Bar as we showcase some of the best burlesque and cabaret talent from across Toronto and abroad in the decadence of the 1920s party scene. Show at 8:30pm, Party begins at 10:00pm. $15-$25. At Revival. Show Info.
Mr. Truth. Lester Trips Theatre & the RISER Project present a play created & performed by Lauren Gillis and Alaine Hutton. A masked demon-like entity follows people who repress their “erotic truths” and forces them to confront their desires in a series of tragicomic nightmare vignettes. Previews Apr 15 (at 9 pm), opens Apr 16 and runs to Apr 24, Mon-Sat 9 pm. $5, $20, $35 or $60 – pay what you can afford. At The Theatre Centre. Show Info.
High School Symphony. (The Teeny Tiny Music Show) Immersive marching band theatre company’s new play set in early 2000’s with storytelling, video game references, anime theme songs and pop tunes. 7 pm. $17. At The Painted Lady. Show Info.
Fun Home The Musical Stage Company & Mirvish present the musical by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron (based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir). Alison, a 43-year-old lesbian cartoonist, struggles to untangle her complex relationship with her deceased father. Previews from Apr 13, opens Apr 17 and runs to May 6, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$89. At CAA Theatre. Show Info.
Mouthpiece by Norah Sadava and Amy Nostbakken (Nightwood Theatre/Quote Unquote Collective/Why Not Theatre). The two performers journey into the female psyche through text, a cappella harmonies and physicality. The piece follows one woman in the wake of her mother’s death, as she tries to find her voice. Previews Apr 11, opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 22, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $25-$35, Sun pwyc at the door. At Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Show Info.
Feminist Fuck It Festival. Curated festival of multidisciplinary women and non binary-identifying artists presenting original, bold and entertaining works of art. There will be cabarets, comedy, films, musical performances and more. Radha S. Menon’s play Ganga’s Ganja will play every night, plus performances by Elvira Kurt, Cat ant the Queen, Fay Slift & Fluffy Soufflé, Fancy Bits Theatre and many others. Apr 11-22, see website for schedule. Tickets are sliding scale/pay what you can afford $15-$50, available online and in person. A festival one-day pass is available for $45 for all evening shows or all weekend matinee shows. At Geary Lane. Show Info.
Le Menteur (The Liar) by Corneille (Théâtre français de Toronto). A fictitious identity and a misunderstanding drive this baroque comedy about young Parisians living in the golden era of the 17th century. Preview from Apr 11, opens Apr 13 and runs to Apr 22, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 3:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm; some shows w/ English surtitles (see website). $19-$26, pwyc Wed-Thu. At Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.
Addicted by Raven Dauda (ADEDO collective/the Watah Theatre). An alcoholic who’s at the end of her rope finds herself at an unconventional rehab facility. In treatment, Penelope faces her inner demons and the ugly truth about her family’s destructive past. Previews Apr 11 opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 21, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $30, stu/srs/arts workers $25 (preview $20-$25). At Aki Studio. Show Info.
Love and Information by Caryl Churchill (Canadian Stage and York University MFA Directing Program). This play examines the modern human connection in the age of data overload. Previews from Apr 10, opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 29, Tue-Thu and Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 pm. $39-$69. At Bluma Appel Theatre. Show Info.
Take d Milk, Nah? by Jivesh Parasram (Pandemic Theatre/b current/Theatre Passe Muraille). Parasram blends storytelling and ritual to explore the intersections of being Indian, Hindu, West Indian, Trinidadian and Canadian. Previews from Apr 10, opens Apr 12 and runs to Apr 22, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20. #dMILKTO. At Theatre Passe Muraille. Show Info.
On The Rocks, A Straight Up Sequel. Small but Mighty Productions presents a collectively created show that aims to address some of 2018’s most relevant social and economic issues. Apr 8-11, Sun-Wed 8 pm (doors 7:30 pm). $25, adv $20. At Pauper’s Pub. Show Info.
Category E by Belinda Cornish (Coal Mine Theatre). A half-blind paraplegic shares a cell with a potential psychopath in this horror-comedy. Preview from Apr 8, opens Apr 11 and runs to Apr 29, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$42.50. At Coal Mine Theatre. Show Info.
Risky Phil. Young People’s Theatre presents the world premiere of a play by Paula Wang. A boy being raised by his aunt finds out he’s not an orphan after all in this play for ages 9 & up. Opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 27, see website for times (public shows Apr 14-15, 21-22 at 2:30 pm. Members of the public are are welcome to attend weekday school performances, subject to availability; call 416-862-2222 to inquire). $10-$34. At Young People’s Theatre. Show Info.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Peter Parnell, music by Menken & Schwart (Alexander Showcase Theatre). Musical based on Victor Hugo’s gothic novel about love, acceptance and what it means to be a hero. With songs from the Disney animated feature. Opens Apr 6 and runs to Apr 14, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Apr 8 & 14 at 2 pm. $32-$35, stu/srs $27-$30. At Fairview Library. Show Info.
Mixie and the Halfbreeds by Julie Tamiko Manning and Adrienne Wong (fu-GEN Theatre). Two estranged neighbours tackle issues of culture, identity and being mixed race in Canada. Previews from Apr 3, opens Apr 5 and runs to Apr 15, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35, stu/srs/arts workers $20, previews $15. At Pia Bouman School for Ballet. Show Info.
Punk Rock. The Howland Company presents a play by Simon Stephens. Fear, anger and self-loathing bubble under the surface of the adolescent fantasies of a group of private school students in the UK. Previews from Mar 29, opens Apr 3 and runs to Apr 14, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm (and Apr 2 preview), mat Sat Apr 7 and 14 at 1:30 pm. $15-$35. At The Streetcar Crowsnest. Show Info.
Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.