Shows That Caught Our Eye in Toronto the Week of June 4th, 2018

Toronto live theatre for the week of June 4th, 2018. This week’s picks feature a roadshow version of a beloved British soap, clowns, a children’s classic, and much more! 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 Best is Yet To Come Undone. The Second City presents the Spring 2018 MainStage sketch revue, tackling this generation’s minefield of crushing clichés and relatable revelations. Limited run, Tue-Sun see website for times. $27 & up, stu from $16. At Second City. Show Info.

Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom by August Wilson (Soulpepper). In 1920s Chicago, a routine music recording session becomes the front line for issues of race, power and opportunity. Previews from May 4, opens May 10 and runs to Jun 9, see website for times. $32-$96. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Music Music Life Death Music: An Absurdical by Adam Seelig (One Little Goat Theatre Company). Musical comedy that explores the unexpected dynamics between three generations of family as they attempt to relate to each other and the society they live in. Opens May 25 and runs to Jun 10, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $20-$35. At Tarragon Theatre. Show Info.

Innocence Lost: A Play About StephenTruscott by Beverley Cooper (Soulpepper). Story of the 14-year-old boy who was wrongly convicted of killing his 12-year-old schoolmate and sentenced to death in 1959 small-town Ontario. Previews from May 14, opens May 24 and runs to Jun 23, see website for times. $32-$96. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

And everything else:

The Divine Comedy: Storytelling and Shadow-Play. The first segment of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy comes alive in this fantastic and magical tale, which still speaks to the questions and problems of today. Produced by Causa Teatro for audiences both young and old, this performance captures a great journey through images and words. Jun 5 at 7 pm. Free admission. At Columbus Centre. Show Info.

Weaving Reconciliation: Our Way. Vancouver Moving Theatre, Native Earth Performing Arts & Jumblies Theatre presents a theatrical and cultural encounter, created by Renae Morriseau (Cree Saulteaux), Rosemary Georgeson (Coast Salish/Dene Sahtu) and Savannah Walling. This play looks at a family reconciling with the impacts of residential school in their community. Previews Jun 6, opens Jun 7 and runs to Jun 9, Wed-Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 2 pm. $15-$25.  At Native Earth Performing Arts. Show Info.

AvengerDale: Age of Archie. Players presents a full-scale production. Stuck in the boring age of peace, the Avengers heroes masquerade as high school teachers in T.O.’s Riverdale district in this raucous show that lampoons pop-culture characters, the city of Toronto, and topical socio-political issues. Previews Jun 6 (8:30 pm, doors 7:15 pm), opens Jun 7 and runs to Jun 16, Thu-Sat 8:30 pm. $15-$25. At The Tranzac. Show Info.

Tap This! A Queerated Opera Series. Tapestry Opera presents queer opera concerts, featuring works by Joel Klein, David Eliakis, Jeremy Dutcher & others. Jun 7-9, see website for details. $25 & up. Queers Crash the Opera – A selection of queer-themed opera curated by music director David Eliakis. Jun 7 & 8 at 7 pm.
Queers Of The Night – Soprano Teiya Kasahara subverts the tropes of women in opera with her trademark butch couture and powerful coloratura, with collaborative pianist David Eliakis. Jun 7 at 9 pm; Jun 9 at 4 pm. Cocktales With Maria Toilette – Gutter Opera Collective presents as gay sex drag cabaret opera starring Maria Toilette, a mix of classical opera with first-person retellings of early sexual experiences. Jun 8 & 9 at 9 pm.
At Ernest Balmer Studio. Show Info.

inspiraTO Festival. Canada’s largest ten-minute play festival returns, this year’s theme is All About Her. This season there are five different shows with a total of 30 ten-minute plays. Playwrights include Nedra Roberts, Dominik Loncar, Carol Libman, John Kane, Georgette Kelly, Ken Weitzman, Allie Costa and others. Jun 7-16, see website for schedule. $15-$20. At Alumnae Theatre. Show Info.

NASSIM by Nassim Soleimanpour (Why Not Theatre/Luminato). A different performer reads a script for the first time in this theatrical experiment. Shows by Lee Maracle, Anand Rajaram, Gavin Crawford, Allegra Fullton, Michael Redhill and others. Opens Jun 7 and runs to Jun 16: Jun 7-8, 11, 13-15 at 7 pm, Jun 8-9 at 2 pm, Jun 16 at 1 & 4 pm. $39 & up. At The Berkeley Street Theatre. Show Info.

At The Illusionist’s Table. Luminato presents Scottish illusionist Scott Silven hosting an intimate evening of fine dining and whisky tasting interwoven with illusion, mentalism and storytelling. Includes a three-course dinner by BlueBlood Steakhouse. Opens Jun 7 and runs to Jun 24, Tue-Sun shows at 6 and 9 pm. $225. Pre-register. At Casa Loma. Show Info.

The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe (Cameron Mackintosh). Super-sized staging of the iconic musical about love and obsession in 19th century Paris. Opens Jun 7 and runs to Jun 30, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm.  (see website for additional shows). $79-$220. At The Princess of Wales Theatre. Show Info.

Molly Bloom adapted by Jocelyn Adema (Fourth Gorgon Theatre). A lonely woman grapples to make sense of her life and relationships as she lies awake in bed. Four women perform Molly’s stream of consciousness, weaving contemporary movement and context with the lyricism of the final chapter of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Opens Jun 7 and runs to Jun 16, Tue-Sun 8 pm. $15-$25. At Majlis Art Garden. Show Info.

String of Pearls by Michele Lowe (Labour of Love). The audience goes on a journey that spans several decades as a pearl necklace is passed from one character to another. Opens Jun 7 and runs to Jun 16, Thu-Sun 8 pm. $20. At Artscape Youngplace. Show Info.

Henry V. Edge Productions presents an all-female production of the action-packed battlefield drama by William Shakespeare. Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic war, we focus in on the snap decisions of youth and Hal’s journey to become a worthy leader. 25 roles, played by 8 women. Jun 8-9 at 8 pm. $35. At The Attic Arts Club. Show Info.

RIOT. Luminato presents a riotous cocktail of dance, drag, circus and comedy from Ireland’s greatest artistic hooligans. Opens Jun 5 and runs to Jun 16, Tue-Thu & Sat 7 pm, plus late shows Fri-Sat 9:45 pm. $39 & up. At The Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre. Show Info.

The Life and Death of John the Milkman by Joshua Bainbridge (Proscenium Club). In 1959, four suburban housewives figure out how to get rid of a dead body. This dark comedy follows the lives of four women trapped within the constraints of social expectations, ready to claim their rights, their identities, and their own independence, at any cost. May 30-31 at 8 pm. $30. At Native Earth Performing Arts. Show Info.

Oklahoma! The Civic Light-Opera Co. presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical. High-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys is the background for a love story. Opens May 30 and runs to Jun 10, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Jun 3, 9 & 10 at 2 pm. $28. At Zion Cultural Centre. Show Info.

I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick (Scarborough Players). A successful TV actor is torn between taking a lauded theatre role as Hamlet, or another glitzy TV project in this comedy. Opens Jun 1 and runs to Jun 16: Jun 1-2, 7-9, 14-15 at 8 pm, Jun 3, 10 and 16 at 2 pm. $24, discounts for students and seniors. At The Scarborough Village Theatre. Show Info.

Treasure Island. Solar Stage Children’s Theatre presents an all-ages show based on the book by Robert Louis Stevenson. Sing sea shanties and cheer on Jane Hawkins as she navigates her way through a wild and epic pirate adventure. Opens May 26 and runs to July 1, Sat & Sun 1:30 pm. $20. At Wychwood Theatre. Show Info.

Brighton Beach Memoirs. Harold Green Jewish Theatre presents the play by Neil Simon. A boy dreams of escaping his mundane life in Depression-era Brooklyn in this coming-of-age story. Previews from May 22, opens May 28 (at 8 pm) and runs to Jun 10, Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, May 27 at 7 pm, mat Wed 1 pm, Sat 2 pm. $TBA. At The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Show Info.

Gods of Carnage by Yasmina Reza (East Side Players). Civility turns to hostility when two couples meet to resolve their kids’ playground dispute. Opens May 25 and runs to Jun 9, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $24, stu $15. At Papermill Theatre. Show Info.

Stones Aluna Theatre and The Stones Project presents a collective creation helmed by Anita La Selva. Created by a diverse cast of artists, STONES considers the spectrum and history of violence against women by focusing on one of its most extreme iterations. Previews from May 25, opens May 30 and runs to Jun 10, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $15-$20. At Geary Lane. Show Info.

Grease the Musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey (Irregular Entertainment). The original high-school musical set in the 1950s deals with themes of first love, friendship and themes of identity. eturn engagement: Previews from May 24, opens May 31 and runs to Jun 17, Mon-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun & Wed 1:30 pm. $29-$149. At The Winter Garden Theatre. Show Info.

La Bête by David Hirson (Soulpepper). Two actors compete for survival when their Royal Patron grows weary of their theatre troupe in this comedy. Previews from May 16, opens May 29 and runs to Jun 22, see website for times. $32-$96. At The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Show Info.

Listings based primarily on NOW! Stage Listings.