Shows that Caught Our Eye in Toronto for the Week of January 7th, 2019.

MoT is here with fabulous suggestions for the theatre-goer in you! Start the new year off right with some fantastic theatre! Assistant Editor Katee is here with her top picks in red!

Already Reviewed by MoT:

Iphigenia And The Furies (On Taurian Land). Daniels Spectrum. Saga Collectif present a play by Jeff Ho, an adaptation of the story by Euripedes. Saved from death by the goddess Artemis, Iphigenia is now a priestess on Taurian land – slaughtering any foreigners that arrive. When two strangers stumble upon her temple, she must decide whether to flee with the newcomers or stay true to her sacred mission. Previews from Jan 6, opens Jan 10 and runs to Jan 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. Aki Studio. Pwyc $5-$45. Show Info.

A Bear Awake In Winter. Factory Theatre. by Ali Joy Richardson (Binocular Theatre/Next Stage Theatre Festival). Events surrounding a new teacher, a bullying incident and an act of violence at a high school dance at a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, school all tell the story of the struggle to stand up for yourself. Opens Jan 10 and runs to Jan 20, see website for schedule. $15. In the MainSpace. Show Info.

Ga Ting. Factory Theatre. Ga Ting, Cantonese for “family” / 家庭 – Ga Ting Toronto Collective, ARTillery Collective and Next Stage Theatre Festival present a play by Minh Ly. A cultural and generational clash ensues when a Chinese couple coming to terms with the death of their son invite his boyfriend to dinner. Opens Jan 9 and runs to Jan 20, see website for schedule. $15. In the Studio. Show Info.

Dinner With The Duchess. Factory Theatre. by Nick Green (The Duchess Collective/Next Stage Theatre Festival). Psychological drama about a violin virtuoso, sexism in classical music and the high price of creating art. Opens Jan 9 and runs to Jan 19, see website for schedule. $15. MainSpace.  Show Info.

1979. Berkeley Street Theatre. by Michael Healey (The 1979 Group). Comedy/docuplay about Joe Clark’s short term as Canada’s 16th prime minister. Previews Jan 9, opens Jan 10 and runs to Jan 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm (see website for other matinees). $20-$70.  Show Info.

Foreign Tongue. Factory Theatre. by Lola Xenos, Daniel Abrahamson & Justin Hiscox (playinc./Next Stage Theatre Festival). A stroke leaves an urban professional with a thick, foreign-sounding accent, often mistaken for a newcomer refugee – a misunderstanding she does not correct – in this musical comedy. Opens Jan 10 and runs to Jan 20, see website for schedule. $15. In the MainSpace. Show Info.

And Everything Else:

After the Fire. Theatre Centre. by Matthew MacKenzie (Punctuate! Theatre/Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts). Dark comedy about two couples whose lives have been deeply affected by the 2016 fires in Fort McMurray. Opens Jan 10 and runs to Jan 18, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $25, stu/srs/arts worker $17, Tue pwyc. Show Info.

Next Stage Theatre Festival. Factory Theatre. Annual winter theatre festival curated by the Toronto Fringe, featuring plays by Nick Green, Lola Xenos, Minh Ly, Diana Bang, David S. Craig and others. The 2019 line-up includes 12 shows focusing on important stories told well. Jan 9-20, see website for shows and schedule. $12-$15, passes $52-$96. Show Info.

The Scavenger’s Daughter. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. PARADIGM Productions presents a play by Susanna Fournier, part 2 of The Empire Trilogy. Three people struggle in a bleak dystopia in this play about neo-liberal warfare in the service of imperial capitalism and toxic ideas of what it means to be a man, a nation and a citizen. Previews from Jan 15, opens Jan 17 and runs to Jan 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $20-$35, Sun pwyc. Show Info.

The Harlequin Salon. Trinity-St.Paul’s Church. Tafelmusik presents a multimedia program by Marco Cera. Music, caricature sketches, projected images, costumes and text are used to portray the world of Pier Leone Ghezzi – renowned painter, consummate party host, and history’s first professional caricaturist. Jan 16-20, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 3:30 pm. $30-$99. The Harlequin Salon features guest artists Roberta Invernizzi, soprano, and Dino Gonçalves, actor, with stage direction by Guillaume Bernardi. Show Info.

In The Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play). Tarragon Theatre. RedWit Theatre presents a play by Sara Ruhl. This play explores the danger of being denied language to describe your experience, the power women wield through ownership of their sexuality, and the pursuit of freedom through binaries. Previews from Jan 16, opens Jan 18 and runs to Jan 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (and Jan 26) at 2:30 pm. $17-$32. Show Info.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story. CAA Theatre. by Chase Padgett (Mirvish). Immersive concert-style theatre show that chronicles the journey shared by the folk-rock duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Opens Jan 17 and runs to Jan 27, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $59-$99. Show Info.

Rose: A New Musical. Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Soulpepper Theatre presents a new musical by Mike Ross and Sarah Wilson. A quiet kid who sees the world a little differently embarks on an adventure to discover her place in the world. Previews from Jan 17, opens Jan 23 and runs to Feb 24, see website for schedule. $35 & up. Show Info.

Eve of St. George. The Great Hall. Transcen|Dance Project presents a voyeuristic and immersive production in which the audience is masked and set free to roam the venue as the story unfolds around them. Opens Jan 17 and runs to Jan 27, Thu-Sun 7 pm, plus late show Sat 10:15 pm. $60-$90. Show Info.

Hair. Hart House Theatre. Hart House Theatre presents a musical by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. A tribe of freedom-loving hippies is confronted with the realities of war. Opens Jan 18 and runs to Feb 2, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Feb 2 at 2 pm. $17-$28, stu $12-$15. Show Info.

Gruesome Playground Injuries. The Assembly Theatre. By Rajiv Joseph (The Assembly Theatre). The lives of a man and woman intersect between ages 8 and 38 in this bloody but sincere love story. Opens Jan 18 and runs to Feb 9, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $20-$25.   Show Info.

Impulse. Berkeley Street Theatre. Ace Dance Theatre presents a series of pieces that explore human nature’s vulnerabilities. Features world premieres by the Artistic Directors and guest artist Robert Glumbek. Jan 18-20, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25-$35.    Show Info

Top Girls. Alumnae Theatre. by Caryl Churchill (Alumnae Theatre). A career woman interacts with notorious women from history at a dinner party. Opens Jan 18 and runs to Feb 2, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm (and Feb 2). $25, Wed 2-for-1, mat pwyc. Show Info.

She The People. Second City. She The People is a sketch show created by women that gleefully roasts the patriarchy. Return engagement, January 4 to March 17: Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 4:30 pm & most Sundays at 2 or 4:30 pm – see website for exact schedule. $27 & up. Show Info.

The Virgin Trial. Young Centre for the Performing Arts. by Kate Hennig (Soulpepper). Princess Elizabeth navigates a labyrinth of political and sexual intrigue in the Tudor court, threatening her freedom and her life. Previews from Jan 19, opens Jan 24 and runs to Feb 3, see website for schedule. $35 & up. Show Info.

Listings Primarily based on NOW! Stage Listings