Shows that Caught Our Eye in Toronto for the Week of April 1st, 2019.
MoT is here with fabulous suggestions for the theatre-goer in you! Beat the post March Break blues by enjoying some of the best theatre Toronto has to offer! Our managing editor, Wayne has highlighted his top picks in red!
Already Reviewed by MoT:
A Blow In The Face. Theatre Centre. Bald Ego Theatre in association with Nightwood Theatre present a play by Lisa Ryder. Alice has a wonderful husband and a gorgeous new baby. The only thing is: her husband has left on a work trip and the baby is colicky. Alice cannot sleep. Rosemary’s Baby meets Fight Club in this unflinching look at postpartum depression. Previews from Mar 26, opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 14, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm, Wed Apr 3 & 10 at 1:30 pm. $35, stu/srs/arts workers $25, preview $20.
Wedding At Aulis. Young Centre for the Performing Arts. by Sina Gilani (Soulpepper Theatre). This immersive version of Iphigenia In Aulis by Euripides places the audience at the heart of the genesis of the Trojan War. Previews from Mar 22, opens Mar 28 and runs to Apr 14, see website for schedule. $35 & up.
A Doll’s House, Part 2. CAA Theatre. by Lucas Hnath (Mirvish/Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre). Nora returns to the family she left behind 15 years earlier in this sequel to Henrik Ibsen’s play. Opens Mar 23 and runs to Apr 14, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$99, stu $25.
Dear Evan Hansen. Royal Alexandra Theatre. by Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (Mirvish/Stacey Mindich). A lonely high schooler with social anxiety gets caught up in a life-changing lie in this musical. Previews from Mar 5, opens Mar 28 and runs to Jun 30, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $59-$159 (premium to $250).
And everything else:
Under the Stairs. Young People’s Theatre. by Kevin Dyer and Reza Jacobs (Young People’s Theatre). A boy seeks refuge from his parents’ bickering in a magical cupboard. Opens Apr 1 and runs to Apr 16, see website for times. $10-$39. Recommended for Grades 3-8 / ages 8 and up.
The Shoe Project: Finding Home. George Ignatieff Theatre. Presented by the Shoe Project & PEN Canada. A diverse group of women weave powerful stories of why they left their homes to search for a better life. Mar 31-Apr 2, Sun 2 pm, Tue 7:30 pm. $20, stu $15.
Shove It Down My Throat. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Buddies and Pandemic Theatre present a play by Johnnie Walker. This docu-play about homophobia looks at a man arrested after a stabbing who says he is a victim of queer bashing. 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.
Guarded Girls. Tarragon Theatre. by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman (Green Light Arts/Tarragon). Drama about two incarcerated women that examines the damaging effects of solitary confinement. Previews from Mar 26, opens Apr 3 and runs to May 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $22-$60. ExtraSpace.
The Cherry Orchard. Streetcar Crowsnest. Modern Times Stage Company & Crow’s Theatre present the play by Anton Chekhov. This imagistic and minimalist look at the classic Russian play set in 1861 explores the human capacity for self-destruction and self-deception. Previews from Mar 26, opens Mar 29 and runs to Apr 13, Mon-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $20 & up.
Vanguardia Dance Festival. Aki Studio. Vanguardia Dance Projects presents “An Artistic Conversation of People, Origins and Disciplines”. The 5th edition of this bi-annual showcase offers a curated selection of interdisciplinary dance performances, workshops, a panel discussion and video dance screenings. Featured artists include Mateo Galindo Torres (Colombian-Indigenous), Robyn Macdonald (Canadian), charles c smith (Black), Julieta Maria (Colombian-Palestinian), Charissa Wilcox (Canadian), Coman Poon (Chinese-Canadian settler/immigrant), Olga Barrios (Colombian) and others. April 2-6, performances Thu-Sat 8 pm ($25, stu/srs/arts workers $18); video dance screenings Tue 7 pm and Fri 5 pm (pwyc, $5 suggested minimum). In the Aki Studio at Daniels Spectrum.
Four Chords And A Gun. Fleck Dance Theatre. Starvox Entertainment presents a play (it’s not a f’ing musical) by John Ross Bowie. Political and musical sensibilities clash when punk band the Ramones and producer Phil Spector go into the recording studio in 1979. Previews from Apr 2, opens Apr 10 and runs to Apr 28, Tue-Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 2 & 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $39.95-$124.95.
The Most Humorous And Tragic Tale Of William Shakespeare’s Shakespeare. The Redwood. Now I am Dead Productions presents a comedic tragedy by Liam Edward Grunté that offers a grounded vision of William Shakespeare: Not of his plays nor his reputation, rather just him as a friend, him as a father, him as a husband, him as a human being. Opens Apr 3 and runs to Apr 6, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1 pm. $20, stu/srs/arts worker $15, Wed evening pwyc.
Tell Me On A Sunday. Zion Cultural Centre. by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black (Civic Light-Opera Co.). The one-woman musical about an optimistic young woman is performed. Directed by Joe Cascone, the CLOC production features Elizabeth Rose Morriss. Opens Apr 3 and runs to Apr 14, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm. $28.
Angélique. Factory Theatre. Factory and Obsidian Theatre Company present a Black Theatre Workshop and Tableau D’Hôte Theatre co-production, written by Lorena Gale. Marie Joseph Angélique, an enslaved Black woman, was accused, tried and hanged for setting fire to Montréal in 1734. Inspired by historical transcripts from the trial, Angélique is a moving account of Black Canadian history beyond the Underground Railroad. Opens Apr 3 and runs to Apr 21, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$50.
The Chemical Valley Project. Theatre Passe Muraille. by Kevin Matthew Wong and Julia Howman (Broadleaf Theatre/TPM). Puppetry and solo performance are used to explore environmental racism, colonialism, treaty rights and Indigenous solidarity and reconciliation. Previews from Apr 4, opens Apr 9 and runs to Apr 20, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $15-$45 pwyc, preview $10.
Contemporaneity 3.0. Winchester Street Theatre. CONTEMPORANEITY 3.0 is a new presenting series by Anandam Dancetheatre in partnership with Toronto Dance Theatre, featuring new works and works-in-progress by artists practicing in Asian, African, Latin American, Arab and Indigenous dance forms. Apr 3-6, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $25, student/senior/arts worker $20, Wednesday (preview) $10.
Dry Powder. Toronto Centre for the Arts. by Sarah Burgess (Evermore Theatre). A financier juggles a PR disaster and his opportunistic fiancée in this satirical play about the people wheeling and dealing in the world of high finance, the price of success and the real cost of getting the deal done. Opens Apr 4 and runs to Apr 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $24-$70.
Kopernikus — A Ritual Opera For The Dead. Theatre Passe Muraille. by Claude Vivier (Against The Grain Theatre). A woman wanders through the afterlife in this edgy opera. Opens Apr 4 and runs to Apr 13, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $25-$85.
The Shimmering Verge. Theatre Français Studio 21. Molly Peacock presents a solo show in poems, featuring readings by local poets in celebration of National Poetry Month. The play will be performed in double bill with readings from a selection of dynamic Toronto page and stage poets. Opens Apr 4 and runs to Apr 13, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $15-$25.
Idomeneo. Ed Mirvish Theatre. Opera Atelier presents the opera by WA Mozart. Idomeneo tells the story of the Greek hero who is forced to choose between the life of his son and a terrible promise he has made to the god of the sea. Opens Apr 4 and runs to Apr 13, Apr 4, 6 and 12 at 7:30 pm, Apr 7 at 3 pm, Apr 13 at 4:30 pm. $39-$184.
Hot Brown Honey. Bluma Appel Theatre. (Civic Theatres Toronto/Native Earth/Why Not Theatre). All-female musical revue smashes stereotypes, remixes the system and dares to celebrate our similarities and differences. Apr 5-7, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $62-$85. *Suitable for ages 15+
Copenhagen. Young Centre for the Performing Arts. by Michael Frayn (Soulpepper Theatre). In 1941, two scientists meet in occupied Denmark for a conversation that will change history. Previews from Apr 6, opens Apr 12 and runs to May 1, see website for schedule. $35 & up.
Listings Primarily Based on NOW! Stage Listings