Shows that Caught Our Eye in Toronto for the Week of September 16, 2019.

There’s lots to see this week on stages all across Toronto, and we’ve listed the best here for your perusal! Now don’t say we’ve never done anything nice for you.

From Cirque to contemporary dramas and more, here’s what caught our eye this week.

Already Reviewed by MoT:

Betrayal. (Young Center for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House). by Harold Pinter. (Soulpepper Theatre). An adulterous affair is unpacked in reverse chronology to examine many different kinds of betrayal. Previews Aug 28- Sep 3; Sep 4 – Sep 22, see website for times. $38-$98.
Show Info 

Come From Away. (Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St). By Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Mirvish). Newfoundlanders open their homes to stranded passengers following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Feb 5-Nov 23, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Matinees Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$169, Limited rush $25 (premium tickets also available).
Show Info

Pirate Life 2019. (Pirate Life Toronto, 333 Lake Shore Blvd E.) Children’s interactive adventure theatre show aboard a 50-foot pirate ship that sails along the harbour. Kids get pirate names, dress in costumes & face paint, fire water cannons and search for sunken treasure. May 4 – Oct 13, see website for schedule. $27.
Show Info

Rabbit Hole. (Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston). by David Lindsay-Abaire (Scarborough Players). A couple take right and wrong turns as they deal with grief in this drama. Sep 6 – Sep 21, see website for schedule. $24, stu/srs $20.
Show Info

And Everything Else:

Alegria (Ontario Place, 955 Lake Shore Rd W). Cirque du Soleil reinterprets its 1994 show with new acrobatics, visual design and musical arrangements. Led by an intangible wind of change, the show tells the story of an emerging movement that strives to shake the established order, instilling hope and renewal to bring light to a world in perfect harmony. Opens Sep 12 and runs to Dec 1, see website for schedule. $59-$290.
Show Info

Actually (Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St). by Anna Ziegler (Harold Green Jewish Theatre / Obsidian Theatre). Finding their way as freshmen at Princeton, Amber and Tom spend a night together that alters the course of their lives. They agree on the drinking, they agree on the attraction, but consent is foggy, and if unspoken, can it be called consent? Anna Ziegler investigates gender and race politics, our desire to fit in and the three sides to every story. Opens Sep 14 and runs to Sep 29,. $15-$78.50.
Show Info

A Streetcar Named Desire. (Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane). A delusional Southern belle moves in with her sister and her brutal husband. Previews from Sep 21, opens Sep 27 and runs to Oct 13, see website for schedule. $38-$98.
Show Info

The Band’s Visit (Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St). by David Yazbek and Itamar Moses (Mirvish). In this joyously offbeat story, set in a town that’s way off the beaten path, a band of musicians arrive lost, out of the blue.  Under the spell of the desert sky, and with beautiful music perfuming the air, the band brings the town to life in unexpected and tantalizing ways.  Even the briefest visit can stay with you forever. Opens Sep 17 and runs to Oct 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed 1:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. $49-$175.
Show Info

The Bartender (Flying Pony Cafe, 1481 Gerrard St E). In a world with seemingly nothing left, a bartender tends to his only patrons in an empty bar. Our protagonists come up against a Greek goddess, a crow called Death, a wandering salesman, and two of the most beautiful people they have ever seen. In a play about telling stories, it is difficult to determine what is real and what is imaginary as a bizarre cast of characters walk into a bar. September 11-14 & 18-21 – 7:00 PM.
Show Info

The Book of Life (Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St). Canadian Stage, Volcano Theatre and Why Not Theatre present a play by Odile Gakire Katese. Rwandan artist/humanitarian Using letters written by survivors of the Rwandan genocide, music and projections, this drama presents an alternative memory of the tragedy and offers hope and a humane way to forgive and move forward. Previews from Sep 17, opens Sep 19 and runs to Sep 29, Tue-Thu & Sat 8 pm, Fri 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $49-$79.
Show Info

Broken Branches ( (Aki Studio, 585 Dundas St E) by Lorene Stanwick (CreateTruth Productions in Association with Workman Arts), directed by Philip McKee. What happens when sibling conflict crosses a line? Three stories are woven together to explore sibling abuse. Previews from Sep 17, opens Sep 19 and runs to Sep 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $20-$30, preview pwyc.
Show Info

The Glass Menagerie. (Village Playhouse, 2190E Bloor W.) Village Players presents the Tennessee Williams, directed by Victoria Shepherd. Sep 6-28, 8pm, mat Sun 2pm, see website for schedule. $24, srs $20 (Wed/Thurs/Sun only), under 30 $20.00, group of 10 or more: $20.00 (must be paid in advance; buy 15 tickets, get the 16th free)
Show Info

Hedwig and the Angry Itch (Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St). This Tony Award winning cult classic, takes its audience on a funny, heartbreaking, transgender rock roller coaster of a ride that follows Hedwig Robinson on her journey from communist East Berlin to a trailer park in Kansas. Sept 18 & 19. 8pm. $25.
Show Info

The Heidi Chronicles (Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley St). This comedy follows a woman from 1960s teen to 80s career woman while exploring feminism, friendship and social change. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 5, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $25, Sun pwyc.
Show Info

Kiss Me Kate (Zion Cultural Centre, 1650 Finch Ave E). The classic musical about the on- and off-stage hijinks and conflicts between the cast members of a production of Shakespeare’s Taming Of The Shrew. Opens Sep 11 and runs to Sep 22, Wed 7 pm, Thu-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $28.
Show Info

Knives in Hens (Coal Mine Theatre, 1454 Danforth Ave). Coal Mine Theatre presents a play by David Harrower. This drama deals with a relationship triangle in a rural setting and a woman’s internal quest to find out what she wants from life. Previews from Sep 22, opens Sep 25 and runs to Oct 13, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $47.50-$55.50, preview/rush $25.
Show Info

Life in a Box (Grand Canyon, 2 Osler St). By Landon Doak & Matthew Finlan (Bad Hats Theatre). Weed-filled, sci-fi musical adventure about two friends living in a basement apartment in Toronto. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Sep 28, Tue-Fri 8 pm, Sat 7 & 10 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$25.
Show Info

No Foreigners (Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St W). Created by fu-GEN Theatre/Hong Kong Exile/Theatre Conspiracy. This interdisciplinary collaboration by the companies and playwright David Yee considers Chinese shopping malls as racialized spaces of cultural creation and clash. Opens Sep 17 and runs to Sep 29, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm (and Sep 18 at 2 pm). $28, stu/srs $18.
Show Info

Non Gratas (Bad Dog Comedy Theatre, 875 Bloor St W). Instagram Influencer Mariela Pabon and Patricia Tab explore the twists and turns of being Latinx immigrants in North America in this improvised show. Non Gratas is a bilingual Improv duo who are expanding Toronto’s comedy scene with woke, bipoc, female art. Wed, Sept 18,  8 pm. $15.
Show Info

Piaf/Dietrich: A Legendary Affair (CAA Theatre 651 Yonge St). Mirvish presents a musical drama that explores the fascinating friendship between show business legends. Opens Sep 17 and runs to Dec 8, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm. $39-$129.
Show Info

Spellbound (Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen St E). Spellbound is a laugh-packed adventure into the subconscious mind, featuring comedy stage hypnotist Brandon Dean. Each show, Brandon calls for volunteers from the audience who want to explore the power of hypnosis and then guides them through a mind-blowing experience with their subconscious. Hilarity ensues as Brandon changes their identities and personalities and takes them on entertaining journeys to imaginary environments and situations. Watching friends or family, even complete strangers, in the series of hilarious routines will leave you amazed and laughing. Sept 22, 7:30 pm. $30.
Show Info

There is No Word for Wilderness (Earl Bales Park, 4169 Bathurst St). A land-based story walk brought to life with mask, puppetry and live music reflects one woman’s journey of getting lost to get found as nature reveals itself to her. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Sep 28, Tue-Sat 6 pm (no show Sep 27; rain dates Sep 22 & 29). Free.
Show Info

The Stranger 2.0 (Secret Location). A mysterious guide takes you on an urban journey in one of two walkabout productions. Designed for two audience members to explore at a time with performers who emerge from the crowds and an exciting new virtual reality component developed by toaster lab. Opens Sep 18 and runs to Sep 29, Mon-Fri from 5-9:30 pm, Sat-Sun from 3-7:30 pm. $50, VIP $90.
Show Info

Yaga (Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave). by Kat Sandler (Tarragon). Genre-bending dark comedy thriller that brings a murder investigation face-to-face with the Baba Yaga witch fable. Previews from Sep 17, opens Sep 25 and runs to Oct 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $22-$70. MainSpace.
Show Info

Some listings based on NOW! Stage Listings.