Making its triumphant return to the stage at the Tarragon Theatre, Harlem Duet, written and directed by Djanet Sears, is a masterpiece of Canadian theatre.
Blending Shakespearean elements with the raw nuances of blues, this tragedy told in two acts explores powerful themes of racism, feminism, personal history and self worth in a story that is troubled, powerful, and deeply moving.
Soulpepper Theatre presents Sisters, based on the Edith Wharton novel, on stage in TorontoSoulpepper Theatre Company presents Sisters, a play written by Rosamund Small (based on the novel Bunner Sisters By Edith Wharton) and directed by Peter Pasyk, that is so intimate it is almost claustrophobic. This is a production that explores the bonds of women, of sisters, and how far we’ll go to save them.
Feminist sketch comedy dominates The Second City stage in TorontoThe Second City presents an all female sketch comedy revue, She the People. This show is entirely written, created, designed and performed by some of the funniest women you’ll see on stage. Though men are more than welcome to attend this show, be forewarned — your brethren will be called out for mansplaining, the wage gap, toxic masculinity, and the patriarchy.
Theatre ARTaud presents a night of Das Kabarett in the form of a variety show, The Private Life of the Master Race directed by Esther Jun, on stage at the 2018 SummerWorks Festival. The show is based on the Bertold Brecht classic anti-Nazi play Fear and Misery of the Third Reich.
Like the Brechtian play, this production features a series of vignettes exploring life in 1930’s Socialist Germany from the lives of average workers to families close to the government trying to keep their heads above water. In between in vignette, magic, burlesque and musical interludes are there to entertain.
Continue reading The Private Life of the Master Race (Theatre ARTaud) 2018 SummerWorks Review
Theatre Mischief‘s A Girl Lives Alone, playing at the 2018 Toronto SummerWorks Festival, is somewhere between a horror movie and a comedy; somewhere between Law and Order and Friends. Using many of the tropes that made vintage horror radio shows so enticing, in particular, the use of live sound effects, this show will make you hoot with laughter and keep you on the edge of your seat.
Continue reading A Girl Lives Alone (Theatre Mischief) 2018 SummerWorks Review
bluemouth inc. has brought together a unique, engaging, and thought-provoking immersive performance to the 2018 SummerWorks Festival. Café Sarajevo is a performance inspired by the 1971 televised debate between French theorist Michel Foucault and American linguist Noam Chomsky.
It takes the form of a live podcast that explores the idea of borders that divide and unite humanity. Through the use of recorded elements, virtual reality, text, audience participation, dance, and music, this experience is lively, exciting and unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
Continue reading Cafe Sarajevo episode 1 (bluemouth inc.) 2018 SummerWorks Review
The Extinction of Hong Kongers, playing as part of the 2018 SummerWorks Festival, is an intriguing look at the history of Hong Kong, a Chinese-British port island that is slowly, gradually, losing its identity. Performed with miniatures and puppetry and utilizing recycled and found materials, this unique production is presented in a combination of English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Continue reading The Extinction of Hong Kongers (Theatre du Poulet) 2018 SummerWorks Review
We’re heading into the final stretch for the Toronto Fringe Festival with only 6 more days left to see as many shows as you can. What have you seen already and what are you still curious to see? Have our reviews inspired any of your decisions on what to check out? Do you agree with our reviews? Leave a comment if you have your own opinions about the shows you’ve seen.
If you’re still debating on your next pick, let us help guide you with a few more daily rave highlights.
Continue reading Daily Picks from our Raves at the Toronto Fringe 2018 (July 10th)
Happy Monday! Though for many, it’s the beginning of the work week and therefore more like the Monday Blahs, the upside is that the Toronto Fringe Festival is in full swing. Here at Mooney on Theatre, we once again have committed ourselves to reviewing every show in the Fringe by the end of the first weekend and we have delivered! See our master list for all our reviews and get inspired on what to see next. To get you started, we’ve pulled a few more of our raves for you today.
Continue reading Daily Picks from our Raves at the Toronto Fringe 2018 (July 9th)
I don’t know what I was expecting when I first read the description of One Left Hour: The Life and Work of Daniil Kharms, playing as part of the 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival. The description says “a battle between absurdity and realism” and really, this show is exactly that. Maybe somehow I expected more realism than abstract and absurdity. I was wrong. Continue reading One Left Hour: The Life and Work of Daniil Kharms (Good Old Neon) 2018 Toronto Fringe Review