Wayne is a writer, editor and corporate communications professional who is thrilled to be a part of the Mooney on Theatre team. Wayne has loved theatre ever since his aunt brought him to a production of Les Misérables at the tender age of ten . . . despite the fact that, at that age, the show’s plot was practically indiscernible and the battle scenes scared the bejeezus out of him. Wayne’s current list of likes runs the gamut from opera, ballet and Shakespeare to Broadway musicals, circus and Fringe theatre. Outside of the theatre Wayne’s interests include travel, technology and food.
The description—something about a singer/piano duo’s final show—sounded vague and not entirely convincing. But the fact that it was a site-specific show staged in the nondescript piano bar on the second floor of Pauper’s Pub, and that the bar would be serving during the show, was enough for me to take a chance on it.
True North Mixtape, produced by Edge of Sky Theatre, is performing as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival. This is the newest show from the production company behind monster Fringe hits like Summerland and The Fence. At this point we pretty much know what to expect from them; fantastic musical performances, polished group dance numbers and an impossibly large cast of fresh-faced young performers. Once again, the team delivers, big time.
No Place, produced by Pressgang Theatre, is performing at St. George the Martyr Church as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival. For many who come across an autobiographical, one-person Fringe show about someone who grew up in a small town and had a difficult relationship with their mother, the description may as well read, “Run as fast as you can, in the opposite direction.” I get it. These types of one-handers are really hard to pull off well, and when they’re done poorly the result can be excruciating. Continue reading No Place (Pressgang Theatre) 2017 Toronto Fringe Review→
Confidential Musical Theatre Project produced by The Confidential Project performing as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival is one of those gimmicky concept shows you’ll often see at Fringe. Individual cast members are given scripts and scores then sworn to secrecy about the show and their part in it. They show up and perform with no prior knowledge of who they’ll be performing with and with no rehearsal. The audience comes not having a clue as to which musical they’ll see.
Magic to the Future, produced by The Great & Powerful Tim and performing as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival, is a magic show with a plot: a hapless magician’s assistant from the future is sent back in time and tasked with saving the world by … putting on a magic show.
Written by Erica Wood and Bruce Hunter, the show is described in the Fringe program as “part contemporary vaudevillian comedy with a little existentialist dilemma and a few musical numbers of sorts thrown in.” If that description sounds vague and a bit unfocused, the show matches.
Soulpepper, Mirvish and Canadian Opera Company lead noms for the 38th Dora Awards
The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) revealed the nominations for the 38th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards at a press conference early this morning. The Dora Awards seek to recognize excellence in the Toronto performing arts community. This year’s ceremony will take place on Monday, June 26 at the Elgin Theatre and will be hosted by prolific Toronto actor and musician Raoul Bhaneja.
Mirvish presents Baz Luhrmann’s musical stage adaptation of his film Strictly Ballroom in Toronto
Australian director Baz Luhrmann has adapted his 1992 cult hit film Strictly Ballroom into a stage musical and yes, it features all the razzle-dazzle dance numbers and brightly sequinned costumes you’d expect. The result is a show that provides some frivolous, superficial fun but that also gets a bit lost in the transition from screen to stage. Continue reading Review: Strictly Ballroom (Mirvish)→
The Teeny Tiny Music Show produced by Sneaky Sneaky Productions is performing as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival. I’ll level with you: this was the last review assignment I picked up for this year’s Fringe coverage, and I really didn’t know what to expect.
Soulpepper, Tapestry Opera and The Theatre Centre, the big winners at the 38th Dora Awards
Soulpepper, Mirvish and Canadian Opera Company lead noms for the 38th Dora Awards
Mirvish presents Baz Luhrmann’s musical stage adaptation of his film Strictly Ballroom in Toronto