Theatre Reviews

Reviews of theatre, dance, opera, comedy and festivals. Performances can be in-person or streamed remotely on the web for social-distancing.

Review: this happened… (Kate Hilliard/Citadel + Compagnie)

Photo ofKate Hilliard in this happened“Challenging and enjoyable” dance piece takes to the Toronto stage

this happened… is a contemporary dance performance by Kate Hilliard and presented by Citadel + Compagnie, currently enjoying its world premiere. The piece explores themes of grief and human connection through a variety of disciplines including movement, visual art, spoken word, and video. The evening started slowly, and I have to admit I was skeptical at first. I needn’t have worried.  this happened…turned out to be inventive and engaging. Continue reading Review: this happened… (Kate Hilliard/Citadel + Compagnie)

Review: Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Soulpepper)

Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train is a graphic and disturbing deep dive into prison life and faith

Soulpepper Theatre presents Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, a graphic and distressing story of two prison inmates serving time for murder. One has been serving his sentence for years, but his discovery of God helps him find joy in his days. The other is a younger man recently charged and now overwhelmed with desperation and grief as he sees the rest of his sentence lain before him. This is a blistering story of life behind bars on Rikers Island, of racism and police brutality, of a harrowing life of constant struggle.

Continue reading Review: Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Soulpepper)

Review: Marjorie Prime (Coal Mine)

Photo of Martha Henry in Marjorie Prime by Dahlia KatzStanding ovation at Marjorie Prime, now playing in Toronto

Marjorie Prime, Jordan Harrison’s 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist now playing at Coal Mine Theatre, asks us about the limits of our interaction with technology, and how we shape and retain our identities in a world where artificial intelligence can be more reliable than our own memories. Sci-fi trappings aside, director Stewart Arnott’s production is also a wonderfully moving and human drama about the fear of aging and obsolescence, and our inability to let go of the past.

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Review: Patience (St. Anne’s Music and Drama Society)

Photo of Philip Garde as Bunthorne in PatienceHistorical adaptation of Patience is a likable piece, now on stage 

Love is the purest and most unselfish emotion–or at least it tries to be in St. Anne’s Music and Drama Society’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan‘s Patience, currently playing at St. Anne’s Anglican Church.

Fortunately, romantic comedy ensues as St. Anne’s works to create a historically accurate production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s work. It’s an elaborate community show that is really very good.

Continue reading Review: Patience (St. Anne’s Music and Drama Society)