3 seeds productions Shoreditch Madonna playing at Toronto’s StoreFront Theatre is a Rent-esque story that will intimately draw you in and connect you with the human spirit

Shoreditch Madonna is one of those productions that leaves me really happy to be, in my small way, contributing to Toronto’s indie theatre scene. There are moving productions quietly being staged behind storefronts and down alleys all over the city and I want to make some noise about them! I want Torontonians to be checking upcoming shows at their favourite local theatre the same way they would music listings at their favourite local bar.

StoreFront Theatre is one of those theatres for me, and 3 seeds productions’ Shoreditch Madonna is further proof why. The description for this play didn’t really interest me – young artists having a dramatic time living together in London’s East End sounds like a story I’ve heard before – but it’s being staged at StoreFront so I trusted it to be good.

And it is.

Continue reading Review: Shoreditch Madonna (3 seeds productions) →

Mirvish in Toronto kicks off their 50th anniversary theatre season with war stories from Afghanistan and Iraq vets, Jim Henson style puppets, and Broadway favorites Les Miserables and Aladdin

A Golden Anniversary means a golden season from Mirvish; a record 18 shows in its four venues for the 2013/2014 season.

The three new shows announced today all sound like terrificadditions to the season that has already been announced. Continue reading Mirvish Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary Season →

You get up in the morning, prep yourself for the day, step out the door and… Any number of things can happen from that point on – you go about your day as planned or you get ‘tapped’ for a clandestine mission for a foreign dignitary or you run into the love of your life and then meet their lovely significant other. This week’s cheap theatre picks are all about that random element that blooms when you least expect it or when personal ideals blend or contrast with others. Call it kismet, call it serendipity, call it a great night of theatre.

Continue reading Cheap Theatre in Toronto for the Week of September 17th, 2013 →

In a Forest Dark & Deep playing at Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace is a production compellingly acted and exquisitely directed

First off, let me admit that I am a huge fan of Neil LaBute. I have read, seen and even been involved in several of his plays over the years, which was why I was excited to catch his latest play In A Forest Dark & Deep in the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace.

In A Forest Dark & Deep tells the story of brother and sister Bobby and Betty reuniting in a cabin in the woods. Bobby thinks he’s simply lending his sister a hand with clearing out her cottage for new tenants. But it’s a dark and stormy night, and his sister has a big secret.

Continue reading Review: In A Forest Dark & Deep (Ron Leach & Brian Levy) →

UC Follies’ modern take on the classic Shakespearean play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is playing al fresco at Toronto’s University College Quad

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (UC Follies) is a production of one of William Shakespeare’s most well known plays. The tragedy is based on the true events of the classical empire of Rome, in which the dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of senators.

I would apologize for the spoiler, but this play has been public for a while and ancient Roman history has been public for longer. I found that knowing the answers ahead of time didn’t ruin the experience of the play. The enjoyment doesn’t begin with knowing how the play ends, but seeing how the play reaches the end. The UC Follies took the same old story and made it new. Continue reading Review: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (UC Follies) →