Faking Bad is for the fans, at Toronto’s Bad Dog Theatre
It has often been said that the sincerest form of flattery is imitation. But the most hilarious form of flattery is parody. Faking Bad is Bad Dog Theatre’s comedic take on the AMC hit drama series, Breaking Bad.
Staying true to the television show’s cannon, Faking Bad similarly chronicles a terminally-ill high school teacher’s foray into drug dealing in order to provide financial stability for his family. But unlike the original series, this parody (currently playing at the Comedy Bar) takes a sharp U-turn into the realm of nonsensical slapstick folly.
Before the rain set in for the evening I got to speak to the Festival Director, Sylvie Bouchard, between meetings and makeup calls. We chatted about how the tour was going. Bouchard told me that the works shown at Withrow Park are different than the ones on tour. Withrow Park is where the pieces get their start. The works shown in Toronto are all either new works or newly adapted for the outdoors. After being shown here, they get the chance to go on tour the following year. Continue reading Review: Dusk Dances 2013 (Dusk Dances)→
Eye of newt and outdoor drama in High Park’s outdoor theatre in Toronto
There’s something so appealing about being able to experience theatre in an outdoor space. Maybe because it’s a throwback to ancient Greece or maybe because it’s summer, but watching Shakespeare in the park is something I look forward to every year.
I missed out on Canadian Stage’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream last year and so made it a point to check out Shakespeare in High Park’s Macbeth. While not my absolute favourite of the Bard’s works, the Scottish play is definitely up there so I was eager to see how Ker Wells explored the text.
I’ve spent a lot of time wandering through High Park – it’s one of my favorite areas of the city, a great green space to get away for a while. It’s also an area that has held plenty of surprises for me.
When I first started hanging out there, I had no idea there was a hidden labyrinth let alone a zoo. And up until very recently I didn’t realize there was an open air amphitheatre there that has a seating capacity of a thousand.
I love a good musical. Sometimes all you need is a cheery storyline, peppy songs, and animated dance moves to help put a hop in your step. Sadly I left the Papermill Theatre on Wednesday night after seeing All Shook Up by First Act Productions in not as happy a mood as I had anticipated.
All Shook Up tells the story of a town that has been stripped of all things fun: dancing, loud music and necking in public. That is, until a mysterious leather-clad gentlemen, Chad, shows up in town. He shows the townspeople what it means to have a good time and reminds them of how wonderful falling in love can be. The cheesy, cheery story is interwoven with over twenty songs by the one and only Elvis. Continue reading Review: All Shook Up (First Act Productions)→
I’ve spent a lot of time wandering through 