Reviews of productions based in Toronto – theatre includes traditional definitions of theatre, as well as dance, opera, comedy, performance art, spoken word performances, and more. Productions may be in-person, or remote productions streamed online on the Internet.
Toronto’s third dose of Wicked is deliciously subversive and devilishly charming
Although I hadn’t seen Wickedbefore last Thursday, I’d heard of it, of course. I would have to have been living in a deep, dark theatre-less cave of oblivion to have been blind to the massive praise heaped on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical back in 2003, when it made its debut. The show graced Toronto’s stages in both 2005 and 2006, garnering local applause. It has now returned for a third run at the Canon Theatre. After seven years of hype, I figured it was time to actually see it. I went in a little jaded (“how could a mainstream musical show be THAT good?” I kept asking myself as the lights dimmed), and I came out pleasantly surprised.
I had my doubts about The Canadian Opera Company’s current production of Benjamin Britten’s final opera Death is Venice, as I am not normally a fan of twentieth century opera. However, I was blown away by the heart wrenching and masterfully created extravaganza currently playing at The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
Based on Thomas Mann’s novella, the opera revolves around an aging German novelist, Gustav von Aschenbach, a conflicted writer who travels to Venice to find new inspiration. He becomes drawn to the pride and youthful beauty of a young Polish boy, Tadzio, amidst an outbreak of a cholera epidemic in the decaying city.
Armageddon on The Danforth – It Must Be Halloween in Toronto!
Revelations is currently on stage at Toronto’s Bad Dog Theatre. Billed as a play about “sex, violence and therapy”, it delivers all that and more. It was created and performed by talented and passionate artists. Revelations is really two shows in one, and together they are one great night out!
The Clockmaker, written by fellow Calgarian Steven Massicotte, is indeed an intelligent, profound and original piece of work. Centering on the themes of love and friendship, time and memory, and of course, the afterlife, this script was certainly a good start to Tarragon Theatre’s 40th season.
As I silently watched the plot unfold, the one act play, 95 minutes long with no intermission, kept me enthralled for the entire duration. The superb acting, lighting effects, set design, and riveting storyline seemed to freeze us all in a moment of time…a time worth remembering. Continue reading Review: The Clockmaker (Tarragon Theatre)→
I enjoyed MackenzieRo’s production of The New Electric Ballroom. At least, I think I did.
Overall, the play was a positive theatre experience, but it was one that I had to think about for a few hours afterward. I realized that I considered it an excellent production with a moderate script, and unfortunately for me, script is the thing I tend to notice most. Continue reading Review: The New Electric Ballroom (MackenzieRo)→
