By Megan Mooney

Puppets take over a Toronto theatre and impress the crap out of the audience

People have many reactions to marionettes.  I’m fascinated by them.  I have another friend who is quite literally terrified of them, an honest-to-goodness marionette-phobia.  He would not have enjoyed Billy Twinkle Requiem for a Golden Boy playing right now at Factory Theatre because he would have spent the entire time under his chair.  I, on the other hand, loved it.  Judging on the comments for the people around me as I was leaving the theatre, so did everyone else.

Continue reading Review: Billy Twinkle Requiem for a Golden Boy (Factory Theatre) →

I don’t know if you’ve ever had the opportunity to see a Baobab Tree before.  My first encounter was on paper in The Little Prince where they were described as "Trees as big as castles".  When I first saw one in real life I was blown away.  I was somewhere around 7 years old, and completely blown away.  They are huge and beautiful.  Don’t believe me?  Look at this picture. 

So, it’s no surprise that the Baobab Tree is used to evoke a powerful image of strength.  It’s an image that has drawn me into this play, African Women are as Strong as the Baobab Tree.  I haven’t had the chance to see it yet, but I really want to (as you may have noticed in the ‘Eye catching theatre’ post from last week).

Continue reading [Sponsored Article] Baobab Youth Theatre Group present African Women are Strong as the Baobab Tree →

By Adelina Fabiano

Physical power coupled with illusionary levitation reaches unlimited perfection in stage offering in Toronto

I may have briefly heard of the famous Canadian hi-wire walker, William Hunt, known to the world as “ The Great Farini,” but was never quite interested enough to learn more about it. That is until last night’s exhilarating and uplifting performance in the Enwave Theatre at the Harbourfront Centre.

“The Great Farini Project” is a daring and daunting dance of one-upmanship between two extraordinary circus performers, real life rivals from the late 19 century; The Great Farini and his foe, The Great Blondin. Mixed with contemporary movement, ballet and aerial choreography, this show took us on a journey to great heights! Continue reading Review: The Great Farini Project (NextSteps Harbourfront Centre) →

by Dorianne Emmerton

Fernando Krapp Wrote Me This Letter: An Attempt at the Truth is playing at the Bluma Appel location of Canadian Stage. It’s their first show under the artistic direction of Matthew Jocelyn, who also translated and directed this show.

Jocelyn has announced a new mandate for Canadian Stage, which involves unconventional contemporary theatre. As the press release states they want to be “at the vanguard of contemporary theatre” and “question, challenge move and entertain not only with the tales they tell but with the way they tell them.”

Fernando Krapp is definitely an unconventional show: I have certainly never seen anything like it at the theatre formerly known as Canstage. Written by the German Tankred Dorst, the characters are allegorical clowns, who play out a fable about how love interacts with power.

Continue reading Review: Fernando Krapp Wrote Me This Letter: An Attempt at the Truth (Canadian Stage) →

When people think of musical theatre and Toronto, far too often they think the only options are great big companies like Mirvish or Dancap, but the truth is there are small companies who are producing great work with affordable ticket prices and fantastic performances.

One of those companies is Angelwalk Theatre, and right now they are presenting Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell’s [Title of Show].  Musical theatre with catchy tunes, lots of laughs, and all sorts of meta goodness (a show about writing a show about writing a show about writing a show…  well you get the idea).

The show is running until Sunday October 10, 2010 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts with ticket prices starting as low as $25.  In fact, a limited number of rush tickets are now available for all Saturday Matinee performances for $20 (cash only) at the Box Office. 

Check out the details of the show below:

Continue reading (Sponsored Article) Funny hit musical [Title of Show] being produced in Toronto by Angelwalk Theatre →