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 Young People’s Theatre presents a play by Kevin Dyer full of warmth and humour
Playing at Young People’s Theatre in Toronto, Under the Stairs is an important, fanciful musical story written by Kevin Dyer. It’s about a little boy named Tim who escapes to a closet of coats when his parents argue. There he finds comfort amongst a motley crew of other abandoned souls.
Timmy (Kyle Orzech) is sweet and boyish in his grey pyjamas and bare feet. Lily (Kelsey Verzotti) lives in the closet and is loving and protective. Violet (Fiona Sauder) is her cynical, foot-stomping best friend, and Albert (Paul Rainville) is their non-verbal tag-along whose knees easily wobble.
The Shimmering Verge is a “quietly thrilling piece of lyrical storytelling” on stage in Toronto
First premiering in 2002 at the Tarragon Spring Arts Fair before touring Canada and the US, poet Molly Peacock’s The Shimmering Verge has been revived by performer Madeleine Brown and director Karthy Chin. Prairie Fire, Please presents this solo show at Studio 21 (Théâtre français de Toronto) for the next week in celebration of National Poetry Month.
Hot Brown Honey is a dazzling socially driven cabaret, a “brilliant spectacle” on stage in Toronto
Near the beginning of Hot Brown Honey, an Australian export co-produced by Why Not Theatre and Native Earth Performing Arts and presented to lucky Toronto audiences by TO Live, Queen Bee Busty Beats exclaims from the hive-top “Fighting the power never tasted so sweet!” They are unimpeachably correct, so please stand by for several paragraphs of effusive, lavish praise for this spectacular piece of work.
Obsidian and Factory Theatre present the tragic story of Marie Joseph Angélique in Toronto
The year is 1734. A large fire destroys a hospital and several houses in Montréal. One of those houses belongs to the owner of an enslaved Black woman. As the fire raged, she was attempting to flee captivity. With very little evidence, that woman was found responsible for setting the blaze. She was tortured and hanged. Her name was Marie Joseph Angélique. This is her story.
Playing at Young People’s Theatre in Toronto, Under the Stairs is an important, fanciful musical story written by Kevin Dyer. It’s about a little boy named Tim who escapes to a closet of coats when his parents argue. There he finds comfort amongst a motley crew of other abandoned souls.
The Shimmering Verge is a “quietly thrilling piece of lyrical storytelling” on stage in Toronto
Against the Grain Theatre presents a unique piece of experimental opera in Toronto
Obsidian and Factory Theatre present the tragic story of Marie Joseph Angélique in Toronto