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.
I spent some time in Donegal thanks to the Toronto Irish Players’ production of Frank McGuinness’s play Factory Girls at the Alumnae Theatre. It’s the first play by Frank McGuinness that I’ve seen and also the first production by the Toronto Irish Players. Both are now on my see again list.
Factory Girls follows 5 women working in the inspection department of a shirt factory in Donegal in the ‘70s. The factory is old, the economy is crap, the manager is new, the union rep is old which means there’s lots of built-in tension and conflict.
People have been blown away by this show, raving about it. When I was leaving the theatre I could hear people all around me saying how amazing they thought it was. I felt like maybe I was missing something. I thought the show was interesting, and there were some very cool things about it, but amazing is not the word that leapt to mind.
The minute you walk into the building you’re in this show. The theatre has been transformed into a synagogue (including announcements of community achievements and weddings on the hallway bulletin board) and the show is a Charedi (Ultra Orthodox) wedding. The audience are guests at the wedding (okay, paying guests, but guests nonetheless).
Okay. So, it’s taken me a long time to write a review of Canadian Opera Company’s production of Carmen. I’m pretty sure that it’s because I really really really wanted to like it, but, well, I was kind of underwhelmed.
