Toronto Theatre Reviews

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.

Adult Entertainment – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

Adult Entertainment

Excerpt from Press Release:

Triple ByPass Productions is excited to play in George F. Walker’s world once again. To mount a play by a Canadian playwright at the Toronto Fringe is especially exciting for us! It’s a great platform to introduce new people to Walker, and to put up one of his plays that is less often done for his already existing fans. If you crave great acting, storytelling and an exciting night in the theatre, you do not want to miss a Triple ByPass Production.

Triple ByPass Productions is a collective of actors who decided to take back some control of their careers. Founded in 2014, TBP produces modern plays with an edge that are relevant to todays audiences. We also like to toss in a little humour as well. Triple ByPass Productions was voted patrons pick,’best ensemble’ and ‘a company to watch’ receiving NNNN is NOW Magazine for Eric Bogosian’s ‘SKUNKWEED” Toronto Fringe 2015 at Theatre Passe Muraille.

Details

  • Adult Entertainment plays at the Tarragon Mainspace. (30 Bridgman Ave.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warnings: Realistic Violence or Gore, Sexual Content, Smoking, Mature Language.
  • This venue is barrier-free. The designated accessible seating is in the middle of the auditorium.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 08:30 pm
  • Friday July 7th, 03:00 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 08:15 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 10:30 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 04:00 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 12:15 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 05:45 pm

Photo by Chantal Ryanne.

Picaza – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

This year’s Toronto Fringe Festival will introduce audiences to a fresh and experimental take on modern live performance with the world premiere of Picaza . Curated by the Inamorata Dance Collective, Picaza has a seven show run from July 7-16 at the Randolph Theatre (736 Bathurst St). Supported by the Culturally Diverse Project at the Fringe, Picaza see’s its artists come together as one in a multidisciplinary telling of the journey to self awareness.

Twelve Torontonian artists from different cultural and professional backgrounds gather together to perform the best of contemporary and flamenco dance, physical theatre and original text and music to produce a fully original tale of the coming of age of a young woman.

“Picaza uses theatre as an accessible storytelling platform to delve into difficult and often polarized themes that often affect our sense of identity, like our birthplace, perceived familial duty, culture and romantic expression.”- Sofí Gudiño

Directed and choreographed by Sofi Gudino, Picaza features an eclectic and diverse cast of performers, including long time members Sam Yang and Kahvontay Willis, and newcomers Nazanin Meshkat, Hailey Gardiner, Nicole Haber, and True Skalde. The dancers perform to a range of traditional and experimental music, including live performances of traditional songs from Mexico and Venezuela, with original compositions by musicians Andrew Wiseman, Benjamin Barrile, and Mark Marji. The dance and music are brought full circle by original text in Spanish and English written by Eryka Gudino-Barthold.

Performances

  • Friday July 7th, 05:15 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 07:00 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 04:15 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 07:00 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 11:00 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 09:45 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 01:45 pm

Details

  • Picaza plays at the Randolph Theatre. (736 Bathurst St.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warnings: Sexual Content, Mature Language.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible through a secondary route. We recommend checking in with the venue box office at least 20 minutes before showtime.

Photo of Sofi Gudiño, Nazanin Meshkat by Andrea Perez Leon 

Life Records 2: Side B – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

After a sold-out run at the 2015 Toronto Fringe, storyteller/comedian Rhiannon Archer is back with the sequel to her critically acclaimed solo show – Life Records2: Side B! Originally written and performed while pregnant with her first child, Archer is energized with more stories, laughs, and hopefully less baby, making this truly a “solo” show!

Life Records is a comical, heartwarming and honest solo show about the songs that make their way into our lives and become the “soundtrack” to our memories. This eclectic show is filled with true stories and the songs that bring them to life. From poetic revenge for a bully to accidental fraud- laugh, cry, and reminisce with more classic hits from a silly life.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 07:00 pm
  • Friday July 7th, 09:15 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 03:45 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 05:15 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 02:00 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 11:15 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 12:15 pm

Details

  • Life Records 2: Side B plays at the Factory Studio. (125 Bathurst St.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Mature Language.
  • This venue is accessible.

Photo of Rhiannon Archer by Shlomi Amiga

High Park Noir – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

Condo development in High Park will leave its furry inhabitants homeless. If he can get sober, raccoon Detective Dick will expose corruption and save High Park. Will Dick’s dark past and Officer Pussy’s tail get in his way? A trust-fund puppy and burlesque bat complicate matters in this waggish tale for adults only!

Simply Twisted Productions was created by three old friends who graduated from Dawson College’s DOME Theatre Program in Montreal. This will be their first time working all together since they graduated from theatre school 15 years ago! Simply Twisted Productions is a diverse company with female, gay and indigenous representation.

“We’ll always have High Park”…or will we? Find out in this film noir inspired comedy for mature audiences.

Performances

  • Wednesday July 5th, 10:30 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 07:30 pm
  • Sunday July 9th, 03:30 pm
  • Tuesday July 11th, 02:45 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 09:45 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 05:45 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 01:45 pm

Details

  • High Park Noir plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace. (16 Ryerson Ave.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Sexual Content.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible. Accessible seating is in the very front row.

Photo of Jim Armstrong and Freya Ravensbergen by Stephen Kew

Madeleine Says Sorry – Toronto Fringe 2017 Press Release

From press release

Bold, spiteful, and hilarious—Prairie Fire, Please is proud to present Madeleine Says Sorry. Failed actor, Madeleine, loses her big break to a wiener dogso she attempts to drown it. Now she must apologize not only to the dog, but to all of society.

Madeleine Says Sorry is a dark comedy about the monsters created by performative activism and political correctness.

This world premiere satirizes our apologetic Canadian culture. It invites audiences to question how our morals are constructed. Audiences need to see this show to consider the harm we can cause by blindly adopting opinions. We must examine the inequities within our own activism and allyship. In a time that screams for revolution, we need to force less, and listen more.

Performances

  • Thursday July 6th, 06:00 pm
  • Saturday July 8th, 01:30 pm
  • Monday July 10th, 07:30 pm
  • Wednesday July 12th, 01:15 pm
  • Thursday July 13th, 04:30 pm
  • Friday July 14th, 10:30 pm
  • Saturday July 15th, 06:15 pm
  • Sunday July 16th, 12:30 pm

Details

  • Madeleine Says Sorry plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace. (16 Ryerson Ave.)
  • Tickets are $12. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Scadding Court, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
  • Content Warning: Mature Language.
  • This venue is wheelchair-accessible, with some tight cornering. Accessible seating is in the front row.

Photo of Anthony Perpuse and Madeleine Brown by Jordan Laffrenier