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.
FASTER Presents: The Elephant in the Room is a show that brings abstract concert-style cabaret to the Toronto Fringe. But is Toronto ready for it? That’s the question. Continue reading FASTER Presents: The Elephant in the Room (FASTER) 2014 Toronto Fringe Review
Arabian Nights: A Belly Dance Spectacular is the second show mounted by local belly dance troupe Sisters of Salome in the Toronto Fringe Festival. This show, a retelling through dance of the classic collection One Thousand and One Nights, is a tour de force, and a stirring demonstration of the remarkable performing skills of the troupe members. Arabian Nights is an innovative new take on some very old stories that works wonderfully.
Elvis and Dick is a fun, musical imagining of what transpired between Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon during their historic Oval Office meeting in December 1970, when Elvis expressed his interest in becoming a federal agent at large for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. The show is playing at Tarragon Mainspace as part of the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival.
Continue reading Elvis and Dick (Bear Productions) 2014 Toronto Fringe Review
Bringing global issues into specific relief, What Mama Said About “Down There” at the Fringe has an important message behind its interesting concept: when women are able to talk frankly about their bodies and sexuality, they are safer and more well. I saw the show with a smattering of early theatregoers at the Robert Gill Theatre, and I came away more sorry than anything. There is some very promising work here, and I found it badly in need of a good director, or perhaps a director with more distance from the material. I fear that the best stuff – and there is some real talent here – gets lost amid some questionable theatrical choices. Continue reading What Mama Said About “Down There” (Global Women Intact) 2014 Fringe Review
One of the things I love about the Toronto Fringe Festival is that you never know what to expect when walking into a show. As I walked into the Robert Gill Theatre on Thursday night to see aware! productions’ Canadian premiere of Ancient History, I had very little idea of what to expect.
But I must say that I walked out completely satisfied, and completely heartbroken in the very best way. If you, like me, love a good old so-realistic-it-hurts type of love story, then make sure you see this show. Continue reading Ancient History (aware! productions) 2014 Toronto Fringe Review