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.
After voting in our provincial election, I went back to Roman Empire politics and saw different techniques of rising to power. Julius Caesar opened at the Red Sandcastle Theatre for a delighted, entertained audience. This powerful Shakespearean production was about democracy-minded politicians seeking to kill off their overly-ambitious leader.
Continue reading Review: Julius Caesar (Red Sandcastle Theatre)
A Clown’s Life in 2 acts, playing at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, sets a hard goal for itself. A tragicomedy following the lives of a clown (Christian Glas), an agent (Rocky Keller), and a starlet (Lauren Goodman) in the world of show business where a small mix up changes the course of their lives. The production is inspired by the absurdist plays of Samuel Beckett, Eugene Ionesco, and the comedy troupe Stella—tough acts to follow.
There’s something exciting about seeing a play about one of your passions. When I was in university my very first research paper was on an Italian theatrical style called Commedia Dell’arte: an improvisational, sketch based style that catered to the common people with bawdy humour, slapstick and acrobatics that was at that time completely unheard of. The influence of Commedia Dell’arte is still felt in todays comedies with the most notable being the character of Harlequin, a witty servant character who often outsmarted boisterous villains with his athletics and humour, whose personality can still be seen in characters like Bugs Bunny or pretty much every Disney sidekick ever.
When I learned that The Civic Light-Opera Company was putting on a production of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens’ The Glorious Ones I was very excited. Not only is it a play all about the origins of Commedia Dell’arte, but it was also written by the duo responsible for such Broadway hits as Ragtime and Seussical. Such an exciting choice was perfect for The Civic Light-Opera Company’s 100th production, so I had high hopes going into the show.
Continue reading Review: The Glorious Ones (The Civic Light-Opera Co.)
From Press Release
aware! productions presents
ANCIENT HISTORY
By David Ives
New Toronto-based company presents the Canadian Premiere of ANCIENT HISTORY – an early gem by the comic genius, David Ives, award-winning author of VENUS IN FUR.
Ruth and Jack. Two tall, thin, witty thirty-somethings who “are the same person” – the perfect match. Two lovers who never fight, can hum the Mendelssohn Octet and quote the Marx brothers by heart. Two lovers in Paradise, celebrating Ruth’s birthday….until a marriage proposal and cultural differences threaten to drive them apart. Can their “alikeness” triumph over their differences?
Written by David Ives, the mastermind behind such hits as ALL IN THE TIMING and the Tony award-winning VENUS IN FUR, this lesser-known gem premiered on Broadway in 1989, was revised and remounted in 1996, and has never been professionally produced in Canada. A tightly-written script with endless witticisms, puns, and intellectual repartee, ANCIENT HISTORY is a hilarious, hard-hitting two-hander that leaves no holds barred in both humour and heartbreak.
Producer/actor Tiana Leonty and Director Richard Beaune came across this play while completing their MFA degrees at York University, and teamed up with York BFA grad – Assistant Director Alexandra Augustine. Rounding out the company are actor Zack Amzallag and Stage Manager Virginia Cardinal. Beaune is the Artistic Director of Keystone Theatre (The Last Man on Earth), where he directed Dora award-winning The Belle of Winnipeg, and is also directing Gold Fever at this year’s Fringe. Leonty (playing “Ruth”), is an Edmonton Fringe Festival veteran making her Toronto stage debut. Amzallag (playing “Jack”) recently appeared in Teatron Jewish Theatre’s Handle with Care and makes his Toronto Fringe debut.
aware! productions has assembled an all-star team to uncover the beauty, brutality, and finesse of this little-known masterpiece for Toronto audiences for the first time. Can Ruth and Jack continue to live in paradise? Or, in six months, will they be…ancient history?
aware! productions, in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents Ancient History, by David Ives
Directed by Richard Beaune, Assistant Director Alexandra Augustine
Featuring Zack Amzallag and Tiana Leonty
Stage managed by Virginia Cardinal
Opens July 3, 2014 and runs to July 13, 2014 at ROBERT GILL THEATRE – 214 College Street, 3rd Floor. Theatre is air conditioned.
Performances:
Thursday, July 3, 2014 – 8:15pm
Sunday, July 6, 2014 – 3:30pm
Monday, July 7, 2014 – 10:30pm
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 – 6:45pm
Thursday, July 10, 2014 – 1:45pm
Friday, July 11, 2014 – 2:15pm
Sunday, July 13, 2014 – 4:30pm
Running time: approx. 85 min. Please note that there is absolutely no latecomer seating.
Tickets: Purchase online: fringetoronto.com.
By Phone: 416-966-1062
In Person: During the Festival Box Office in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s (581 Bloor St W).
From Press Release
ADAM SQUARED PRODUCTIONS and the Toronto Fringe Festival presents…
BAKER’S DOZEN
We all know the story of Butcher, the Baker and the Candlestick Maker, right? But now, rubadubdub…the Baker has been found
dead in the tub, his husband the Butcher stands accused of murder, and no one knows what’s happened to the Candlestick Maker…
A single puppeteer transforms one puppet into twelve jury members, each struggling with our flawed judicial system, their own
personal problems, their gnat-like attention spans, and their intolerance of other people (and of lactose). A man’s future rests in their hands in this one-man, one-puppet courtroom dramedy.
Baker’s Dozen is the third collaboration between actor / puppeteer ADAM FRANCIS PROULX (Avenue Q, Songs of Sinatra),
director NICOLE STAMP (TVO, Second City), and veteran puppeteer MIKE PETERSEN (Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth) after they met
working on the first Canadian production of Tony Award winning musical Avenue Q, in a critically acclaimed production:
“Adam Proulx, who inhabits the two male leads, is a big-voiced charmer who manages to differentiate two very different characters.” -Fab Magazine review of Avenue Q
“Delivers the goods… Proulx delivers [a] strong puppet performance.” -NOW Magazine review of Avenue Q
BAKER’S DOZEN at the TORONTO FRINGE
Written and performed by Adam Francis Proulx
Directed by Nicole Stamp
Puppet Consultation by Mike Petersen
Produced by Jennifer Walls
Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace
Wednesday, July 2nd, 10pm
Friday, July 4th, 4:15
Saturday, July 5th, 5pm
Monday, July 7th, Midnight
Tuesday, July 8th, 8:30pm
Wednesday, July 9th, 3pm
Friday, July 11th, 7pm
Sunday, July 13th, 4pm
WE’LL SEE YOU IN COURT!