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.
An all-female cast lead this new version of Lord of the Flies at Toronto’s Annex Theatre
Most of us probably remember sitting in English class, picking apart William Golding’s allegorical novel Lord of the Flies. For me, it was the first time I consciously realized (in a thinky-thinky way) just how complex stories can be.
The first scene begins with Elizabeth talking to her Mum while shoving books into cardboard boxes. Elizabeth, played by Janna Erichson, talks to her Mum like any disgruntled daughter, rolling her eyes and defiantly using the term “mother” instead of “mum”. Mum, played by Reva Lawry, responds by lecturing Elizabeth about her marriage. It all unrolls like a scenario that has been repeated for the characters, probably in the same room with the same retorts. And then, it shifts into something deeper. Continue reading Review: A Life Beyond Doubt (Tomorrow’s Eve Theatre)→
Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness comes to life at Toronto’s Storefront Theatre in Dark Matter
Dark Matter is a play based on the Joseph Conrad novel Heart of Darkness. It’s currently onstage at a new and funky theatre on Bloor Street between Dovercourt and Ossington called The Storefront Theatre.
I suspect most people will know Heart of Darkness from the brilliant Francis Ford Coppola movie Apocalypse Now. It’s a movie that not only stands up to the test of time but improves with age.
The story is about a washed-out military captain who fails a psychological assessment is given a “can’t win” mission: seek out an insane, renegade employee, Kurtz, and bring him back to justice.
Music, laughs and impressive ensembles rounded out the festivities at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival
Friday night at the Lower Ossington Theatre hub of the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival was definitely a lively one featuring the Chicago-based Shock T’s and Canadian Comedy Award nominees Hot Thespian Action, hailing from Winnipeg. It’s great to see such a Toronto-centric comedy festival, densely packed with talented local troupes, keeping its door flung open for the out of towners. In the case of these two acts in particular, it’s a smooth move that brings in some quality A-game humour.
A dark love story of codependency and drug use takes centre stage in Blackbird at Toronto’s Hub14 Theatre
When I first heard that Blackbird was being staged here in Toronto, I became quite excited. Granted I did mistake playwright Adam Rapp with his brother Anthony Rapp who everyone knows as Mark from RENT. Though the comparison isn’t too far off. Unlike RENT, Blackbird is not filled with music and nostalgic, happy moments. There is no La Vie Boheme or Tango Maureen. However, there is drug use aplenty — heroin to be exact, it is Christmas Eve in New York City, and cutting through all of that is love.
The play 
