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.
Classic Shakespearean tragedies receive a clever and humorous spin at Toronto’s Hart House Theatre
I was eighteen when I first read Ann-Marie MacDonald’s ode to Shakespeare—Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). I recall being struck by its humour and cleverness. The play has stayed with me ever since, though I had not seen it performed until now. Having just seen Hart House Theatre’s exceptional production, my appreciation of the play has grown significantly. It’s not just funny and clever; neither of those two words do justice to the sheer brilliance of MacDonald’s award-winning comedy.
I’m compelled to gush uncontrollably, so know that it requires tremendous restraint on my part to handle this review in a professional and dignified manner, but before I can do so, I must first give voice to my enthusiasm: This play is awesomeness incarnate! The premise is both fanciful and fiercely intelligent, the characters are captivating, and the dialogue is so delicious I wish my life were written by Ann-Marie MacDonald! Continue reading Review: Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) (Hart House Theatre)→
Retro 8-bit gaming blends with rapid-fire improv in The Video Game Show at Toronto’s Comedy Bar
I love video games. Ever since I was a kid I loved sitting in front of a screen and making pixelated characters run around fantastic environments, saving worlds using only my finely honed hand-eye coordination and wits. In today’s modern world, “Interactive Storytelling” has become a constant in our daily lives, which makes Bad Dog Theatre Company‘s Video Game Show an almost inevitable occurrence. Really though, is it surprising? Improv theatre is the most interactive of stage performances (short of the audience getting up and doing it themselves) and blends easily with the interactive soul of gaming; it’s a wonder it hasn’t been explored more often.
Upon arriving at Comedy Bar for the performance, I was immediately struck by the choice in décor the company made in the Main Stage area; dark lighting, lots of tinfoil and neon lights all framing a projected image of the demo program of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) port of Contra. It felt like I’d gone back to an early 90’s arcade, and aside from having some trouble getting around due to the near-darkness I already found myself getting into the mood for some 8-bit fun.
The stories of wounded war veterans come to life in The Two Worlds of Charlie F. at the Princess of Wales Theatre
The Two Worlds of Charlie F. is part of the 2013/2014 Off-Mirvish season. The first thing I noticed last night when I arrived at the Princess of Wales Theatre were a lot of military brass in dress uniforms, milling around and chatting in the lobby. Not your usual opening night theatre audience.
Chaos ensues after a shocking post-mortem reveal in Nude with Violin playing at Toronto’s Papermill Theatre
There is a charming little venue at Todmorden Mills, tucked in beside the Don Valley Parkway—it’s called the Papermill Theatre; I went there last night to see the East Side Players production of Noel Coward’s Nude With Violin. It was a night of firsts for me: first Coward play, first time at the Papermill, and my first experience with the East Side Players. On all counts, it was more than worth the long, cold walk down Pottery Road.
Set in Paris in the early 50s, the play begins just after the death of a famous artist. Like vultures, his socialite family members flock to his studio to leech off his estate. To their chagrin, the late artist left a letter revealing he was a fraud who never painted a single picture. This confession had been left in the hands of his faithful valet—who, during the rest of the play, negotiates with the family to determine if the truth is to be made public or suppressed. Continue reading Review: Nude With Violin (East Side Players)→
