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.
The Children’s Hour explores the destructive results of a lie at the Toronto Centre for the Arts
I am always of two minds when I am about to see one of my favourite plays, and so it was that I went into Encore Entertainment’s production of The Children’s Hour (playing at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre) half-ecstatic and half-terrified. Will they get it right? Will my guest be equally enamoured of it, or will they look at me in that funny way, wondering why I’ve subjected them to such rubbish?
Before I delve into the thick of it, let me first say this: I love Lillian Hellman’s play wholeheartedly. It chronicles the tragic aftermath of lie told in spite, and explores the consequences of such unpleasant human characteristics as selfishness, resentment, and self-righteousness. Continue reading Review: The Children’s Hour (Encore Entertainment)→
Toronto’s Alumnae Theatre presents a story of the witch trials in England in The Lady’s Not for Burning
For a gusty and frigid January evening, the Alumnae Theatre had a nicely sized audience for the Friday night opening of Christopher Fry’s The Lady’s Not for Burning. A play that seeks to countermand the authority of the mob mentality, making a case for being tolerant of the unknown, The Lady’s Not for Burning is a fairly decent comedy.
Taking place somewhere in the 1400s, The Lady’s Not for Burning centers around a young woman who is accused of being a witch by the town and is, therefore, sentenced to burn as ordered by the mayor. Concurrently, a young soldier arrives at the mayor’s house seeking help to end his own life in the gallows. Confusion, plenty of wordplay and minor fisticuffs ensue as the mayor’s household wrestles with the notion of the woman’s innocence, and the soldier comes to terms with his own desire to live.
Toronto’s Rarely Pure Theatre breathes modern life into Shakespeare’s As You Like It
I have noticed that the more Shakespeare I see, the more I enjoy it. Or maybe I am just seeing increasingly better productions. Rarely Pure Theatre’s production of As You Like It was enchanting and adorable.
The charm was everywhere as I walked to my seat in the Storefront Theatre. Before the play had even started the stage was set all over with snow-covered twigs.
Heartbeat of Home is a global celebration of dance playing at Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre
This afternoon my new friend Ryan and I saw the North American premier of Heartbeat of Home at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. It was a lovely way to spend a snowy Sunday afternoon. For more than two hours I forgot about winter.
From the moment that the show opened with a bright white spotlight on the feet of a dancer until it ended with the entire company on stage I was entranced. Heartbeat of Home is an exuberant, sexy tribute to the diversity of dance. Continue reading Review: Heartbeat of Home (Mirvish)→
