Five for Twenty (or Less)

by Leanne Milech

While the economy is slowly picking itself up, why not head to an inexpensive evening out at the theatre?  No, theatre does not always cost a lot, and yes, we can prove it.  Every Tuesday, Mooney on Theatre will be giving you five delicious theatre suggestions that cost $20 or less.  Now you can spend your hard-earned dollars wisely on awesome, live entertainment that won’t break the bank.  Below, our first five picks:

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Toronto Theatre Contest – Win a pair of tickets to 'GRIMMtoo'

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Theatre Smith-Gilmour will be presenting GRIMMtoo in association with Factory Theatre.

Check out the profile piece about the show in NOW by Jon Kaplan.  In the profile he tells us “A few years ago they collaborated with Humber Theatre students on a Grimm-based show.  The project worked so well that, as part of the company’s 30th anniversary, the troupe has devised GRIMM too. The work stays away from the familiar tales – Cinderella, Hansel And Gretel, for example – and sticks with lesser-known narratives.”

GRIMMtoo is playing until March 21, 2010 at the Factory Theatre Studio with ticket prices ranging from $20 to $28.  But, if you’re lucky, you might not even need to pay, because you can win a pair of tickets to the Thursday February 25 show.

To win just be the lucky 13th person to email us at contests@mooneyontheatre.com, with the subject line “GRIMMtoo” before noon on Wednesday.

For more information, see the press release below.

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Intimate Apparel – Canadian Stage Company

By Megan Mooney

intimate apparel I saw Intimate Apparel when Obsidian Theatre Company first produced it in 2008, and I loved it.  I saw Intimate Apparel when Canadian Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre Company produced it together this year, and I still loved it.

It’s a lovely play with an engaging story, excellent actors, great direction and a beautiful set.  What’s not to like?

My show partner for this one, Leanne (who also happens to be Mooney on Theatre’s new assistant editor, yay Leanne!), also really enjoyed the show.  She told me she found the first act a tiny bit slow, and I can see that.  The piece seemed to drag a wee bit until the first scene between Esther (Raven Dauda) and Mayme (Lisa Berry).  The energy between the two of them was electric, and for me, the show soared from that point on.  When I thought back to it, I remembered feeling the same way when I first saw the show.

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Factory Girls at the Alumnae Theatre

by Sam Mooney

Factory Girls - Toronto Irish Players

I spent some time in Donegal thanks to the Toronto Irish Players’ production of Frank McGuinness’s play Factory Girls at the Alumnae Theatre.  It’s the first play by Frank McGuinness that I’ve seen and also the first production by the Toronto Irish Players.  Both are now on my see again list.

Factory Girls follows 5 women working in the inspection department of a shirt factory in Donegal in the ‘70s.  The factory is old, the economy is crap, the manager is new, the union rep is old which means there’s lots of built-in tension and conflict.

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