Review: Germinal (Harbourfront Centre-World Stage 2016)

Germinal is playing Jan. 20-23, 2016 at Fleck Dance Theatre as part of Harbourfront World Stage 2016, Toronto ON.“Highly acclaimed” production Germinal plays on stage in Toronto

Tonight I caught the opening night performance of Germinal, a unique production from France, as part of Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage 2016 — and am I ever glad I did!  I had no idea I was in for a theatrical experience of such epic proportions.

I  wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I read the show synopsis, but what I saw was pure magic.  In Germinal, created by Halory Goerger and Antoine Defoort, four adventurers begin to remake the world from the beginning, right before our eyes. I was mesmerized by the section where they begin to discover voice, words, communication and social order.

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Review: El Refugio de Freidel (Aluna Theatre)

Liliana Suarez Henao photo by Dahlia Katz“Honest, raw” one-woman show plays on the Toronto stage

Aluna Theatre‘s El Refugio de Freidel / The Refuge of Freidel, on now at The Theatre Centre as part of Progress was so nuanced — yet intense — I’m still not quite sure what to say about it.

I’ll try my best to encapsulate the myriad layers of themes and emotions I experienced tonight, namely forced immigration, sadness, theatre, violence, humour, and the resilience of women.

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Cheap Theatre in Toronto the Week of January 18th

Five Shows Under $25 in Toronto this Week

This is a rich week for theatre, and particularly theatre that’s accessible and affordable. We’ve narrowed down plenty of promising shows to a few, centred around the theme of conflict and aggression. From murders to war to creepy games, all these shows have caught our eye for their compelling conflicts and reasonable price-tags. Continue reading Cheap Theatre in Toronto the Week of January 18th

Review: Hedda Gabler (Necessary Angel/Canadian Stage)

Cara Ricketts as Hedda Gabler. Photo by Dahlia Katz.Necessary Angel and Canadian Stage present Ibsen’s classic play Hedda Gabler in Toronto

How far are we willing to go to fulfill our fantasies? Can we really shape our own lives in the face of a rigid, reputation-obsessed society? Necessary Angel and Canadian Stage tackle these questions in their good-but-not-great update of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, currently playing at the Berkeley Downstairs Theatre.

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