Reviews

Ghost Quartet

Lauren Gillett — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Dave Malloy's intoxicating song cycle casts a spell over Toronto audiences

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Review

Credits:

Presented by Crow's Theatre & Eclipse Theatre Company
Music, lyrics & text by Dave Malloy
Directed by Marie Farsi
Musical direction by Andrew Penner

Murder ballads, doo-wop, jazz and raucous drinking songs collide in the Canadian premiere of Dave Malloy's Ghost Quartet

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Show Dates:

Sat, 2019-10-05 - Sun, 2019-11-10

Theatre:

Crow's Theatre

Girl From The North Country

Lauren Gillett — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Heartbreaking musical sets Bob Dylan's songs against Depression-era tragedy

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Review

Credits:

Presented by David Mirvish
Written and directed by Conor McPherson
Music and lyrics by Bob Dylan

The Canadian premiere of Conor McPherson's unconventional musical Girl from the North Country is now playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Set in a guest house in Duluth, Minnesota, during the winter of 1934, the show weaves a beautiful selection of Bob Dylan's songbook through a devastating story about a family and community on the brink of disaster.

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Show Dates:

Fri, 2019-10-11 - Sun, 2019-11-24

Theatre:

Royal Alexandra Theatre

A Streetcar Named Desire

Lauren Gillett — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Soulpepper has a hit on their hands with sizzling revival of Tennessee Williams' play

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Review

Credits:

Presented by Soulpepper Theatre Company
Written by Tennesee Williams
Directed by Weyni Mengesha

Weyni Mengesha's new production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire is a must-see Toronto show this season. Vibrantly staged and exceptionally cast, the piece captivates so entirely you will not notice it runs more than three hours. Nor will you quite realize it was written more than 70 years ago, that's how relevant many of the play's themes are in the hands of this talented company.

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Show Dates:

Sat, 2019-09-21 - Sun, 2019-10-27

Theatre:

Young Centre for the Performing Arts

The Band's Visit

Lauren Gillett — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 00:53:26 +0000

Subtitle:

A subtly soulful musical experience

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Review

Credits:

Presented by David Mirvish
Music and lyrics by David Yazbek
Book by Itamar Moses
Based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin
Directed by David Cromer

If you think you know what the Tony Award-winning musical The Band's Visit is all about before you've seen it, think again. This is not your typical Broadway show.

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Show Dates:

Tue, 2019-09-17 - Sun, 2019-10-20

Theatre:

Ed Mirvish Theatre

Betrayal

Lauren Gillett — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Deception is impeccably mannered in this fresh take on a Pinter classic

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Review

Credits:

Presented by Soulpepper Theatre Company
Written by Harold Pinter
Directed by Andrea Donaldson

Harold Pinter's Betrayal is enjoying a revival moment. The 1978 play is currently a hot ticket—both on Broadway and in Toronto as part of Soulpepper's new season.

Set in London, this English adultery drama tells the story of a long-time affair between married lovers Jerry (Ryan Hollyman) and Emma (Virgilia Griffith), the wife of Jerry's best friend Robert (Jordan Pettle). The action begins two years after the affair ends, and moves backward in time to the first spark of passion.

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Stars:

3.5

Show Dates:

Wed, 2019-09-04 - Sun, 2019-09-22

Theatre:

Young Centre for the Performing Arts

Waitress

Lauren Gillett — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 23:50:26 +0000

Subtitle:

Tony nominated musical serves up bittersweet mixture of laughter and tears

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by David Mirvish
Based on the film by Adrienne Shelly|
Book by Jessie Nelson
Music & lyrics by Sara Bareilles

Baking can be messy, much like life, as is beautifully illustrated in the musical Waitress, a Tony Award-nominated show with music and and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, book by screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland), now playing at the Ed Mirvish Theatre.

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Theatre:

Ed Mirvish Theatre

The Last Ship

Lauren Gillett — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 02:48:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Sting's deeply personal musical finds safe harbour in Toronto

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by David Mirvish
Music & Lyrics by Sting
Directed by Lorne Campbell

Sting's musical The Last Ship has landed in Toronto for a limited engagement at the Princess of Wales Theatre. This exclusive production stars Sting (Gordon Sumner) himself and features a revised book by director Lorne Campbell.

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Show Dates:

Fri, 2019-02-22 - Sun, 2019-03-24

Theatre:

Princess of Wales Theatre

Fun Home

Lauren Gillett — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Canadian cast soars in acclaimed musical drama

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by David Mirvish
A Musical Stage Co. Production
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book & Lyrics by Lisa Kron
Based on the Graphic Novel by Alison Bechdel

Rarely does a musical tackle complex topics such as sexuality and suicide, let alone captivate audiences from all walks of life with brilliant storytelling and a beautiful score. Winner of five Tony Awards, including "Best Musical," Fun Home is now playing for a limited time at the CAA Theatre (formerly The Panasonic) featuring a top-notch Canadian cast.

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Show Dates:

Mon, 2018-04-23 - Sun, 2018-05-20

Theatre:

CAA Theatre (Formerly The Panasonic)

An American In Paris

Lauren Gillett — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 14:51:17 +0000

Subtitle:

Exquisite, award-winning touring production woos Toronto audiences

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by David Mirvish and Aubrey Dan
Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by Craig Lucas
Inspired by the Motion Picture
Directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon

Toronto musical lovers will want to rush to catch this outstanding Broadway production of An American In Paris, on stage now for a limited run at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Winner of four Tony Awards, the show boasts choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, who also directs, and music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin.

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Show Dates:

Tue, 2018-03-27 - Sun, 2018-04-29

Theatre:

Princess of Wales Theatre

Animal Farm

Lauren Gillett — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Soulpepper stages creative adaptation of Orwell's classic satire

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Soulpepper Theatre Company
Written by George Orwell
Adapted by Anthony MacMahon
Directed by Ravi Jain

Soulpepper's new production of George Orwell's Animal Farm couldn't be more timely. Written in 1945, this ominous allegory for the rise of Stalin in Russia remains relevant today as a keen exploration of human, or "animal," nature. In fact, it's a powerful reminder of how history often repeats itself.

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Show Dates:

Thu, 2018-03-15 - Sat, 2018-04-07

Theatre:

Young Centre for the Performing Arts

Jerusalem

Lauren Gillett — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Kim Coates ruffles feathers in Canadian premiere of Jez Butterworth's wild drama

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Outside the March and Company Theatre in association with Starvox Entertainment
Written by Jez Butterworth
Directed by Mitchell Cushman

Primal forces clash with modern progress in Jez Butterworth's hit play Jerusalem, now on stage for a limited run at Streetcar Crowsnest. Presented by Outside the March and Company Theatre, this highly anticipated Canadian premiere stars Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy) after a 25-year absence from the theatre.

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Stars:

4.5

Show Dates:

Tue, 2018-02-13 - Sat, 2018-03-17

Theatre:

Crow's Theatre

The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia?

Lauren Gillett — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:28:54 +0000

Subtitle:

Edward Albee's daring play finds fresh legs at Soulpepper

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Soulpepper Theatre Company
Written by Edward Albee
Directed by Alan Dilworth

Edward Albee's The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia? challenges us to examine what is and is not acceptable in ourselves, in our relationships and in society. Now playing as part of Soulpepper's 2017 lineup, this provocative play about marital infidelity and the devastation of a family is unexpected, funny, clever and deeply disturbing all at once.

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Show Dates:

Sun, 2017-11-12 - Sat, 2017-11-18

Theatre:

Young Centre for the Performing Arts

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Lauren Gillett — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 01:09:12 +0000

Subtitle:

The National Theatre's award-winning production makes electric Canadian debut

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Mirvish Productions
A National Theatre Production
Based on the novel by Mark Haddon
Adapted by Simon Stephens
Directed by Marianne Elliott

Life takes on a new dimension of wonder in the National Theatre's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, now playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre as part of the 2017 Mirvish Season.

Tony Award winner Marianne Elliott (War Horse) directs this brilliant adaptation by playwright Simon Stephens, who brings Mark Haddon's internationally best-selling novel to life on stage with remarkable vision.

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Stars:

4.5

Show Dates:

Sat, 2017-10-21 - Sun, 2017-11-19

Theatre:

Princess of Wales Theatre

North by Northwest

Lauren Gillett — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

David Mirvish brings classic Hitchcock thriller to Toronto stage

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Mirvish Productions
Adapted by Carolyn Burns
Directed by Simon Phillips

Theatregoers with a taste for adventure take note: the stage version of Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest is now playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre for a limited engagement. Directed by Australia's Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), this fast-paced production remains true to the iconic film while adding a memorable live action element.

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Show Dates:

Mon, 2017-09-25 - Sun, 2017-10-29

Theatre:

Royal Alexandra Theatre

The Aliens

Lauren Gillett — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Coal Mine Theatre launches fourth season with philosophical Annie Baker play

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Coal Mine Theatre
Written by Annie Baker
Directed by Mitchell Cushman

Coal Mine Theatre opened their fourth season last week with a new production of Annie Baker's The Aliens directed by Mitchell Cushman (Outside The March).

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Show Dates:

Wed, 2017-09-20 - Sun, 2017-10-08

Theatre:

The Coal Mine Theatre