Comedy

Picture This

Lauren Gillett — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Soulpepper comedy paints farcical picture of the film industry

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Soulpepper Theatre Company
Written by Morris Panych and Brenda Robbins
Based upon The Battle of Waterloo by Melchior Lengyel
Directed by Morris Panych

Fall theatre season is upon us, and Soulpepper is staging the Canadian premiere of a comedy adapted by Morris Panych and Brenda Robbins based upon The Battle of Waterloo by Hungarian playwright Melchior Lengyel.

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Stars:

3.5

Show Dates:

Sun, 2017-09-17 - Sat, 2017-10-07

Theatre:

Young Centre for the Performing Arts

Party Today, Panic Tomorrow

Lauren Gillett — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 22:36:52 +0000

Subtitle:

The Second City proves once again that comedy is the best distraction

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by The Second City Toronto
Written by Nadine Djoury, Allana Reoch, Colin Munch, Brandon Hackett, Devon Hyland and Ann Pornel

If you're looking for an escape from today's endlessly horrifying news cycle, look no futher than The Second City Mainstage. The company's latest Toronto show Party Today, Panic Tomorrow diffuses even the most explosive of headlines with internet video parodies and impresssions of bruised fruit. That second part is no joke (well, it is). Colin Munch is hilariously committed to playing the part of an emotionally sensitive banana, and, as surprising as that sounds, it works.

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Theatre:

The Second City Toronto

Morro & Jasp in Stupefaction

Lauren Gillett — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 13:18:29 +0000

Subtitle:

Toronto's favourite clown sisters awaken to spiritual differences in latest show

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Kabin and U.N.I.T Productions
Directed and dramaturged by Byron Laviolette
Featuring Sefton Jackson, Elliott Loran and Anand Rajaram

Need a pick-me-up this month? Send in the clowns! Creators Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee are back with their englightening new production Morro & Jasp in Stupefaction, now playing at the Streetcar Crowsnest for a limited run.

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Theatre:

Crow's Theatre

The Second City Presents: Canada The Thinking Man's America

Lauren Gillett — Mon, 22 May 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

The Second City celebrates our nation's 150th birthday with Canadian-themed show

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by The Second City Touring Company

The Second City Touring Company's Canada: The Thinking Man's America pays homage to our home and native land with a series of Canuk-style sketches poking fun at our beloved country.

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Stars:

3.5

Show Dates:

Mon, 2017-05-15 - Tue, 2017-10-17

Theatre:

The Second City Toronto

Everything is Great Again

Lauren Gillett — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

The Second City's latest show puts sunny spin on grim current events

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by The Second City Toronto
Written by Brandon Hackett, Dyvon Hyland, Lindsay Mullan, Colin Munch, Paloma Nunex and Ann Pornel

The Second City's new mainstage show, Everything is Great Again, covers a range of timely topics, from US-Canadian relations to unaffordable housing and other "Millennial problems," in a most entertaining fashion.

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Theatre:

The Second City Toronto

The Big What Now?

Lauren Gillett — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Sandra Shamas returns to Toronto stage with signature wit, candor and wisdom

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Everything But the Kitchens Inc.
Written and performed by Sandra Shamas

Sandra Shamas' latest show The Big What Now? marks her 30th anniversary as a solo performer, and the seventh piece in the series of her life. She first produced My Boyfriend's Back and There's Gonna Be Laundry in 1987. Two more Laundry shows followed and the Laundry trilogy was published, shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for English-Language Drama, and nominated for the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour.

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Show Dates:

Tue, 2017-01-31 - Sun, 2017-02-19

Theatre:

Fleck Dance Theatre

The Second City's Fast, Loud & Funny

Lauren Gillett — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

A hilarious mix of improv, sketch comedy and impressive dance moves

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by The Second City
Directed by Anneliese Toft
Performed by Ryan Asher, Nicole C. Hastings, Saurabh Pande, Asher Perlman, Dana Quercioli, Kevin Sciretta

If you happen to be spending time in Chicago, as this Toronto-based reviewer was on Saturday afternoon, do yourself a favour and go see The Second City's Fast, Loud & Funny at Up Comedy Club.

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Show Dates:

Sat, 2016-12-31 - Wed, 2017-05-31

Theatre:

The Second City Chicago

Eat, Buy, Repeat: The Second City's Guide to the Holidays

Lauren Gillett — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

'Tis the season to be jolly amused

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Written and performed by The Second City Touring Company
Featuring Sharjil Rasool, Aimee Ambroziak, Colin Munch, Allana Reoch, Nadine Djoury and Greg Cochrane

Eat, Buy, Repeat: The Second City's Guide to the Holidays is a festive antidote for post-election anxiety and seasonal stress.

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Stars:

3.5

Theatre:

The Second City Toronto

The Hotline Always Blings Twice

Lauren Gillett — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:33:40 +0000

Subtitle:

The Second City's shiny new show celebrates contemporary Canadian culture

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by The Second City Toronto
Created and performed by the The Second City Mainstage cast members Leigh Cameron, Kyle Dooley, Becky Johnson, Etan Muskat, Kirsten Rasmussen and Kevin Whalen
Director Chris Earle

The Second City's current Mainstage revue The Hotline Always Blings Twice showcases Torontonian/Canadian pop culture and lifestyle by poking fun at everything from Blue Jays Bandwagoners and the Uber vs. taxi battle to our love affairs with Drake and Justin Trudeau.

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Show Dates:

Tue, 2016-03-22 - Sun, 2016-07-03

Theatre:

The Second City Toronto

Toronto Fringe Festival: God’s Beard!

Lauren Gillett — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 01:58:16 +0000

Subtitle:

Falcon Powder storms the Toronto Fringe Festival with friendship-themed comedy

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by Brain Fraud Productions
Created by Falcon Powder
Performed by Jim Annan, Scott Montgomery, Kurt Smeaton

Winners of the Audience Choice Award at the 2015 Toronto Sketch Festival, Kurt Smeaton, Jim Annan and Scott Montgomery (otherwise known as the sketch troupe Falcon Powder) flaunt their funny friendship in Falcon Powder Presents: God’s Beard! (The Only Sketch Show That Has Ever Happened), now playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

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Show Dates:

Thu, 2015-07-02 - Sat, 2015-07-11

Theatre:

Al Green Theatre

Toronto Fringe Festival - The Weaker Vessels: Public Displays of Narcissism

Lauren Gillett — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 20:59:42 +0000

Subtitle:

The Weaker Vessels explore humanity's darkly funny side in Toronto Fringe show

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by CojoLemieux
Created by The Weaker Vessels
Directed by Frank McAnulty

The human ego is fragile and often ugly, as is demonstrated by Cream of Comedy-nominated sketch troupe The Weaker Vessels in their latest show Public Displays of Narcissism, now playing at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

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Show Dates:

Thu, 2015-07-02 - Sat, 2015-07-11

Theatre:

Theatre Passe Muraille

The Templeton Philharmonic: Unbridled & Unstable

Lauren Gillett — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Sketch duo bring horsey humour to the Next Stage Theatre Festival

Headline:

Next Stage Theatre Festival

Credits:

Presented by The Templeton Philharmonic
Written & Co-Created by Gwynne Phillips & Briana Templeton

Canadian Comedy Award-nominated sketch duo The Templeton Philharmonic (Gwynne Phillips and Briana Templeton) display their unique brand of eccentric and surreal wit at the Next Stage Theatre Festival this month in Unbridled & Unstable, a new show packed with social commentary, hilarious interpretive dancing and tongue-in-cheek equine spirit.

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Show Dates:

Wed, 2015-01-07 - Sun, 2015-01-18

Theatre:

Factory Theatre

Q&A: The Second City Guide to the Symphony

Lauren Gillett — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Producer Klaus Schuller on The Second City's comic collaboration with the TSO

Headline:

Interview

Credits:

Hosted by Colin Mochrie
Musical Director: Peter Oundjian

Theatregoers are in for a rare treat this month: The Second City is paring up with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) to present The Second City Guide to the Symphony, a unique comedy-meets-classical music show, on stage for two performances only (Nov 29 & 30) at Roy Thomson Hall.

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Show Dates:

Sat, 2014-11-29 - Sun, 2014-11-30

Theatre:

Roy Thompson Hall

Rebel Without A Cosmos

Lauren Gillett — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 23:51:16 +0000

Subtitle:

The Second City's new show is out-of-this-world funny

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Created & Performed by: Ashley Botting, Sarah Hillier, Etan Muskat, Allison Price, Connor Thompson, and Kevin Whalen
Directed by Reid Janisse
Musical Director: Matthew Reid

Talent shines bright in The Second City's Fall 2014 Mainstage Revue Rebel Without a Cosmos, the astronomically amusing comedy created and performed by Ashley Botting, Allison Price, Sarah Hillier, Connor Thompson, Etan Muskat and Kevin Whalen.

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Show Dates:

Mon, 2014-11-24 - Thu, 2015-01-01

Theatre:

The Second City Toronto

Julie Madly Deeply and The Boy With Tape on His Face

Lauren Gillett — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Subtitle:

Mirvish brings the best of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to Toronto

Headline:

Review

Credits:

Presented by David Mirvish and James Seabright for Potted Productions

Julie Madly Deeply
Written and performed by Sarah-Louise Young
Musical direction by Michael Roulston
Directed by Russell Lucas

The Boy With Tape on His Face
Written and performed by Sam Wills

Mirvish is offering double the fun this month with the Best of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival featuring two fantastic shows: Julie Madly Deeply and The Boy With Tape on His Face, now on stage at the Panasonic Theatre.

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Show Dates:

Tue, 2014-09-30 - Sun, 2014-10-19

Theatre:

CAA Theatre (Formerly The Panasonic)