Plays that Caught Our Eye This Week

Here are all of the shows we wish we could get out and see this week!  Take your pick from our list of great theatre escapes for the week of June 13, 2010:

**  Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Megan, our editor, wish she could clone herself so she could check them all out.

**Best Before (Rimni Protokoll). Audience members with game controllers manipulate onstage avatars in a simulated city. Jun 16-Jun 19, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $35. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-872-1111, luminato.com.

**Bloom On The Beach (Anna Livia Productions). Actors and musicians re-enact scenes from James Joyce’s Ulysses along the beach. Jun 16 from 8:30 am to noon. Free. Neville Park Streetcar Loop, Queen E at Nursewood. 416-365-7877.

Dead Sexy: A Funeral For Church Street (Queer Pride 2010/Boylesque TO). The all-male burlesque troupe perform a tongue-in-cheek eulogy to the neighbourhood. Jun 19 at 8 pm. $20. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Dog Sees God: Confessions Of A Teenage Blockhead by Bert V Royal (Fly by Night Theatre). A teenager questions the existence of the afterlife after his dog dies. Jun 17-19 at 8 pm. $20, stu/srs $18. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, 165 Front E. flybynighttheatre.ca.

**Drama & Desire: Artists and Theatre (Art Gallery of Ontario). CanStage Dream in High Park actors and Atelier Ballet dancers perform alongside an exhibit of Stratford Festival props, stage machines and interactive content. Opens Jun 19 and runs to Sep 26, performances on select Saturdays and Sundays. Free w/ admission. 317 Dundas W. ago.net.

Free Jane (Queer Pride 2010/Cabaret Company). Sky Gilbert hosts the annual show featuring a reading of a new play by Jordan Patterson, followed by an open stage. Jun 20 at 7 pm. Free. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Homage by Anthony Black (2B Theatre). The issue of public art is explored when a college destroys an long-standing outdoor sculpture it commissioned. Jun 17-19, Thu-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 1:30 pm. $35. Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front E. 416-872-1111, luminato.com.

Mad Glee by Basil Douglas Cowieson, Lyranda Martin-Evans and Rica Eckersley (Queen’s Players Toronto). A high-school glee club must raise money to stave off condo developers. Previews Jun 9 at 8:30 pm. Opens Jun 10 and runs to Jun 19, Thu-Sat 8:30 pm. $20, preview $12. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. queensplayerstoronto.com.

**Man 2 Man (Kwame Stephens/Batuki Music Society). Two black men from different worlds meet and fall in love. Jun 18-19, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $15. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, totix.ca.

**Obaaberima by Tawiah M’Carthy (Queer Pride 2010). A Ghanian boy deals with gender sexuality and race in this dance-theatre piece. Jun 17 at 8 pm. Pwyc. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com.

Pizza Man by Darlene Craviotto (Beacon Theatre). Two women seeking revenge on men kidnap a delivery guy. Opens Jun 15 and runs to Jun 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $20 (seating limited; RSVP recommended). The Wylde Project, 52 St Lawrence, ste 215. beacon.theatre.company@gmail.com.

**Prima Donna by Rufus Wainwright (Luminato). A retired soprano attempts a comeback in this modern opera performed in French with English surtitles. Opens Jun 14 and runs to Jun 19, Fri-Sat, Mon and Wed 7:30 pm. $50-$200. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 416-872-1111, luminato.com.

Principal Meany’s Very Bad Day by Michael McMurtry and Derek Williams (Spicy Mike). A school assembly goes awry in this family comedy. May 14 at 5:30 pm. May 22-23 at 2 pm. Jun 19-20, Sat 4:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. Jul 17 at 2 pm. $10. Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston. 416-539-8437.

Speed-The-Plow by David Mamet (Parkdale Players). This satire looks at what it takes to get ahead in Hollywood. Opens Jun 15 and runs to Jun 26, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $15, stu $12. Unit 102 Theatre, 46 Noble, unit 102. parkdaleplayers.wordpress.com.

**The Africa Trilogy by Roland Schimmelpfennig, Binyavanga Wainaina and Christina Anderson (Volcano Theatre). This triple bill examines the multi-faceted relationship between Africa and the West. Previews Jun 10-13. Opens Jun 17 and runs to Jun 20, Thu-Sat 7 pm, mats Sun (and Jun 19) 1 pm. $35-$45, previews $30-$40. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-872-1111, luminato.com.

The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman and Tectonic Theatre Project (Column 13 Actors Company). Residents react to the beating death of a gay man in this drama based on actual events. Previews Jun 15. Opens Jun 16 and runs to Jun 24, Tue-Sat 8 pm. $16, preview/Tue pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, column13.org.

**The Soldier’s Tale by Igor Stravinsky (Open Corps Theatre). A young soldier makes a tragic trade with the devil. Opens Jun 17 and runs to Jun 27, Thu-Sun 8 pm. $20, stu $15. Casa Loma Stables, Walmer at Castle View. opencorpstheatre.com.

**Twelfth Night/The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare/WS and John Fletcher (Urban Bard). The comedies are performed outdoors on alternating nights. Opens May 28 and runs to Jun 20, see website for schedule. Pwyc. College Park Courtyard, 444 Yonge, south side facing Gerrard. urbanbard.ca.

**Waves Festival (Young Centre for the Performing Arts). The Centre’s Resident Artists present short works of dance, theatre, music, mixed media and interactive arts. Jun 18-20, Fri 6 to 10 pm, Sat 2 to 10 pm, Sun 1 to 6 pm. Free. 55 Mill. luminato.com.

Shows still playing that were already reviewed by Mooney on Theatre:

Duet For One by Tom Kempinski (STAGE Toronto). A violinist struggles to get her life back after a diagnosis of MS brings her to an enigmatic doctor. Previews May 27. Opens May 28 and runs to Jun 19, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm. $30, stu/srs $20. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, stagetoronto.ca.

Featuring Loretta by George F Walker (Factory Theatre). Desperate characters compete for a young widow’s attention in this comedy about adult relationships. Previews May 1-5. Opens May 6 and runs to Jun 20, Tue-Fri 8 pm, Sat 7 & 9:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. $15-$35. 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, factorytheatre.ca.

Mamma Mia! by Catherine Johnson, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (Mirvish). A wedding brings together new and old lovers in this musical based on ABBA songs. Opens Apr 28 and runs to Jun 20, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2pm. $26-$120. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

**One Pure Longing: Táhirih’s Search by Erika Batdorf (Luminato). Iranian, First Nation and African American song, dance and poetry are used to tell the story of a mystical poet executed for not wearing a veil. Jun 11-14 at 8 pm. $35. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-872-1111, luminato.com.

Rock Of Ages by Chris D’Arienzo (Mirvish). This arena-rock love story takes place LA’s Sunset Strip and features hits from the 80s. Previews Apr 20-May 9. Opens May 11 and runs to Sep 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm (no shows Jun 21-27). $28-$99. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

Woyzeck by Georg Büchner (red light district). A poor man is driven to insanity and violence by exploitation, infidelity and societal stress. Previews Jun 2. Opens Jun 3 and runs to Jun 19, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20-$25, stu $15. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. theredlightdistrict.ca.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*