All posts by Wayne Leung

Wayne Leung (1981-2019) Wayne was the Managing Editor of Mooney on Theatre from 2012 - 2019 and will be sorely missed. His death from an apparent heart attack was a loss not just to Mooney on Theatre, but also to the Toronto Theatre Community at large. You can read our publisher Megan Mooney's tribute to him here here. Wayne was a writer, editor and corporate communications professional who was thrilled to be a part of the Mooney on Theatre team. Wayne loved theatre ever since his aunt brought him to a production of Les Misérables at the tender age of ten . . . despite the fact that, at that age, the show’s plot was practically indiscernible and the battle scenes scared the bejeezus out of him. Wayne’s current list of likes ran the gamut from opera, ballet and Shakespeare to Broadway musicals, circus and Fringe theatre. Outside of the theatre Wayne’s interests included travel, technology and food.

Mooney on Theatre’s Most-Read Reviews for the 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival

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After reviewing all 149 shows* in this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival we shared our list of the shows our staff recommend.

Now it’s your turn; we reveal the list of our readers’ most buzzed-about shows based on the popularity of their Mooney on Theatre reviews. So here’s the list of the top ten (ish) most-read Fringe reviews on Mooney on Theatre this year**: Continue reading Mooney on Theatre’s Most-Read Reviews for the 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival →

Review: The Tape Escape (Outside the March)

Photo of Zoe Danahy, Tony Cushman, Nicholas Porteous, Raylene Turner, Rais Clarke-Mendes, Francis Melling, Danté Prince, and Kavone Manning by Neil SilcoxLeading Toronto immersive theatre company produces its first escape room-style experiences

When the iconic video rental store Queen Video closed its final location on Bloor Street this past March it felt like a sad inevitability. In the age of YouTube and Netflix, the video rental store is a relic from another era. Now, Outside the March, one of Toronto’s leading immersive theatre companies, has taken over the space and re-christened it The Tape Escape, to house three immersive, escape room-style puzzle experiences that harken back to that bygone era. Continue reading Review: The Tape Escape (Outside the March) →

Review: Waitress (Mirvish)

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Photo of Ephie Aardema, Christine Dwyer and Melody A Betts by Daniel LippittMirvish brings the hit Broadway musical with songs by Sara Bareilles to Toronto

The North-American tour of Waitress is currently making a stop in Toronto at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. The hit Broadway musical with book by Jessie Nelson and songs by American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles is based on the 2007 film starring Keri Russell and centres on the story of a small-town diner waitress and skilled baker named Jenna (Christine Dwyer) who aspires to enter a pie-making competition to win the prize money she needs to escape her unhappy life. Continue reading Review: Waitress (Mirvish) →

Mooney on Theatre Recommends – 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival

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Photo of the 2017 Toronto Fringe Club at Scadding Court Community Centre

This past weekend Mooney on Theatre sent its dedicated team of 22 writers and editors to cover all 148 shows* in this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival! With the sheer number of shows available at the festival, picking the ones you want to see can be a daunting task.

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the number of shows and you’re looking for a place to start, we’ve asked our staff to tell us about their favourite shows they’ve seen at this year’s festival. We hope our staff picks can help you navigate the Fringe.

If you’ve seen something you think is amazing that you think others should go see please let us know by leaving a comment.

And don’t forget to check out our complete list of Fringe reviews.

Happy Fringing!

Mooney on Theatre Staff Picks – 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival Continue reading Mooney on Theatre Recommends – 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival →