Five for Twenty (Or Less)

Why deny it? We’re all suckers for history, why else would everyone agree that “history repeats itself”? For this week’s list of theatre on the affordable side, we’ve got some shows that either explore history, were written way-back-when in theatre history, contemplate alternate history or are a revisit to our most recent history. Sometimes we all need a blast from the past to escape from the present.

**A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare (Canadian Stage Shakespeare in High Park). Lovers and actors meet and mingle in an enchanted forest in this classic comedy performed outdoors. Opens Jun 26 and runs to Sep 2. Pwyc ($20 sugg), 14 and under free. High Park Amphitheatre, Bloor W and Parkside. canadianstage.com.

BEIRUT by Allan Bowne (Borat Gump Productions). A woman defies the law and sneaks into a quarantined area of New York to be with her lover. Previews Jul 24-25. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Aug 5. $20-$25, Tue pwyc. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. secureaseat.com.

 **BEST OF THE FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL (Fringe Toronto). Encore performances of Help Yourself, Mahmoud, Pomme Is French For Apple, Rare, The Shape Of Things, The Taming Of The Shrew, The Wakowski Brothers and With Love And A Major Organ. Opens Jul 18 and runs to Aug 3. $16.50. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 1-855-985-2787, fringetoronto.com.

MEMORY IN THE MUD (Words In Motion). This movable drama and tour tells the stories of brick makers, POWs and Depression-era homeless people who spent time at the Brick Works. Opens Jul 11 and runs to Sep 29. $20, child $10. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview. ebw.evergreen.ca/whats-on/memory-in-the-mud.

ADVENTURES IN SLUMBERLAND (Frolick). This all-ages show about a young boy’s dream world is an adaptation of Winsor McCay’s comic strip Little Nemo In Slumberland. Opens Jul 1 and runs to Aug 26. $10 or pwyc. Olympic Island Lagoon Theatre, near Centre Island ferry dock, over the bridge. frolick.ca.