Here is what’s going on in Toronto theatre this week. There are several great shows to catch for the week of September 10th, 2012: ** Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Wayne, our Managing Editor, wish he could exist in multiple parallel universes so he could check them all out.
Already Covered by MoT
**AMALUNA (Cirque du Soleil). Music, dance, acrobatics and design are used to look at femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance on a mystical island governed by women. Opens Sep 6 and runs to Oct 21. $58.50-$158.50, stu/srs/child from $43.50. Grand Chapiteau Tent, Port Lands, Commissioners at Cherry. cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna.
**CANCER CAN’T DANCE LIKE THIS by Daniel Stolfi (FroMast Productions). This solo show uses vivid characters and comedy to portray Stolfi’s battle with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Sep 13-14 at 8 pm. $15-$20. Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen E. cancercantdancelikethis.eventbrite.com.
**FERAL CHILD by Jordan Tannahill (Suburban Beast/Canadian Stage). An Oshawa housekeeper’s encounter with a teenage boy unearths memories of her son’s disappearance during the Bosnian war. Previews Sep 6 at 8 pm. Opens Sep 7 and runs to Sep 22. $22, stu $17. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, suburbanbeast.ca.
MEMORY IN THE MUD (Words In Motion). This movable drama and tour tells the stories of brick makers, POWs and Depression-era transients 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.
SPEED-THE-PLOW by David Mamet (Soulpepper). Movie industry big shots use sex and schemes to succeed in Hollywood. Previews Jul 5-14. Opens Jul 16 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
**THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller (Soulpepper). A small, devout Massachusetts town is thrown into chaos with accusations of witchcraft in 1692. Previews Jul 25-Aug 8. Opens Aug 9 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE ROYAL COMEDIANS by Mikhail Bulgakov (Soulpepper). This play looks at the life of French dramatist Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière. Previews Jul 24-Aug 6. Opens Aug 7 and runs to Sep 21. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5.Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
THE SUNSHINE BOYS by Neil Simon (Soulpepper). Two vaudeville veterans must overcome their mutual dislike to reunite for a TV special. Previews Jul 14-25. Opens Jul 26 and runs to Sep 22. $51-$68, stu $32; rush $22, stu $5. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.
WAR HORSE based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford (National Theatre of Great Britain/Mirvish). An English boy sets out to find his horse after it’s sold to the cavalry and shipped off to France during WWI. Previews Feb 10-27. Opens Feb 28 and runs to Sep 30. $35-$130, rush $29. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King W. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.
WE’VE TOTALLY (PROBABLY) GOT THIS! Second City presents its fall 2012 revue featuring new sketches, songs and improv about stress and juggling priorities. Tue-Thu 8 pm, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm (plus Sat 10 pm). $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.
And the rest…
AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespeare (UC Follies Theatre Company). Love flourishes among exiles in this romantic comedy performed outdoors. Bring your own blanket. Opens Sep 12 and runs to Sep 15. $10, stu/srs $8, Wed pwyc. Hart House Circle, 7 Hart House Circle. uofttix.ca.
BEANS & WIENERS COMEDY Gladstone Hotel presents emerging comedians. Sep 10 8 pm. Free. 1214 Queen W. gladstonehotel.com.
DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by John Patrick Shanley (Sterling Studio Theatre). Two of society’s rejects meet in a bar in this look at love and loneliness. Previews Sep 11. Opens Sep 12 and runs to Sep 22. $15, preview $10. 163 Sterling, unit 5. secureaseat.com/danny.
**HIDING WORDS (FOR YOU) by Gein Wong (Eventual Ashes). Theatre, poetry, music, dance and more are used to tell a story of Chinese women fighting for equal rights from 1850 to today. Previews Sep 13-14. Opens Sep 15 and runs to Sep 23. $24, stu/srs $20, previews $15. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.
**JULIE SITS WAITING by Tom Walmsley and Louis Dufort (Good Hair Day Productions/Theatre Centre). A woman who’s married to a police officer and a priest discover intimacy and disaster in this modern opera. Opens Sep 14 and runs to Sep 23. $30-$40, Sun pwyc. Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, fideskrucker.com.
NO GREAT MISCHIEF by David S Young (Tarragon Theatre). Haunted by stories and songs of their Scottish ancestry, two brothers seek to reconcile their past. Previews Sep 11-18. Opens Sep 19 and runs to Oct 21. $48-$53, srs $38-$43, stu $27, previews $21-$24, rush $13. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.
OBAABERIMA by Tawiah M’Carthy (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Imprisoned in Canada, a young Ghanaian talks of his journey across continents, genders, races and sexualities. Previews Sep 15-19. Opens Sep 20 and runs to Oct 7. Pwyc-$37. 12 Alexander. 416-975-9130, buddiesinbadtimes.com.
THE BIG BANG by Jed Feuer and Boyd Graham (Civic Light Opera Company). Two theatre producers try to stage the history of civilization in this musical comedy. Opens Sep 12 and runs to Sep 22. $28. York Woods Library Theatre, 1785 Finch W. 416-755-1717, civiclightoperacompany.com.
THE SHORT NOTICE SHOW Matt Folliott presents Kayla Lorette, Alex Tindal and Matt Folliott w/ guests Tony Ho, Catherine McCormick, the Templeton Philharmonic and more. Sep 12 8 pm. Pwyc. Magpie Taproom, 831 Dundas W. mattfolliott.com.
TILL DEATH DO US MEET Touch My Stereotype presents a comedic whodunit w/ Mike Tanchuk, Paddy MacDonald, Sonia D’Amico and others. Sep 15 10 pm. $15. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. touchmystereotype.com.